The Texans are hurting for pass-catching options. Big time. 

And the ball has to go somewhere. 

Nico Collins is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury and on Sunday against the Colts, Stefon Diggs suffered a season-ending ACL tear, leaving Tank Dell as the only known quantity at wide receiver. 

Dell’s boom-or-bust tendencies make him hard to bet on, so I’m targeting another pass-catcher in Houston on Thursday night: Texans tight end Dalton Schultz. 

With Collins out and Diggs leaving midway through the game, Schultz had his first breakout performance of 2024 on Sunday, catching four passes for 52 yards, which were both season-highs. 

The Jets have been stout against the passing game this season, allowing just 161.1 yards passing per game. 

And while Sauce Gardner has struggled this season, he has the ability to shut down the likes of Dell.

Tight ends have fared slightly better against the Jets than the passing attacks as a whole, with 342 total receiving yards through eight games, which ranks 21st in the NFL. 

Bereft of targets he trusts, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud should look Schultz’s way even more than normal. 

Xavier Hutchinson, Robert Woods, John Metchie III and Steve Sims – who combine for just 25 total targets this season – fill out the rest of Houston’s wide receiver room. 

Betting on the NFL?

Schultz’s receiving yards over/under is sitting at just 40.5.

He’s had a hard time hitting this number, going over only last week, but there’s no one in his way stopping him from doing it again on Thursday night.

The play: Dalton Schultz more than 40.5 receiving yards (DraftKings Sportsbook, -110)

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Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports. He’s particularly knowledgeable about the big three — MLB, the NFL and the NBA.