Brandin Cooks or D.J. Moore: Who Will Have More Receptions in Panthers vs. Texans?

Through the first two weeks of the 2021 NFL season, Carolina Panthers wide receiver D.J. Moore and Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks have made the same number of catches (14). 

Cooks has seen two more targets than Moore at 21-19, but the two players have put up similar stat lines to start the season. In Week 3, Cooks and Moore will face off when the Panthers and Texans battle on Thursday Night Football. 

WynnBET has player props set for both players, and the two are expected to continue to reel in a bunch of receptions, as they both are projected to make 5.5 catches on Thursday. The under on that projection is the favorite for both players, but who will end up with more catches when it's all said and done?

D.J. Moore vs. Brandin Cooks Reception Prop

• Moore: 5.5 (Over +100/Under -130)
• Cooks: 5.5 (Over +104/Under -140)

Oddsmakers appear to be slightly more confident in Moore to hit the over on this prop, and it likely has to do with the fact that rookie Davis Mills will be the Texans’ quarterback in Week 3 after Tyrod Taylor was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. 

Cooks has more uncertainty about his workload with Mills under center considering they only played half a game together in Week 2, but Mills actually targeted the veteran wideout on half of his pass attempts. 

While four catches in nine targets is less than ideal, the workload should be there for Cooks, especially in a game where Houston is expected to be trailing. The Texans have moved to eight-point underdogs on WynnBET ahead of Thursday’s matchup. 

The Panthers’ top-ranked defense is a cause for concern for Cooks, as Carolina allowed just six first downs in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints, so there’s a chance Houston doesn’t establish much of an offensive flow in this one. 

Moore, on the other hand, has been the Panthers top target out wide with Christian McCaffrey handling the pass-catching duties out of the backfield. The departure of Curtis Samuel this offseason has been a great sign for Moore, as he already has two games with more than five catches after totaling just three such games last season. 

I think Cooks may be the better play in terms of volume, but give me the over on the receptions prop for both players in Week 3 as they look to continue strong starts to the season. 

Interested in these picks? What about fading them? Get in the action at WynnBET.