Houston Texans News

AFC SOUTH

Tank Dell • WR • Texans

Tank Dell Will be Limited to Open Training Camp

After last playing on an NFL field in Week 16 of the 2024 season, Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) avoided the PUP list to begin training camp, but Texans beat writer Aaron Wilson reports that he will be kept out of full-team work to open camp. Dell has been medically cleared for all football activity, but the team will take it slow as he continues to work back from a gruesome injury that consisted of multiple torn ligaments, meniscus damage, and a dislocated kneecap. Through his first two seasons in the league, Dell had established an obvious chemistry with quarterback C.J. Stroud, totaling 98 receptions for 1,376 yards and ten touchdowns across 25 games and regularly earning the praise of the signal-caller with whom he came into the league as part of the Texans' 2023 draft class. Dell still has a long way to go before he can again be trusted as a reliable fantasy contributor, but at RotoBaller's WR75, he's a player to consider in the closing rounds of 2026 drafts and one whose progress should be monitored closely throughout training camp.

6 hours ago

Brevin Jordan • TE • Texans

Brevin Jordan Back to Full Health Entering Training Camp

Houston Texans tight end Brevin Jordan (knee) is fully healthy entering training camp, per Jared Koch of Sports Illustrated. After suffering a season-ending torn ACL in Week 2 of the 2024 season, Jordan missed the entirety of 2025 due to a knee/lower leg injury that he suffered during a preseason practice. The 26-year-old flashed some upside in his last healthy season in 2023, recording 17 catches for 219 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 21 targets across 14 games (six starts). If he's able to stay healthy throughout camp and make the Texans roster, Jordan would be another mouth to feed in Houston's crowded tight end room. Veteran Dalton Schultz currently projects as the team's TE1, but Houston also has tight ends Foster Moreau, Cade Stover, and 2026 second-round pick Marlin Klein on its roster. Jordan should remain off the radar of fantasy managers for now, but he could be a name to monitor if he can put together a strong preseason.

19 hours ago

Jaylin Noel • WR • Texans

Jaylin Noel Dealing With Short-Term Injury

Houston Texans second-year wide receiver Jaylin Noel (undisclosed) was placed on the Non-Football Injury list on Tuesday, but Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports reports that it's considered a short-term injury, according to a league source. The Texans aren't concerned heading into training camp. In related news, fellow wideout Tank Dell (knee), who didn't play at all in 2025 due to a serious knee injury suffered in 2024, avoided the Physically Unable to Perform list and has been cleared for training camp. The 23-year-old Noel, who was a third-rounder last year out of Iowa State, will most likely be competing with Dell this summer for the team's WR3 role to begin the year behind Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins. In his first NFL season, Noel caught just 26 passes on 35 targets for 292 yards and two touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (three starts) and took the clear back seat to Higgins. Noel will most likely go undrafted in most 12-team fantasy leagues this fall unless an injury on the WR depth chart above him opens up a clear path to consistent targets in the Texans' passing attack. RotoBaller has Noel ranked as the WR79 right now, four spots below Dell.

20 hours ago

Tank Dell • WR • Texans

Tank Dell Cleared to Take Part in Training Camp

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) avoided the Physically Unable to Perform list and has been cleared to participate in training camp, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. It's a notable development for Dell, who tore his ACL, LCL, and MCL and dislocated his knee and sustained meniscus damage in 2024, which required multiple surgeries and caused him to miss the entire 2025 campaign. The 26-year-old could still very well be limited in camp practices early on, but it confirms what the Texans have been saying in the offseason: that Dell will help them in 2026. The former third-round pick in 2023 will be a wild card for Houston's offense this year, and it remains to be seen if he can recapture his pre-injury form as a dangerous deep threat. In his first two seasons (25 games played), Dell caught 98 of his 156 yards for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns. Dell is currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 75 fantasy WR for 2026, but his stock could rise if he looks good in camp and the preseason. If/when he's back to full health for the regular season, Dell will be battling for a role alongside WR1 Nico Collins and second-year wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel (undisclosed). At best, Dell will probably be the Texans' WR3.

