RADIO
Ka'imi Fairbairn Is a Top-10 Kicker in Week 1
Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn was one of the best fantasy kickers in the NFL last season, taking advantage of his team's red-zone struggles to kick plenty of field goals. He made 44 of his 48 field-goal attempts over 15 games and went a perfect 28-for-28 on extra points. He was excellent from long range as well, going 9-for-13 from over 50 yards. This offseason, Houston locked up the 32-year-old from Hawaii with a two-year, $13 million extension. While the offense hopes to be more efficient in the red zone this season, especially after adding David Montgomery, Fairbairn remains a very strong option at the position. In Week 1's home matchup against the Bills, Fairbairn is the No. 10 kicker in RotoBaller's rankings, and he's a solid, reliable start in almost all formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dalton Schultz Is a High-Risk Option in Week 1
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz could get enough work to be a deep-league starter this season with Jayden Higgins (knee) vacating targets due to his season-ending injury and Tank Dell (knee) on IR to start the season. However, Schultz has a very tough Week 1 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, who were the best team in the NFL at limiting tight ends last year in PPR scoring. He did have 106 targets last year, and his strong rapport with C.J. Stroud could get him enough volume to overcome the tough matchup. However, Schultz is only RotoBaller's TE 19 this week in PPR formats, making him not the best option unless you're forced to look for emergency, last-minute help from the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaylin Noel Healthy for Week 1, Ready for a Bigger Role?
Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel (hamstring/finger) is not on the injury report headed into his team's Week 1 matchup with the Buffalo Bills. The third-round pick played all 17 regular-season games as a rookie, totaling 26 catches for 292 yards and two touchdowns. Noel could be more involved this year after Jayden Higgins (knee) was lost for the season, but he has yet to lock in a role and remains a very high-risk play for Week 1. Even with Kayshon Boutte joining the mix on the outside, Noel could still be the primary option in the slot. Noel is RotoBaller's No. 83 WR for Week 1, so while he is worth a stash in dynasty or deep leagues due to his potential, he isn't a starter in hardly any formats against the Bills.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kayshon Boutte a Deep-League Sleeper in Texans Debut
Houston Texans wide receiver Kayshon Boutte is ready to play his first game for the Texans after joining them via trade from the New England Patriots this preseason. With Jayden Higgins (knee) out for the year, Boutte could emerge as the team's second option behind Nico Collins. Since he hasn't played with QB C.J. Stroud very long, though, it's hard to know exactly what his role will be in Week 1 against the Bills. Last year for the Patriots, Boutte was a home-run threat who was a boom-or-bust play on his way to 551 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He could be in a similar role for the Texans, which makes him a high-risk play in Week 1, when he's ranked as the No. 58 WR in RotoBaller's rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nico Collins Is a Top-10 WR in Week 1
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins is lined up for a heavy workload in Week 1, and he's a great option to get in fantasy lineups against the Buffalo Bills. Collins has posted three straight seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards, even though he has missed games each year. Last season, he racked up 1,117 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season as C.J. Stroud's top target. This year, Houston lost its second receiver, Jayden Higgins (knee), for the season to a preseason injury, and that could leave even more targets and opportunities for Collins. Stroud will be looking to bounce back after the rough end to last season, and if he's effective, he'll lean heavily on Collins. Against the Bills, Collins is a low-end WR1, checking in as RotoBaller's No. 7 WR in the PPR rankings for Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Woody Marks Can Be a Deep-League Flex Sleeper
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks will be in a timeshare to start his second season in the NFL, but he could work his way into a large enough role that he has fantasy value. Last year, as a rookie, Marks finished the year with three receiving touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, 208 receiving yards, and 708 rushing yards. The Texans went out and added veteran David Montgomery to the mix this offseason, but Marks is still likely to be involved on receiving downs. He seemed to wear down at times last season and could benefit from the shared workload, but he could also lose valuable red zone work, raising his risk factors. For Week 1's matchup against the Bills, Marks is only the No. 45 RB in RotoBaller's rankings, but he could get close to a 50-50 split in the timeshare, which could make him a deep-league sleeper in PPR leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
