Houston Texans News

Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz put together a steadily productive campaign in 2025, recording 82 receptions for 777 yards and three touchdowns on 106 targets across 17 games. While Schultz has been a fantasy-relevant tight end at different points, 2025 is the only season of his eight-year NFL career with at least 100 targets and 80 catches. The 29-year-old has never averaged more than 10.8 yards per reception, so he's heavily reliant on target volume for fantasy production. Schultz remains atop the Texans' tight end depth chart heading into 2026, but he may be facing a significantly reduced role in his team's offense. Houston added veteran tight end Foster Moreau in free agency and used a second-round pick on tight end Marlin Klein in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Texans should also get more out of tight end Cade Stover, who missed eight games in 2025 with a foot injury. In dynasty formats, fantasy managers may want to consider selling high on Schultz before the start of the 2026 season.

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell suffered a gruesome knee injury in Week 16 of the 2024 season, which ended his sophomore campaign and caused him to miss all of the 2025 season. After dislocating his knee and tearing multiple ligaments, his recovery has been arduous, but signs now point to his eventual return in 2026. Dell has been participating in the early stages of organized team activities, and there is a belief he could be ready for the start of the season. With the Texans adding Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the 2025 NFL Draft, it's uncertain how the receiver rotation will work out alongside two-time Pro Bowler Nico Collins. Dell has taken more than 70% of his professional snaps on the outside, so despite vastly different body types, his most direct competition would appear to be the 6'4", 215-pound Higgins. Dell finished as WR38 as a rookie in 2023, and he's risen back up to WR66 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings after falling as low as WR87 in consensus ranks. That said, with the improved depth of the position since he last took the field, the ceiling could be capped for all Texans pass-catchers outside of Collins.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has been locked in this offseason and is focused on ways to improve after a second straight disappointing campaign in 2025. ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime reports that Stroud made a noticeable change to his diet to slim down this offseason, avoiding sugars and carbs. The Texans picked up Stroud's fifth-year option for the 2027 season, but 2026 will be a prove-it year to convince the team that he deserves a long-term extension. Photographs on Instagram that Stroud has shared in the weight room show a more shredded and slimmed-down version of himself. The former second overall pick out of Ohio State was a Pro Bowler in his first NFL season in 2023, throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 15 regular-season starts, but he hasn't come close to those numbers the last two seasons, and he threw for a career-low 3,041 yards and 19 TDs in 2025. The 24-year-old hasn't always been helped by the offensive line in front of him, but he appears determined to turn things around, and a bounce-back campaign could be coming if second-year wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel can step up behind WR1 Nico Collins. Target Stroud as a QB2 with upside in fantasy drafts this fall.

Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins showed flashes as a second-round rookie in 2025, but his path to a Year 2 leap could come with struggles along the way. The biggest obstacle could be the quarterback play of C.J. Stroud, who has regressed each year since his historic rookie campaign in 2023. The Texans have invested heavily in the offensive line, which should have a ripple effect on Stroud and the offense as a whole, but Higgins will still need to carve out a meaningful role to find dynasty staying power. Higgins scored two touchdowns in the three games missed by two-time Pro Bowler Nico Collins, and with the two both profiling as prototypical X-receivers, Higgins may not always find the field in two-receiver sets. With fellow second-year Cyclone Jaylin Noel expected to inherit Christian Kirk's role out of the slot, Higgins could find himself in a rotation with Tank Dell, who is on track to return from the 2024 knee injury that cost him the entire 2025 season. Higgins has the traits to become a consistent fantasy producer, but dynasty managers may be underwhelmed by the opportunities he sees in his second season, and at RotoBaller's WR44, he merely remains a hold until he proves he can overcome the situation.

