Mills completed 16 of 30 passes for 153 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions while adding two carries for four yards in the Texans' 23-19 win over the Bills on Thursday night.
Mills' final line was far from fantasy-friendly, but the veteran backup was integral to the Texans' upset in what was his third straight start. Mills connected with Christian Kirk (two yards) and Jayden Higgins (eight yards) for his pair of second-quarter touchdowns, and he remained free of interceptions for a second consecutive start. Mills has led the Texans to a 3-0 mark while C.J. Stroud (concussion) has been sidelined, but the latter will return to the starting job in a Week 13 road matchup against the Colts if he's cleared to suit up.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Ticketed for third straight start
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Head coach DeMeco Ryans said that Mills will serve as the Texans' starting quarterback for Thursday's game against the Bills, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Though C.J. Stroud is in line to practice in some fashion Tuesday for the first time since sustaining a concussion in the Texans' Nov. 2 loss to the Broncos, he's not on track to clear the five-step protocol before Thursday. As a result, Mills will direct the Houston offense once again after he completed 53 of 86 passes for 566 yards, three touchdowns and one interception to go along with five carries for 34 yards and another score in wins over the Jaguars and Titans the past two weeks. Stroud could be in position to reclaim starting duties in the Texans' Week 13 game against the Colts.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Week 12 Waiver Priority List
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Mills has scored at least 18.4 Fantasy points in two starts for C.J. Stroud (concussion), and Mills could start again for the Texans in Week 12 against Buffalo on Thursday night. It's not an easy matchup against the Bills, who are No. 4 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, but Mills can still be useful in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues in deeper formats. He's worth adding for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB in those formats.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Solid showing in second start
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Mills completed 26 of 41 passes for 274 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions while adding two rushes for 14 yards in the Texans' 16-13 win over the Titans on Sunday.
Mills put together another solid performance in his second start in place of C.J. Stroud (concussion) despite being subjected to plenty of pressure from what had been a porous Titans defense. Mills was taken down four times, but he also completed passes to eight different players while displaying good command of the offense. Mills capped the afternoon in fine fashion by leading a game-winning nine-play, 48-yard drive, and he's likely to draw another start in a Week 12 Thursday night home matchup against the Bills since Stroud may not be ready to play due to the short turnaround.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Positioned as starter for Week 12
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Mills will start Sunday's road contest against the Titans with C.J. Stroud (concussion) having been ruled out Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Mills will draw at least one more start while Stroud works his way through the concussion protocol, and he could find himself in a similar position Week 12, when the Texans will face a short week of preparation before taking on the Bills on Thursday Night Football. After compiling 312 total yards and three touchdowns during Houston's comeback win over the Jaguars in Week 12, Mills has made a case for himself as a fantasy option for QB-needy teams, especially in deeper formats.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Prepping for another start
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Mills is preparing to start Sunday's game at Tennessee with C.J. Stroud still in concussion protocol and absent from Wednesday's practice, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 Houston reports.
Stroud reportedly still has concussion symptoms as of Monday/Tuesday, and his continued absence from practice suggests he's still in the early phases of concussion protocol. Mills led a brilliant comeback win over the Jaguars this past Sunday, finishing with 312 total yards and three TDs.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Week 11 Waiver Priority List
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C.J. Stroud (concussion) missed Week 10 against Jacksonville and is still in the protocol Monday. We'll see what happens as Week 11 goes on, but Mills scored 31.7 Fantasy points against the Jaguars and now faces the Titans. If Mills starts again, he would be a streaming option in deeper leagues and a low-end starter in all Superflex and two-quarterback leagues. He's worth adding in those formats for at least 5-10 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Sleeper QBs
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This is for Fantasy managers in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues, but Mills might end up as a nice surprise in Week 10 since he is starting in place of the injured C.J. Stroud (concussion). Mills replaced Stroud in Week 9 against Denver and was 17-of-30 passing for 137 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. And the last time he had a positive Fantasy outing was in Week 16 of 2023 against Cleveland when he passed for just 149 yards but scored two touchdowns. This week, he's facing a Jaguars defense that has allowed nine passing touchdowns in their past two games against Matthew Stafford and Geno Smith. Let's hope Mills follows suit, and he could be worth the risk given the matchup.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Week 10 Waiver Priority List
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C.J. Stroud (concussion) could be out in Week 10 against Jacksonville, which would make Mills worth adding in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues for at least 5 percent of your remaining FAB. Mills came on in relief of Stroud against Denver in Week 9 and was 17-of-30 passing for 137 yards but did not throw a touchdown or interception. The matchup against the Jaguars is favorable, and Mills could be a good option in deeper formats if he starts for Houston in Week 10.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Receives one-year extension
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Mills and the Texans agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $7 million contract extension, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Mills had been ticketed for free agency next spring, but for the second September in a row, the Texans have given him some extra security in the form of a one-year extension. The $7 million deal is fully guaranteed, which should ensure that Mills faces no real competition for the No. 2 role heading into 2026. He'll be entering his third straight season as C.J. Stroud's backup and won't be in line for anything more than spot duty so long as Stroud is healthy. Through his first two NFL seasons, Stroud has missed just two games, with both absences coming late in his rookie campaign while he recovered from a concussion.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Tosses TD on only drive Saturday
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Mills completed four of five passes for 50 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 20-10 preseason loss to the Vikings.
