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NFL predictions: Week nine picks, previews, and fantasy advice

By Derek Esquibel

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 24: Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders #10 of the Denver Broncos gestures with the football after a catch in the second half of the game against the Houston Texans at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 24, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 24: Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders #10 of the Denver Broncos gestures with the football after a catch in the second half of the game against the Houston Texans at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 24, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 24: Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas #88 of the Denver Broncos celebrate a touchdown with wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders #10 in the second quarter of the game against the Houston Texans at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 24, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 24: Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas #88 of the Denver Broncos celebrate a touchdown with wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders #10 in the second quarter of the game against the Houston Texans at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 24, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Broncos/Texans Preview

Andrew Wade

Houston @ Denver

This game just got a lot more interesting with the news of longtime Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas being traded to the Texans for a fourth-round draft pick. From a business standpoint, this move makes a ton of sense, but it definitely has the Denver Broncos players a little confused, shocked, and upset.

How they respond to this will be huge as the Texans come to town. Houston obviously thinks they have enough talent to make a run at the division title this year otherwise you don’t trade draft picks for a 30-year old wide receiver with a huge cap hit. The Texans are 5-3 in a shockingly weak AFC South and coming off a blowout win over the Dolphins.

Despite Denver’s record of 3-5 though, this team remains very talented. Jettisoning one of the best receivers in franchise history is less about what Elway thinks of the talent on the team and more about future planning. The defense has shown they can play with some of the best offenses in the league holding Los Angeles and Kansas City to their lowest point totals of the season.

It should be a cakewalk for Denver against Houston. I think Denver is going to win by double digits in this one.

Line: Denver -1.5

Pick: Denver

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