The long-term dynasty success of Houston Texans running back Woody Marks will likely come down to his role in the passing game. As a rookie in 2025, Marks caught only 24 passes despite coming into the league as one of the most prolific receiving backs in college football history. With eight-year veteran Nick Chubb offering little in the running game, Marks was forced into a lead-back role for much of the season, but the fourth-round pick was not overly efficient on the ground, averaging only 3.6 yards per carry. With the Texans sending fourth and seventh-round picks to acquire David Montgomery, the former Lion and Bear is expected to handle the bulk of early-down, between-the-tackles work for Houston. The Texans have a recent history of turning the backfield over to a fourth-round rookie, with Dameon Pierce picking up 939 yards on 220 carries in 2022, only to drop off the fantasy map in later seasons. For Marks to have any dynasty staying power, he will need to lean on his obvious pass-catching abilities to carve out a meaningful change-of-pace role.

Despite another disappointing season in 2025, the Houston Texans have had nothing but good things to say about quarterback C.J. Stroud this offseason, according to Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle. "C.J.'s done a really good job all offseason just continuing to be locked in, continuing to prepare the right way," head coach DeMeco Ryans said. "Proud of the work that he's putting in right now." When CEO Cal McNair was asked about Stroud, he said, "We're fully committed to C.J." The Texans unsurprisingly picked up Stroud's fifth-year option for the 2027 season, so they now have two seasons to work out a potential long-term extension with the former second overall pick in 2023 out of Ohio State. The 24-year-old had career lows in passing yards (3,041) and passing touchdowns (19) in 14 regular-season games in 2025 in his third year in the NFL. It's now been two straight down years after his Pro Bowl season in his rookie campaign, and fantasy managers will be wondering if Stroud can ever get back to his rookie level, when he threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 15 regular-season starts. He's going to need both Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to step up alongside Nico Collins, and having Tank Dell (knee) contribute will be big as well. For fantasy purposes, Stroud's dynasty stock is obviously down, but a bounce-back is entirely possible in 2026.

Since a historical 2023 rookie season in which he passed for 4,108 yards and threw 23 touchdowns to only five interceptions, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has seen his production and fantasy value drop year after year. Missing three games in 2025, he barely topped 3,000 passing yards, and his season-ending Divisional Round loss to the Patriots, in which he completed 42.6% of his passes while throwing four interceptions, has left a sour taste in the mouths of dynasty managers. Once charting in as high as QB2 in consensus dynasty rankings, Stroud now ranks as RotoBaller's QB18. The Texans exercised his fifth-year option in April, giving them two more years of team control before a long-term decision on his future will need to be made. Houston has spent the past two drafts building around its young signal-caller, first with receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in 2025, and then with offensive linemen Keylan Rutledge and Febechi Nwaiwu in 2026. With the expected return to health of one of his favorite targets from his rookie season, Tank Dell, the pieces are falling into place for Stroud to outperform his current value and level off as a dependable QB2.

The Houston Texans and Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair agreed to terms on a three-year, $54 million contract extension on Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Al-Shaair was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2025 in his second season with the Texans, and he finished with 103 tackles (48 solo), a career-high two interceptions, nine pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 16 regular-season starts. The 28-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Florida Atlantic has 100-plus combined tackles in three of his seven NFL seasons and has accumulated a total of 535 tackles (288 solo), six sacks, four interceptions, 24 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries in his seven years in the league. The middle linebacker had surgery on his thumb in the offseason, but he should be recovered in time for Week 1 of the upcoming 2026 season to run it back with one of the best overall defenses in the league. Al-Shaair finished as the No. 38 linebacker in 2025 in IDP fantasy formats.

Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel took nearly two-thirds of his snaps out of the slot as a rookie after seeing nearly a 75% rate at Iowa State, but his path to playing time in 2025 was often blocked by veteran Christian Kirk. Kirk signed a one-year deal with the 49ers in free agency, and the primary slot duties in Houston should now fall to Noel. 2023 third-round pick, and a personal favorite target of quarterback C.J. Stroud, Tank Dell is expected back after missing all of his third season with a dislocated knee and multiple torn ligaments. Despite his small frame, Dell has spent most of his time on the outside since turning professional, and while 2026 will mark his first time working in offensive coordinator Nick Caley's system, history would suggest that, despite their radically different body types, he will present more of a competition to Jayden Higgins in two-receiver sets. Noel should still see plenty of run as the third receiver on the field in 11 personnel, and at RotoBaller's WR72, it's possible he's being severely slept on after showing significant flashes in the two mid-season games missed by Kirk.