20 hours ago

Jayden Higgins • WR • Texans

Jayden Higgins a Low-Risk Breakout Candidate in the Later Rounds of 2026 Drafts

Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins was a standout during OTAs and minicamp, and with the team slated to return to the field on Saturday for their first practice of training camp, the second-year wideout will look to continue building momentum. As a rookie in 2025, Higgins finished third on the Texans in targets, receptions, and yards, while his six touchdown grabs tied two-time Pro Bowler Nico Collins for the team lead. During spring practices, he looked notably bigger while running more precise routes, raising expectations heading into year two. Fourth-year quarterback C.J. Stroud has his detractors, and Houston returns one of the league's premier defensive units, allowing for questions of how high a ceiling Higgins can truly reach, particularly with Collins still in tow. However, going more than seven rounds behind fellow second-year wideouts Tetairoa McMillan, Luther Burden III, and Emeka Egbuka in 2026 drafts, Higgins is not a cost-prohibitive bet on a year-two breakout, and he is currently RotoBaller's WR55.

2 days ago

Ka'imi Fairbairn • K • Texans

Improved Offensive Efficiency Could Hurt Ka'imi Fairbairn's Fantasy Prospects

Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn led the NFL with 44 made field goals in 2025 despite missing two games with a quad injury, and his 12.9 standard fantasy points per game led the position, but changes to the Texans offense could hurt his value in 2026. The Texans scored touchdowns on only 45.9% of their red zone trips last season, better than only the Saints, Jets, and Chargers, but in trading for running back David Montgomery, they have acquired one of the league's most efficient red zone runners of the past three seasons. Since 2023, Montgomery has scored 29 rushing touchdowns from inside the 20-yard line, and his presence could drastically cut down on Fairbairn's scoring opportunities. With a field goal conversion percentage above 91% in three of the past four seasons, Fairbairn is still as reliable as they come, but with fewer projected chip shots, he could struggle to deliver upon his current ADP of K2.

3 days ago

Dalton Schultz • TE • Texans

Dalton Schultz Should Again Be Part of the Streaming Conversation in 2026

Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz saw more than 100 targets and made a career-high 82 catches on his way to a TE11 finish in 2025. Rarely flashy, Schultz is a player who consistently earns the trust of his quarterbacks, and he has now finished as a TE1 in five of the last six seasons despite topping five touchdown catches only once in that stretch. A reliable target-earner, Schultz has caught at least 50 passes in every season since taking over as a full-time starter in 2020, providing a safe fantasy floor at a position where that is often enough. While he has turned in a top five weekly finish only twice in the past two seasons, Schultz has never strayed far from usability. Although he only enters the year as RotoBaller's TE24, it should come as no surprise when he once again enters the weekly streaming conversation in 2026.

5 days ago

Woody Marks • RB • Texans

Woody Marks a Sneaky Value Pick in PPR Formats in 2026

Houston Texans running back Woody Marks led the team in rushing in 2025 in his rookie season after being taken in the fourth round (116th overall) out of USC, carrying the ball 196 times for 703 yards and two touchdowns in 16 regular-season games (eight starts). The 25-year-old added 24 receptions for 208 yards and three touchdowns on 36 targets as a pass-catcher. Fantasy managers may be down on him going into his second NFL season due to the Texans' offseason addition of David Montgomery, which could present a buying opportunity in both redraft and dynasty/keeper leagues this year. Running backs coach Danny Barrett said he still thinks the Georgia native will take on a sizable role in the team's backfield this year despite Monty's presence. Marks lacks the explosiveness as a pure runner -- he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry as a rookie -- and although he disappointed somewhat as a receiver in 2025, that's where most of his value will most likely lie in 2026. He profiles as a nice late-round target for RB depth in PPR leagues, and he'll be a solid handcuff to Montgomery as well.

