RADIO
Jayden Higgins Losing Steam in Houston's WR Corps
Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins (knee) was a potential breakout candidate heading into the 2026 campaign before a torn ACL in the preseason derailed his year. Now, uncertainty remains about where the Iowa State product sits in the team's receiving hierarchy. Higgins was slated to operate as the team's No. 2 pass catcher behind veteran Nico Collins this season, though he never got the chance. In the meantime, teammate Tank Dell got healthy, and the team traded for former Arizona Cardinal wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. - reuniting him with his old college quarterback, C.J. Stroud. Higgins appeared to have the tools to handle a complementary role in an NFL passing game, but now looks to be at best Houston's third option when he's healthy. It's an unfortunate outcome for a young wideout with potential, but also too early in his career to peg him as a bust or count him out. For now, owners must take a wait-and-see approach with the 23-year-old.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Dalton Schultz's Early-Season Production Proves Short-Lived
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz enters Week 9 ranked as the TE22 by RotoBaller after his 12-catch, 140-yard performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2 failed to translate into sustained fantasy production. Across his next five games, Schultz totaled 17 receptions for 147 yards, never exceeding six targets or 45 receiving yards in any contest. He did draw six targets in each of Houston's final two games before its Week 8 bye, but his playing time has become less consistent. Schultz played just 40% of the offensive snaps against Jacksonville in Week 6 before improving to 57% against the New York Giants. Foster Moreau, meanwhile, has caught three touchdowns on only 11 receptions, including two against the Jaguars when he played 62% of Houston's offensive snaps. Schultz remains scoreless despite recording 33 catches this season. His receiving involvement still offers some appeal in deeper PPR leagues, but the limited yardage and Moreau's emergence as a scoring threat make Schultz difficult to trust as a weekly starter.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Texans Looking to Get Nico Collins More Involved
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins remains a priority for offensive coordinator Nick Caley, who said Thursday that Collins will "always be a focal point of the offense" and that the team intends to find more ways to get him the ball, according to Aaron Wilson. The comments come after a disappointing stretch for Collins, who has totaled just 10 receptions for 136 yards without a touchdown over his last three games. That followed a seven-catch, 118-yard performance against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4, when he scored twice. Collins was particularly quiet against the New York Giants in Week 7, catching just two of five targets for six yards before Houston's bye. The 27-year-old has recorded 24 receptions for 329 yards and three touchdowns across five appearances this season. He remains a starting fantasy receiver heading into Sunday's Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, with Caley's comments offering some encouragement that Houston will make a more concerted effort to involve him.
Source: Aaron Wilson
Source: Aaron Wilson
Marvin Harrison Jr. Eyes More Production After Team's Bye Week
Houston wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will look to start producing a bit more for his new team after the team had its bye in Week 8. Since being traded to the Texans, Harrison has eight targets, but just four catches for 40 yards. His lone catch in Week 7 against the Giants was a touchdown, so that's maybe another reason why his fantasy value is rising a bit. Harrison logged just 12 offensive snaps in Week 6, then played 13 snaps in Week 7. It's fair to assume his playing time and role could improve now that he's been around the team for several weeks. Harrison is still only WR66 in our RotoBaller Week 9 projections. He has a pretty average fantasy matchup coming against the Chargers, but until he produces more on the field, he's just a deep-league option.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Woody Marks Back on the Rise After Bye Week
Houston running back Woody Marks is seeing his fantasy football roster percentage rise again after being off in Week 8 because of the team's bye. He has started the past two games for the Texans with David Montgomery (groin) injured, and Marks has put together two solid outings. In Week 6 against Jacksonville, Marks rushed 15 times for 56 yards, while catching two of his three targets for an additional 25 yards. Then in Week 7 against the Giants, Marks tallied 66 rushing yards on 19 attempts, while adding a 15-yard catch on his lone target. Montgomery won't play again in Week 9 against the Chargers, so Marks should lead the backfield. In what's an above-average fantasy matchup, Marks is RB31 in our RotoBaller Week 9 projections. He has starting value in deeper leagues and is also a standard league streaming option worth at least considering.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
David Montgomery Won't Return This Weekend
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery (groin), who missed yet another practice on Wednesday, will not return in Week 9 to face the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Pro Football Talk. Head coach DeMeco Ryans called Montgomery "week-to-week" as the running back tries to recover from a groin injury that will sideline him for a third straight game this weekend. Monty was injured in an Oct. 11 game against the division-rival Tennessee Titans and missed the following two games. He is not ready to return despite having last week's bye to heal up. The good news is that Ryans said that Montgomery has made "progress," so perhaps he will be ready to make his return for the team's Week 10 tilt on the road against the Cleveland Browns. With Montgomery out again this weekend against L.A., Woody Marks will continue to be a plug-and-play RB2 option for fantasy managers. After acquiring Montgomery in an offseason trade from the Detroit Lions, he has 52 carries for 138 yards (2.7 yards per attempt) and two touchdowns, while adding seven receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown as a receiver. He deserves to be stashed in most fantasy leagues while he recovers from his groin injury, as Monty will be a key contributor to Houston's backfield alongside Marks when he returns.