Houston Texans running back David Montgomery was acquired this offseason when the team sent a package, including their 2026 fourth-round pick, to the Detroit Lions. Montgomery joined a backfield that was dominated, largely out of necessity, by 2025 fourth-round pick Woody Marks, and with the Texans entering the NFL Draft with few glaring needs, there was a thought that they could add an additional body to the room. That did not come to pass, and Montgomery escaped the weekend as the clear top back on the depth chart. While splitting time with former first-round pick and three-time Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery averaged more than 70 yards and .73 touchdowns per game in their time together. Marks is a reliable pass catcher who will prevent him from taking on a full bellcow role, but Montgomery is in a position to handle his largest workload since his time in Chicago, and at RotoBaller's dynasty RB31, he is a smart buy for contending managers.

The Houston Texans have selected Boston College wide receiver Lewis Bond with the 204th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Bond saw increased production across his five years with the Eagles, leading the team with 88 catches for 993 yards in 2025, though he found the end zone only once. Operating primarily out of the slot and winning with toughness and strong hands, his lack of size or elite traits may catch up to him as he makes the jump up to NFL competition. With Tank Dell and Jaylin Noel already working in a similar space for the Texans, Bond could struggle to find the field and is unlikely to make any fantasy impact early in his career.

The Houston Texans have selected University of Michigan tight end Marlin Klein with the 59th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. Across 11 games with the Wolverines in 2025, Klein recorded 24 receptions for 248 yards and one touchdown. While Klein's collegiate numbers don't stand out, he's regarded as a high-upside developmental prospect. Klein won't necessarily be expected to contribute right away in Houston, as the Texans have Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover atop their tight end depth chart. As a result, Klein has more fantasy appeal in dynasty formats than redraft leagues for 2026.

The Houston Texans have traded up from pick 28 to pick 26 to select Georgia Tech interior offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge. Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Houston is sending picks number 28, 69, and 168 to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for picks 26 and 91. Rutledge began his college career at Middle Tennessee State before transferring to Georgia Tech for his final two collegiate seasons. The Texans have fielded one of the least consistent offensive lines in the NFL over the last two seasons, so Rutledge should have a chance to step in as a starter immediately. Rutledge's presence in Houston should be a boost for Texans running back David Montgomery and quarterback C.J. Stroud.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, several teams have checked in on the status of Houston Texans' top wide receiver Nico Collins. Schultz noted that many teams in the league believe Collins is seeking a contract adjustment, which could open the door to a trade. However, at this time, a trade remains "highly unlikely." Collins has spent his entire NFL career with the Houston Texans since joining them in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Michigan. After a slow start to his career, the wideout turned in a massive Year 3 breakout when he totaled 1,297 yards with a career-best eight touchdowns. In 2025, Collins caught 71 passes, the second-most of his career, for 1,117 yards and six scores. With Houston, Collins figures to remain the focal point of the passing attack and remain a low-end WR1 for fantasy in the upcoming campaign.

The Houston Texans and All-Pro edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. agreed to a blockbuster three-year, $150 million contract extension on Friday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The deal includes $134 million guaranteed to make Anderson the league's highest-paid non-QB ever. The deal also includes a rare no-trade clause. The 24-year-old is one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL after he was taken third overall by Houston in the 2023 NFL draft out of Alabama. Anderson has had double-digit sacks in each of the last two seasons and finished last year with a career-high 54 tackles (35 solo), a career-high 12 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, 23 QB hits, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown) in 17 regular-season starts. He was a big reason the Texans had the top-ranked defense in the NFL in 2025, and he finished as the No. 6 defensive lineman in IDP fantasy formats. Anderson finished second behind Myles Garrett in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2025.

