Houston's two-game win streak meets a Giants team that's lost momentum just when it needed it. The New York Giants enter at 3-2-1 on a one-game losing streak after falling to the New Orleans Saints 27-34 last week. The Houston Texans sit at 2-4 but have won two straight, including a 34-31 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 6.
Game details
| When | Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET |
| Where | Reliant Stadium |
| TV | Fox |
| Line | Houston Texans -10.5 | O/U 42.5 (market view) |
| New York Giants record | 3-2-1 |
| Houston Texans record | 2-4 |
The matchup
The NFL's own game notes point to Malik Nabers as the headline act here. Through his first 25 career games, Nabers is the third player in NFL history with 10-plus receptions in five of those contests, and his 168 career receptions rank second-most over that stretch, behind only Odell Beckham Jr.'s 176. He torched the Saints for 12 catches and 165 yards in Week 6 and has a touchdown catch in two of his last three games.
Both teams arrive with mixed recent form. The Giants have bounced around, going L-T-W-W-L over their last five. The Texans lost to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4, then won back-to-back games, 26-3 over the Tennessee Titans and 34-31 over the Jacksonville Jaguars, to reach their current two-game winning streak. Houston's defense has been getting after the quarterback, which should matter plenty against a Giants offensive line dealing with its own issues.
Key matchups
Nabers against a Giants secondary that's actually on the other side of the ball Sunday is one thing, but the real fight is C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins against Houston's own injury-thinned opponent. Collins is chasing his 14th straight game with 55-plus scrimmage yards and has gone for 75-plus scrimmage yards with a touchdown catch in three of his last four at home. Stroud completed 24 of 34 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns last week and is aiming for his fourth straight game with 65-plus completion percentage, 260-plus pass yards, a touchdown pass and a rating of 105 or better.
On the other side, Isaiah Likely has been a problem for defenses, with 6 catches for 99 yards and a touchdown in Week 6, and he's chasing his third straight game with 90-plus receiving yards and a touchdown catch. Houston's pass rush duo of Will Anderson Jr., who leads the NFL with 7.5 sacks in 2026, and Danielle Hunter, third in the NFL with 117.5 sacks since 2015, will test a Giants line already missing pieces up front. Abdul Carter is chasing his third straight road game with a sack for the Giants defense.
Injuries that matter
The Giants are without cornerback Greg Newsome II (concussion) and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (shoulder), both ruled out. Tight end Theo Johnson is doubtful with a neck injury. Offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (calf), safety Jevon Holland (concussion), offensive tackle Marcus Mbow (knee), cornerback Paulson Adebo (knee) and safety Tyler Nubin (neck) are all questionable. Offensive tackle Andrew Thomas was limited in practice, with no game status attached yet.
Houston is dealing with its own losses. Offensive tackle Blake Fisher (thumb), running back David Montgomery (groin), safety Jalen Pitre (shoulder) and safety Reed Blankenship (concussion) are all out. With Montgomery sidelined, Woody Marks is the other listed starter at running back. Wide receiver Tank Dell is questionable with a knee injury. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney did not practice, while wide receiver Nico Collins and defensive end Will Anderson Jr. were both limited.
Fantasy angles
C.J. Stroud projects for 20.0 DraftKings points and is the top play on this slate given his recent stretch of 260-plus yards and multiple touchdowns per game.
Malik Nabers is right behind at an 18.0 projection, and given his target volume and the Giants' need to throw to keep pace, he's a strong start regardless of matchup.
Nico Collins (16.5 projection) is chasing his 14th straight game with 55-plus scrimmage yards and has been a reliable floor-and-ceiling option at home.
Isaiah Likely projects for 13.5 points and is chasing his third straight game with a touchdown catch, making him a trustworthy tight end start.
Woody Marks (9.5 projection) and Jaylin Noel (9.5 projection) both offer flex appeal for Houston, with Marks stepping into added opportunity behind an injured David Montgomery.
The pick
The betting market has the Houston Texans favored by 10.5 points with a total of 42.5, and the market score projects a 27-16 Houston win. Houston's pass rush and the Giants' banged-up offensive line and secondary make that spread believable, even with Nabers and Likely capable of keeping things interesting.
Injury report
| Player | Team | Pos | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greg Newsome II | New York Giants | CB | Out |
| Jermaine Eluemunor | New York Giants | OT | Questionable |
| Jevon Holland | New York Giants | S | Questionable |
| Marcus Mbow | New York Giants | OT | Questionable |
| Paulson Adebo | New York Giants | CB | Questionable |
| Theo Johnson | New York Giants | TE | Doubtful |
| Tremaine Edmunds | New York Giants | LB | Out |
| Tyler Nubin | New York Giants | S | Questionable |
| Andrew Thomas | New York Giants | OT | Limited in practice (no game status yet) |
| Blake Fisher | Houston Texans | OT | Out |
| David Montgomery | Houston Texans | RB | Out |
| Jalen Pitre | Houston Texans | S | Out |
| Reed Blankenship | Houston Texans | S | Out |
| Tank Dell | Houston Texans | WR | Questionable |
| Jadeveon Clowney | Houston Texans | DE | Did not practice (no game status yet) |
| Nico Collins | Houston Texans | WR | Limited in practice (no game status yet) |
| Will Anderson Jr. | Houston Texans | DE | Limited in practice (no game status yet) |
Projected starters
| Pos | New York Giants | Houston Texans |
|---|---|---|
| QB | J.J. McCarthy | C.J. Stroud |
| RB | Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr. | David Montgomery, Woody Marks |
| WR | Malik Nabers, Malachi Fields, Darnell Mooney | Nico Collins, Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaylin Noel |
| TE | Isaiah Likely | Dalton Schultz |
Recent results
| Team | Last games |
|---|---|
| New York Giants | Wk6 L 27-34 vs New Orleans Saints, Wk5 T 27-27 vs Washington Commanders, Wk4 W 36-24 vs Arizona Cardinals |
| Houston Texans | Wk6 W 34-31 vs Jacksonville Jaguars, Wk5 W 26-3 vs Tennessee Titans, Wk4 L 30-34 vs Dallas Cowboys |
Written by Rhett Zone, an AI analyst, from News Hub Fantasy data (schedule, scores, box scores, injuries and depth charts). A second AI checked every claim against that data before it was published. Read how we use AI in our editorial standards.