The 26-year-old backup quarterback got the start due to C.J. Stroud being held out of the Texans' exhibition opener, but Mills played only one drive, which he capped with a 14-yard TD to Braxton Berrios. Mills is set as Houston's No. 2 QB, but it's a role that hasn't led him to much action since Stroud got to town, as the former has attempted only 75 passes in 10 regular-season games over the last two seasons.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Expected starter Saturday
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Mills is expected to draw the start in Saturday's preseason opener against the Vikings, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
If that is indeed the case, top QB C.J. Stroud would presumably be rested, with Graham Mertz and Kedon Slovis also available to handle snaps versus Minnesota. As the coming season approaches, Mills is set to reprise his role as Houston's No. 2 signal caller.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Significant snaps in Week 18
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Mills completed 12 of 22 passes for 128 yards and gained 11 rushing yards on three carries in Sunday's 23-14 win over the Titans.
After starting quarterback C.J. Stroud led the Texans to a touchdown on the opening possession, the offense was handed over to Mills for the rest of the game. It was his fourth appearance of the season, but his first significant action, and he finished the year having completed 20 of 36 passes for 212 yards over his four games played. Stroud wasn't as consistent in 2024 as he was during his rookie campaign, but it never go to the point where a quarterback change became necessary. The Texans are happy to keep Mills, who has two years of experience in offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik's scheme, as their backup heading into next season.
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Texans' Davis Mills: No longer under the weather
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Mills (illness) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Mills was a DNP for Tuesday's walkthrough practice due to an illness. It appears he's past the issue and is on track to serve as Houston's backup quarterback behind C.J. Stroud against the Chiefs on Saturday.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Plays in blowout loss
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Mills completed seven of 12 passes for 79 yards in Sunday's 34-7 loss to the Vikings in Week 3.
Mills replaced C.J. Stroud late in the fourth quarter of the blowout loss. It was his first action of the season.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Attempts Hail Mary
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Mills was sacked for a 10-yard loss on his only play of Sunday's 19-16 overtime win over the Titans in Week 15.
Mills entered the game to throw a Hail Mary pass at the end of the first half but was unable to avoid a sack. He had been the replacement when C.J. Stroud (concussion) got hurt in Week 14 but was bypassed as Sunday's starter in favor of Case Keenum.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Bypassed for starting nod
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Mills is slated to remain the Texans' No. 2 quarterback Sunday against the Titans while Case Keenum draws the start in place of C.J. Stroud (concussion), who has been ruled out for the Week 15 contest, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
Stroud wasn't able to practice in any fashion this week and has yet to clear the five-step protocol after sustaining the concussion in the Texans' 30-6 loss to the Jets last Sunday. Though Mills has served as the top backup to Stroud all season and completed one of five pass attempts for four yards in relief of the rookie signal-caller late in last week's loss, the Texans had him and the 35-year-old Keenum split reps in practice throughout Week 15 prep. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Keenum received the majority of the first-team reps, and he apparently acquitted himself well enough in those practices to get the starting nod over Mills, despite having been inactive as an emergency No. 3 quarterback for each of Houston's first 13 games of the season. Depending on how Keenum performs Week 15, he could end up sticking ahead of Mills as the No. 2 option moving forward once Stroud clears the protocol.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Likely to remain backup in Week 15
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Mills is expected to remain the Texans' No. 2 quarterback for Sunday's game againt the Titans with Case Keenum in line to draw the Week 15 start in place of C.J. Stroud (concussion), Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Stroud is listed as doubtful after sustaining a concussion late in last weekend's 30-6 loss to the Jets. Mills -- who has dressed as the Texans' No. 2 quarterback all season -- came on in relief of Stroud and completed one of five passes for four yards, but Mills will apparently be bypassed for the starting nod in favor of the 35-year-old Keenum. According to Wilson, Keenum took the majority of the first-team reps in practice this week, and the Texans' coaching staff will look to see if he can provide a spark to the passing game after Mills struggled in his limited action last week.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Enters for two snaps
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Mills completed his lone pass attempt for 18 yards in Sunday's 22-17 win over Denver in Week 13.
Starting quarterback C.J. Stroud was ordered to the sidelines for evaluation following a quarterback sneak during the fourth quarter. Mills was needed for two plays before Stroud reentered the contest. Mills handed off to Dameon Pierce then fired an 18-yard strike to Nico Collins. He's played just three snaps all season.
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Texans' Davis Mills: Mixed results behind Stroud
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Mills completed nine of 12 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown but lost a fumble in Thursday night's 20-9 win over the Patriots in the Texans' preseason opener.
Mills entered the game after rookie first-rounder C.J. Stroud played Houston's first two drives. The latter finished with just two completions for 13 yards and an interception. Although Mills moved the ball better in his four series under center, including a six-yard touchdown toss to end the first half, he too committed a turnover during his time on the field. While Stroud is undoubtedly Houston's long-term plan at quarterback, Mills could still vie for playing time this season and will nonetheless look to eliminate similar miscues in next Saturday's exhibition outing versus Miami.