Across 17 games in 2025, Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz recorded 82 receptions for 777 yards and three touchdowns on 106 targets. The 29-year-old's production surge came as a bit of a surprise, as he posted three consecutive seasons with fewer than 60 receptions and 90 targets from 2022 through 2024. Still, despite the bump in volume, Schultz's fantasy upside is limited by his lack of explosiveness. He averaged fewer than 10 yards per reception in 2025 and has never averaged more than 10.8 yards per catch in any of his eight NFL seasons. Schultz's 2025 production was also boosted by the absence of fellow Texans tight end Cade Stover, who missed eight games with a foot injury. Schultz maintains some fantasy value as a high-floor PPR streamer, but his dynasty upside remains capped heading into 2026.

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) has not played since suffering a brutal knee injury in Week 16 of the 2024 season, and general manager Nick Caserio said that the team expects to have a better read on what he'll be able to do going forward once the Texans are deeper into their offseason program. "With Tank, honestly, it's probably day to day," Caserio said. "We'll see where he is -- probably have a better idea as we get through the spring of what his availability is going to be in training camp. He's been here pretty religiously since he's been able to do more." The 26-year-old former third-rounder in 2023 out of Houston should remain stashed in all dynasty/keeper leagues, but he'll be a total wild card in redraft formats after a devastating knee injury that initially looked like it could end Dell's career. Dell had 98 catches for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns in 25 games in his first two NFL seasons, so he could be a difference-maker for this offense behind WR1 Nico Collins if he returns to pre-injury form. However, we're still waiting to see if Dell will even be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season in September.

Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins flashed upside during his rookie season in 2025, catching 41 passes for 525 yards and six touchdowns. He opened the year third on the depth chart but ultimately surpassed Christian Kirk, settling into the No. 2 receiver role behind Nico Collins. The Texans' receiver room remains a bit crowded going forward, as Tank Dell (knee) should return to the mix next season, and Jaylin Noel is also trending up. However, Higgins' track record from his rookie campaign suggests that he could remain penciled into the No. 2 role behind Collins. He totaled nine targets, four catches, 111 yards, two touchdowns, and 27.1 full-PPR fantasy points over his final two games last season. Given the momentum that he had near the end of the season, he's trending up this offseason and is a real threat to break out in Year 2. At the moment, the Iowa State product ranks as the #45 wide receiver in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings.

Houston Texans running back Woody Marks handled more than 230 opportunities as a rookie, the third-highest total of any first-year player in his class, despite being the ninth running back selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. He flirted with low RB2 status over the second half of the season but got there on volume alone, as his efficiency numbers ranked near the bottom of the league. Marks could buck the trend, but historically, rookie running backs who receive that sort of workload after falling to the third day of the draft tend to get there because of a lack of surrounding talent, and that kind of situational success has been mostly unsustainable. In Marks' case, Houston has already added David Montgomery via trade, and he should be able to add the sort of between-the-tackles presence they may have thought they had in Nick Chubb last season. Marks is unlikely to see another 200 carries in year two, but where he could see a boost is through the passing game. He saw only a 6.7% target share after leaving USC as one of the most prolific pass-catching backs in college football history. With Montgomery in the fold to handle early down work, Marks could settle into his more natural role as a third down, change of pace back, offsetting some of his fantasy production as a receiver, even if his overall volume should drop.

The Houston Texans have exercised quarterback C.J. Stroud's fifth-year option for 2027. As a former first-round pick, Stroud's rookie contract came with a team option for a fifth year. He is now under contract for two more seasons and will make more than $25.9 million in 2027. Stroud was terrific as a rookie back in 2023, but he's coming off two relatively disappointing campaigns, as well as a six-quarter span in the 2025 playoffs during which he coughed up seven turnovers. Still, the low points haven't been bad enough for the Texans to begin searching for a new quarterback. They still view Stroud as a potential long-term solution, which is why they've committed to paying him through 2027. It will be interesting to see what happens after his rookie deal expires, though, as Stroud is currently scheduled to hit free agency prior to the 2028 season. His performance over the next two years will dictate how aggressive the Texans are in trying to extend him, as well as how much money he'll fetch in his next contract.