Source: Pro Football Talk
Source: Pro Football Talk
Tank Dell to See Increased Workload through Natural Progression
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said that wide receiver Tank Dell will see a "natural progression in his workload" in the coming weeks, per Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Dell appeared in Houston's Week 7 loss to the New York Giants before their Week 8 bye, which was his first game since suffering a catastrophic knee injury in Week 16 of the 2024 season. The 27-year-old played just 23 snaps against New York, recording a 43-yard catch on his only target. Houston has quietly assembled a deep wide receiver corps, with Nico Collins, Marvin Harrison Jr., Xavier Hutchinson, and Kayshon Boutte all providing Dell with competition for playing time and targets. Still, it appears as though the team plans on Dell's role in the offense expanding as he gets healthier. In deeper leagues, Dell could be worth stashing off the waiver wire in case he returns to his pre-injury form.
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
David Montgomery not at practice Wednesday
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery (groin) was not seen at the portion of practice open to the media on Wednesday, according to DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. The Texans had their bye in Week 8, but Montgomery does not appear any closer to returning to action after missing the two games before the bye with a groin injury. The 29-year-old has two more days to get back onto the practice field, though, so fantasy managers should not completely rule him out from playing this Sunday against the winless Los Angeles Chargers in Week 9. Monty has not practiced since suffering the injury on Oct. 11 at the Tennessee Titans, though, so if he gets the green light to return this weekend, there is a good chance he will play second fiddle to Woody Marks. Outside of his two-touchdown performance in the Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Montgomery has been a disappointment in his five games in his first year with the Texans, averaging just 2.7 yards per carry for 138 rushing yards on his 52 carries. He is still rostered in 79% of Yahoo leagues, though, and he will have a role in Houston's backfield when he returns from his groin injury.
Source: ESPN.com - DJ Bien-Aime
Source: ESPN.com - DJ Bien-Aime
Tank Dell a Midseason Waiver-Wire Target with Increased Volume
Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell should handle increased volume going forward due to a variety of factors. First and foremost, Dell is finally healthy. He returned to action in Week 7 following a nearly two-year-long recovery from a very serious knee injury. He is finally back on the field and contributing without any limitations, which should put him firmly back in the mix for fantasy football. Second of all, Dell should handle increased volume within the Texans' offense after Jaylin Noel (toe) was placed on injured reserve. The Texans already lost Jayden Higgins (knee) to a year-long injury, and now, Noel is done for the season, too. His absence provides a clear path to the No. 3 role for Dell, whereas before he would have had to compete for it. While Dell may not be an immediate fantasy starter in his role behind Nico Collins and Marvin Harrison Jr., he's at least worth stashing as a solid waiver wire pickup ahead of Week 9.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
David Montgomery Making Progress, But Return Not Imminent
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery (groin) is making progress in his recovery, but a return to action is not imminent, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. Sources indicate that Montgomery's rehabilitation is moving in the right direction, although the veteran remains sidelined after suffering the injury during Houston's Week 5 victory over Tennessee. He missed the following two games and did not practice leading up to Week 7 before the Texans entered their Week 8 bye. The latest report casts doubt on his availability for Sunday's matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Woody Marks has taken control of the backfield during Montgomery's absence, recording 34 carries for 122 rushing yards and three receptions for 40 yards over two games. Marks should remain Houston's primary fantasy option while Montgomery continues his recovery, with his substantial workload keeping him in flex consideration.