6 days ago

Joe Mixon • RB • Texans

Joe Mixon Tells Former Teammates His Career is Over

Free-agent running back Joe Mixon's (ankle, foot) NFL career has come to an end, according to Texans beat reporter Aaron Wilson. With teams around the league reconvening for the start of training camps, some of the still-unsigned veteran free agents could soon be presented with opportunities to find a new home, but Mixon has reportedly informed former teammates that he has taken his last professional snap. After a successful first season with the Texans, Mixon sustained a curious foot injury during the 2025 offseason that sidelined him for the entire season and led to his release in March. Very few details have since emerged about the ailment that was first speculated to be related to the ankle injury that caused him to miss time in 2024 but was officially designated a non-football injury. Thursday's report brings closure to what has been one of the stranger stories in the NFL over the past year-plus.

6 days ago

Jaylin Noel • WR • Texans

Jaylin Noel has Deep-League Sleeper Potential in Year 2

Even though Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel figures to be a bigger part of the passing game in his second season in 2026, most fantasy managers won't be looking his way after he posted a 26-292-2 line in 17 regular-season games (three starts) last year after he was selected in the third round (79th overall) out of Iowa State. Nico Collins and fellow second-year wideout Jayden Higgins figure to be the team's top-two WRs, so ultimately, Noel's case for a second-year breakout could depend on how much Tank Dell can do after missing the entire 2025 season following a devastating knee injury in 2024. The 23-year-old reportedly looked strong during minicamp this offseason, and he made the most of his limited opportunities in his rookie campaign in an inconsistent offense. If Noel stakes claim to the No. 3 role in Houston, his raw athleticism and versatility make him an interesting late-round dart throw in fantasy drafts this fall. He finished his rookie year just inside the top-100 WRs in half-PPR points, but RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 79 WR going into Year 2.

6 days ago

Tank Dell • WR • Texans

Tank Dell a Giant Question Mark Coming Off Major Knee Injury

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) had a promising rookie season in 2023 after he was taken with the 69th overall pick in the third round out of the University of Houston, catching 47 of his 75 targets for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in just 11 regular-season games. It all came crashing down in 2024 when the 26-year-old tore multiple ligaments in his knee and dislocated his kneecap. He missed all of last year as a result and still isn't full-go with training camp right around the corner, making his availability for the start of the 2026 season in early September still a mystery. Nico Collins is Houston's unquestioned alpha WR1, and second-year wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are both expected to have bigger roles in the passing attack. So once Dell gets back up to speed, whenever that is, he figures to be competing for targets as the WR3 or WR4 in an offense that hasn't been nearly as good as it was the last two seasons as it was in QB C.J. Stroud's rookie season. The Texans are expecting Dell to contribute in 2026, but because he might merely be trying to work back into form for most of the year, it's hard to recommend him as a 12-team redraft stash. RotoBaller has Dell currently ranked as the No. 75 WR.

6 days ago

Nico Collins • WR • Texans

Nico Collins Fully Healthy Heading into Training Camp

Houston Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins was limited in organized team activities this spring, but he explained that he wasn't dealing with any injuries, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. "Not at all, not at all. They did that. I listened to the coaches, listened to the GMs, saying yes sir. And they told me to be ready for camp, yes sir," Collins said. The 27-year-old former third-rounder in 2021 out of the University of Michigan has been a Pro Bowler in each of the last two years and has three straight 1,000-yard seasons under his belt, but he has yet to play a full season in his five years in the NFL due to injuries. He missed time last year with head injuries, and he missed five games in 2024 with a hamstring issue. When healthy, he's Houston's clear WR1 for QB C.J. Stroud, and he had 71 catches on 120 targets for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns in 15 regular-season games in 2025. Collins should continue to see a large target volume, but there remain questions about the Texans' offense as a whole, and both second-year wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel should have bigger roles in 2026. Collins should still be considered a WR1 in fantasy, he's on the lower end in RotoBaller's rankings in Tier 3.