David Montgomery a Strong Flex Play vs. Buffalo
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery is ready for his debut with his new team against the Bills in Week 1, and it will be exciting to see how the team rotates him and Woody Marks in the backfield. Montgomery is expected to handle most of the early-down work, and the always valuable touches near the end zone. The Texans struggled in the red zone last year, so they added Montgomery from the Lions this offseason. The veteran is expected to serve as the closer, while Marks is a home-run threat and third-down specialist. The uncertainty of the timeshare keeps Montgomery from ranking even higher, but for Week 1, he's the No. 21 RB in RotoBaller's PPR rankings. While he can be a low-end RB2 in many leagues, he's a very strong FLEX play, since the Texans will look to rely on the running game and their defense in Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
C.J. Stroud Is a Low-End QB2 in Week 1
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud will host the Bills in Week 1, as Stroud tries to prove he's worth a contract as a true franchise QB. He struggled down the stretch last season and in the playoffs, and he has lots of unanswered questions coming into his fourth NFL season. Last year, he threw 19 touchdowns and reached 3,041 passing yards in 14 regular-season games. His passer rating and adjusted QBR both improved last year compared to 2024, but his rough ending to the season leaves questions about his effectiveness. The Texans will look to rely on their defense and running game again this year, leaving Stroud as a low-volume, touchdown-reliant option in most matchups. The Bills were a top-10 defense against QBs last year, so Stroud is RotoBaller's No. 22 QB in Week 1, leaving him on the bench in all but the deepest two-QB leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kayshon Boutte Has a Real Shot to Break Out in Houston
Houston Texans wide receiver Kayshon Boutte landed in a much better fantasy spot when Houston traded for him late in August, and the early signs point to a real role. The Texans plan to use him immediately, with Boutte expected to replace injured Jayden Higgins as the No. 2 receiver opposite Nico Collins. That's a big jump from where things were headed in New England. Boutte caught 33 passes for 551 yards and six touchdowns last season, averaging 16.7 yards per reception, but the volume was never really there. It could be now. Tank Dell is also opening the season on injured reserve, and DeMeco Ryans has praised how quickly Boutte has picked up the offense. Boutte has been putting in extra work with C.J. Stroud, too. He still needs to prove he can turn this opportunity into steady targets instead of living on big plays, but the path is there. If this role holds, Boutte's fantasy value could climb fast.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
C.J. Stroud an Intriguing Streamer in Potential Week 1 Shootout
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud could be headed for a high passing volume and plenty of scoring opportunities in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills. Stroud was consistently drafted in fantasy leagues with 14+ teams, leaving him available on the waiver wire in eight-team and 10-team formats, as well as some 12-team leagues. The former No. 2 overall pick is looking to shake off a frustrating 2025 season in which he threw for a modest 3,041 passing yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His production continued to go downhill in the playoffs. Stroud has now seen his fantasy ranking decline every year since being drafted, but he could trend back up in a revamped offense this year. He also stands to benefit in a big way from the Texans' Week 1 matchup against the Bills. Although Buffalo allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks last year, Texans-Bills projects as a potential shootout, leaving plenty of touchdown upside for Stroud. Managers who are already looking for some quarterback help in Week 1 should look to add Stroud off the waiver wire. He'll continue to get some favorable situations after the Bills game, as he runs into a stretch of matchups against the Bengals, Colts, Cowboys, and Titans.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tank Dell an Intriguing Stash in Leagues with an IR Spot
Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) will open the season on injured reserve. While that takes him off the immediate fantasy radar, it actually gives him specific appeal as a player to target on the waiver wire. Many fantasy leagues designate one or two roster spots specifically for players on injured reserve, for which Dell would be eligible. As a result, managers who are on the fence about stashing the Texans' wideout can now add him without occupying a normal roster spot. Dell is working his way back from a brutal knee injury that he suffered more than 18 months ago. It has been a long recovery process, and he's still not quite ready to get back on the field. However, he's worth stashing for once he's healthy enough to play again. He'll presumably be in the mix for the No. 2 receiver role alongside Nico Collins, especially after Jayden Higgins (knee) was placed on season-ending IR.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaylin Noel Gaining Value With Injuries to the Texans Receiving Room
