Thursday Night Football bettors, meet Davis Mills, your new Houston Texans starting quarterback.
No, it won't be Tyrod Taylor or Deshaun Watson taking snaps under center against the Carolina Panthers. Cam Newton isn't walking in the door as a free agent.
It'll be a third-round rookie quarterback in a primetime spot as a home underdog with Houston getting 8 points (real-time odds here).
So, who is Davis Mills and should your money go on him or against him?
Davis Mills College Career
Mills was an elite prospect coming out of Greater Atlanta Christian School. He was the consensus No. 1 quarterback in the Class of 2017, ahead of Tua Tagovailoa, Jame Fromm, Mac Jones and others. He picked Stanford over Georgia, and many Bulldog fans in the state were sad to see him head to the west coast.
Mills ended up as a two-year starter at Stanford, making 14 career appearances (5 starts in a COVID-shortened 2020 season). He spent four total seasons in college, redshirting his freshman year and serving as K.J. Costello's backup during his second season.
In those 14 appearances, Mills threw 18 touchdowns to eight interceptions, completing 65.5% of his passes for 3,468 yards.
Individual highlights include a 504-yard performance against Washington State in 2019. In '20, he threw for more than one touchdown in a game just once, throwing three touchdowns and three interceptions in the season finale against UCLA. His 428 yards that game were a season high.
Davis Mills NFL Career
The 6-foot-3 quarterback was drafted in the third round of the NFL draft, 67th overall. Mills was the seventh quarterback taken, behind Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Justin Fields, Mac Jones and Kyle Trask. Mills got some draft hype because his pedigree, and there was even some buzz he could go in the first round.
After replacing Tyrod Taylor, who suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2, Mills completed 8-of-18 passes (42%) for 102 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
At least for now, the team has decided not to bring in another quarterback with Taylor out and Watson unlikely to be active. Jeff Driskel will be Mills' backup with Taylor injured.
Davis Mills Fantasy Football Rankings
Mills doesn't appear to be a quarterback worthy of consideration in fantasy football leagues this week. According to The Action Network consensus rankings, Mills comes in at No. 32 in Week 3 for quarterbacks.
If you're really in a pinch in a two-quarterback or Superflex league, and don't have a third quarterback on your roster, he may be better than nothing. Taylor will miss at least the next two weeks.
Mills had just 86 rushing yards on 63 career attempts (sacks included) but did score three touchdowns with his legs. He doesn't have much mobility, but has some arm talent, and that prospect pedigree should help give him a few chances in the NFL, even if he falters early.