Jul 21

David Montgomery • RB • Texans

David Montgomery a Reliable Bell Cow Available Outside the Early Rounds of Drafts

For the first time since his final season with the Bears in 2022, Houston Texans running back David Montgomery enters the year as the unquestioned leader of his team's backfield. With the Texans thrown an offseason curveball last year by the mysterious foot injury of presumed starter Joe Mixon, they were forced to piece the position together with a combination of veteran Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks, neither of whom proved particularly effective for an offense built to play with a lead. Despite sharing the Detroit backfield with perennial Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs for the past three seasons, Montgomery has remained fantasy-relevant through his continued usage near the goal line, and as a player with a proven history of handling heavy workloads, he allows Marks to slip back into a more natural pass-catching role. With a defense that can help to create positive game scripts in a hurry, Montgomery should serve as the closer that this Texans offense was sorely lacking in 2025, and as RotoBaller's RB21, he represents reliable value often available in the middle rounds of drafts.

Jul 21

C.J. Stroud • QB • Texans

Pieces in Place for C.J. Stroud to See a Modest Fantasy Rebound

Since throwing for more than 4,100 yards and 23 touchdowns as a rookie in 2023, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has seen those numbers drop in each subsequent season, passing for only 3,041 yards and 19 scores in 2025. When the Texans kick off training camp on July 29, it will be the next opportunity for Stroud to put the ugly finish of last year behind him, having thrown four interceptions while completing less than 43% of his passes in a season-ending playoff loss to the Patriots. While he is no longer a player to target in 2026 drafts, a more cohesive offensive line and continued growth from a young group of wide receivers could allow Stroud to re-enter the streaming conversation and provide a steady and predictable fantasy floor. 2025 draft picks Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are expected to take more agency in the Texans' offense after each appearing in all 17 games as rookies, while the potential return of Tank Dell after a devastating 2024 leg injury would reunite Stroud with one of his favorite targets. At RotoBaller's QB23, Stroud is likely to begin the year on waivers in most single-quarterback redraft leagues, but an early-season schedule that includes games against the Bengals, Cowboys, and Titans could see him making an immediate, unexpected impact.

Jul 19

Jawhar Jordan • RB • Texans

Jawhar Jordan "Playing Faster" as he Battles for RB3 Role

Houston Texans running backs coach Danny Barrett said that Jawhar Jordan is "playing faster than he was last year" as he battles for the RB3 role in 2026 behind newcomer David Montgomery and second-year back Woody Marks, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. After being selected in the sixth round (205th overall) in 2024 out of the University of Louisville, Jordan didn't play at all in his rookie season before carrying the ball 43 times for 193 yards and zero touchdowns in just four games in 2025. He rushed for 101 yards on 15 carries in his first regular-season game against the Arizona Cardinals, becoming the second player in franchise history to rush for 100 yards in their NFL debut. The 26-year-old is now trying to do enough in his third NFL season to stay ahead of undrafted rookies Noah Whittington and Joshua Pitsenberger, and veteran Evan Hull. Jordan's improvement and speed on the football field should be enough to land him the RB3 job if he can contribute on special teams as well, but he's going to need an injury to one of Montgomery or Marks to pop up on the fantasy radar as a waiver-wire pickup in single-year leagues in 2026.

Jul 15

Jayden Higgins • WR • Texans

Is Jayden Higgins a Breakout Receiver to Target in Fantasy Drafts?

Houston Texans second-year wide receiver Jayden Higgins is expected to see his role in the passing game grow in 2026 as he and quarterback C.J. Stroud further refine their connection and his understanding of coverages improves, according to Mike Jones of The Athletic. The 23-year-old 6-foot-4, 215-pound receiver impressed the Texans after they took him with the 34th overall pick in the second round out of Iowa State, catching 41 of his 68 targets for 525 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (10 starts). Nico Collins remains Houston's unquestioned alpha WR1, but increased production from Higgins will help ease the pressure on Collins, who led the Texans with 71 catches for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns on 120 targets in 2025. Higgins has drawn praise this offseason as the team's WR2, and he could benefit from an improved offensive line in his sophomore campaign now that veteran Christian Kirk is gone. RotoBaller has Higgins ranked as the No. 55 fantasy WR going into 2026, making him a nice under-the-radar breakout target late in upcoming drafts.