Houston Texans' second-year wide receiver out of Iowa State, Jaylin Noel (hamstring, finger), missed a couple of weeks of action earlier in training camp; however, with Jayden Higgins (knee) out for the season and Tank Dell (knee) starting the season on the Injured Reserve, Noel projects to be the WR3 in this Texans offense. The Texans did go out and get Kayshon Boutte from the New England Patriots, which was a clear hit to Noel's immediate value, but with Boutte ramping up in the offense, it should provide Noel the immediate opportunity to take hold of the WR2 position should he perform. The Texans offense ranked 14th overall in passing offense last season and 18th overall, and Noel should be on the field in three wide receiver sets. Noel finished his rookie campaign with only 35 targets in 17 games for 292 yards and two touchdowns. Should Nico Collins or Boutte go down with an injury, that would make Noel much more intriguing, but he does have some bench value given the depth of the Texans' receiving room.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Texans Have "Big Plans" for Kayshon Boutte
The Houston Texans have "big plans" for new wide receiver Kayshon Boutte in the immediate future after acquiring him in a trade from the New England Patriots in exchange for safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round draft pick, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. The plan for Boutte is for the Texans to "utilize him immediately" in the Week 1 season opener versus the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. There is overlap for Boutte with the offensive scheme since coordinator Nick Caley is a former Patriots assistant whose playbook is similar to what Pats OC Josh McDaniels runs. "Kayshon is learning the playbook very well and we're throwing it all at him," head coach DeMeco Ryans said. "He's a smart guy. He's picked up on what we've asked him to do." Boutte has been working overtime since joining the Texans to build chemistry with quarterback C.J. Stroud. He will essentially be replacing Jayden Higgins (knee) as the WR2 in Houston after Higgins suffered a season-ending torn ACL in the preseason. With much more opportunity to become fantasy relevant than he ever had in New England, Boutte could become one of the more popular wideouts on the waiver wire early in the 2026 season. He is currently rostered in only 21% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
Source: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
Woody Marks Expected to Share Plenty of Backfield Work
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks appears headed for plenty of work in Year 2. Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reported that Houston used Marks and David Montgomery nearly evenly throughout training camp, with the carry split expected to be close even if it doesn't land exactly at 50-50. Marks led the Texans with 703 rushing yards on 196 carries as a rookie, scoring twice on the ground while adding 24 catches for 208 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He also looked sharp in his main preseason appearance, turning five touches into 43 yards with a 20-yard touchdown against Las Vegas. The Texans have talked about expanding Marks' work on third downs and in the passing game as well. Montgomery will have a significant role, but Marks looks like more than a change-of-pace option heading into the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kayshon Boutte Will be Active in Week 1, Worth a Look on Waiver Wire
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said that wide receiver "Kayshon Boutte is picking up the playbook really well" and that he will be active on Sunday, Sept. 13, for the Week 1 season opener against the Buffalo Bills, according to DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. The 24-year-old has the clearest path to fantasy relevance in his new home in Houston since entering the NFL as a sixth-round pick in 2023 by the New England Patriots out of LSU. The Texans acquired him in a trade with the Patriots this summer after they learned that second-year wideout Jayden Higgins (knee) would miss the entire 2026 season. Boutte, who has developed chemistry with quarterback C.J. Stroud quickly, is expected to serve as the team's WR2 behind Nico Collins despite limited time to learn the offense in training camp. In three seasons with the Pats, Boutte recorded 78 catches on 121 targets for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns, with six of his scores coming in 14 regular-season games in 2025. Boutte is rostered in only 20% of Yahoo leagues currently, but he could quickly become a popular waiver-wire target if he lights up the box score early on for Houston.
Source: ESPN.com - DJ Bien-Aime
Source: ESPN.com - DJ Bien-Aime