Source: Aaron Wilson
Source: Aaron Wilson
David Montgomery's Week 9 Status Remains Uncertain
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery (groin) remains without a clear timetable for his return, with head coach DeMeco Ryans offering no significant update on his recovery Monday, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Montgomery suffered the injury during Houston's Week 5 victory over Tennessee and missed the following two games before the team's Week 8 bye. He did not practice at all leading up to the Week 7 matchup against the New York Giants, leaving his availability uncertain for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Woody Marks has handled the bulk of the backfield work in his absence, including all 19 running back carries against New York, finishing with 66 rushing yards and one reception for 15 yards. Marks should remain Houston's primary fantasy option if Montgomery misses another game, while the veteran's eventual return could create a more divided backfield.
Source: Jonathan M. Alexander
Source: Jonathan M. Alexander
Jaylin Noel to Miss the Rest of the Season Due to Turf Toe
Houston Texans second-year wide receiver Jaylin Noel (toe) was placed on Injured Reserve on Wednesday and is expected to miss the rest of the season and undergo surgery for turf toe, a person with knowledge of the situation told Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. It is a major blow for the Texans' offense and for Noel, who was having a breakout year with a team-high 331 receiving yards on 19 catches and two receiving touchdowns. He was also serving as the team's primary return man on special teams. Thanks to the former third-rounder out of Iowa State, the Texans rank fourth in the league in passing yards and second in pass plays of 20-plus yards. Fellow second-year receiver Jayden Higgins (knee) is also out for the year, leaving Tank Dell and Marvin Harrison Jr. with elevated pass-catching roles the rest of the way behind veteran Nico Collins. The 24-year-old Noel will finish his second year in the NFL with a league-high 14.4 yards per target after posting a 26-292-2 line in 17 games as a rookie in 2025. He is now droppable in all single-year fantasy leagues.
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
Texans Still Evaluating Jaylin Noel's Turf-Toe Injury
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said on Monday that the team is still evaluating the significance of wide receiver Jaylin Noel's turf-toe injury that he suffered in the Week 7 overtime loss to the visiting New York Giants, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Noel was seen wearing a walking boot on his foot after Sunday's game. The good news for the 24-year-old second-year wideout is that the Texans have their bye coming in Week 8, so it is possible that Noel will be ready to roll for a Week 9 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. Noel was a disappointment on Sunday against New York, catching both of his targets for a loss of three yards before he injured his toe, especially after going over the century mark in receiving yards in the Week 6 win over the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 6. His big Week 6 game made him a popular waiver-wire target, even after the team added former first-round wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. If Noel is not ready coming out of the Week 8 bye, both Harrison and Tank Dell, who made his return from Injured Reserve on Sunday, would have elevated roles behind WR1 Nico Collins.
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
Texans GM Optimistic About Eventual C.J. Stroud Extension
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud remains in the team's long-term plans, which is encouraging for his dynasty outlook, with general manager Nick Caserio expecting the two sides to eventually reach an agreement on a contract extension, according to KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson. Houston held productive negotiations with Stroud's representatives during the offseason but failed to finalize a deal before the 2026 campaign. Although the sides initially planned to postpone further discussions until after the season, Caserio has since indicated that he remains open to resuming talks sooner. The Texans exercised Stroud's fifth-year option in April, guaranteeing him approximately $25.9 million in 2027 and keeping him under contract through that season. However, no agreement has been announced, and the timing of further negotiations remains uncertain.
Source: Aaron Wilson
Source: Aaron Wilson
Woody Marks Disappoints Again Despite Workhorse Role in Week 7
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks failed to capitalize on another heavy workload in Sunday's 27-21 overtime loss to the New York Giants, rushing 19 times for 66 yards without a touchdown, and his fantasy appeal could slip further if David Montgomery (groin) returns after the Week 8 bye. With Montgomery sidelined, Marks handled every Houston running back carry and played 54 of the team's 61 offensive snaps. However, he averaged just 3.5 yards per attempt, with his longest gain going for 11 yards. He also caught his only target for 15 yards, finishing with 81 scrimmage yards and 9.1 PPR fantasy points. Marks briefly exited in the third quarter with an apparent left knee injury but returned to finish the game. Despite receiving at least 15 carries in three consecutive contests, he has failed to score during that stretch, while his receiving totals have declined from four catches to two and then one. Houston visits the Los Angeles Chargers once the bye ends.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