Jul 14

Xavier Hutchinson • WR • Texans

Xavier Hutchinson Considered Houston's WR4

Jared Koch of Sports Illustrated lists Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson as the team's No. 4 wideout with training camp approaching, behind Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, and Jaylin Noel. Tank Dell (knee), who missed all of last season due to a devastating knee injury suffered in 2024, could also surprise some people by climbing up the WR totem pole in Houston. The 26-year-old Hutchinson had his best year in 2025 in his third season in the NFL, catching 35 of his 57 targets for 428 yards and his first three touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (six starts). Higgins and Noel, both second-year wideouts, continue to separate themselves from the rest of the pack and are fully expected to take on bigger roles in the passing attack to support stud No. 1 WR Collins. Steady volume and consistent playing time are going to be hard to come by for Hutchinson, who was a sixth-rounder in 2023 out of Iowa State, in 2026. In standard 12-team fantasy leagues, Hutchinson should go undrafted.

Jul 10

Dalton Schultz • TE • Texans

Dynasty Managers Should Explore Dalton Schultz's Value in the Trade Market

Across 17 games in 2025, Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz recorded 82 catches for 777 yards and three touchdowns on 106 targets. Schultz's steady production was enough for him to finish as the TE13 by per-game PPR scoring, and he finished the year by scoring double-digit PPR points in five out of Houston's final seven games. However, Schultz may struggle to repeat his strong performance in 2026. Given his lack of big-play ability (career average of 7.0 yards per target), Schultz is reliant on steady target volume for fantasy production. Houston added veteran tight end Foster Moreau in free agency, selected tight end Max Klare in the second round of the 2026 draft, and should get a healthier season in 2026 out of tight end Cade Stover. Additionally, the Texans have a pair of up-and-coming young wide receivers in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel who could feature more heavily in the team's passing game this year. As he enters his age-30 season, Schultz profiles as a sell-high candidate for dynasty managers.

Jul 10

Nico Collins • WR • Texans

Nico Collins is More Hold Than Buy at WR1 Price

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins is not the easiest dynasty player to buy right now, but that does not make him someone to dump at a discount. Collins has cleared 1,000 yards in three straight seasons, including 71 catches for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns across 15 games last year. He is still only 27, still tied to C.J. Stroud, and Houston just bumped up his pay for 2026 and 2027 while keeping him under contract through next season. The price is the tricky part. RotoBaller has Collins as the WR8 in 2026 redraft rankings and WR13 in its July dynasty wide receiver rankings, so managers are already paying for a stable WR1. Tank Dell, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, and Dalton Schultz also give Stroud more places to go with the ball. Collins probably is not a screaming dynasty buy unless the price has softened, but he remains a strong hold and a reasonable contender target if his manager is worried about the deeper target tree.

Jul 8

Woody Marks • RB • Texans

Woody Marks Expected to Get "Lots of Opportunities"

Despite the offseason acquisition of running back David Montgomery, the Houston Texans still plan on giving second-year RB Woody Marks "lots of opportunities" in 2026, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Marks emerged as Houston's lead back in his first year in the NFL, with Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) missing all year and Nick Chubb fading. He led the team with 703 rushing yards and two touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 208 yards and three more TDs. The 25-year-old former fourth-rounder out of USC is now adapting to what will be a complementary role alongside Montgomery, but the Texans still envision a solid workload for him in Year 2 that includes third-down pass-catching duties and carries, along with a new role on kickoff returns. While Marks may not be Houston's "lead back" now that Monty is in town, he can still be useful for their offense and as an RB4/flex target for fantasy managers in PPR leagues. In dynasty/keeper leagues, Marks is a prime buy-low target after the Texans traded for Montgomery.

Jul 8

Houston Texans News

LEGEND