Houston Texans Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

According to multiple reports, the Bills are sending WR Stefon Diggs to the Texans. Buffalo is also sending a 2024 sixth-round pick and 2025 fifth-rounder to Houston, while getting back only a second-round pick in 2025. Diggs' production fell off late last season after the Bills switched offensive coordinators. Now 30 and in a new offense, Diggs will have to show he's not in decline. He'll add the challenge of splitting targets with Houston's emergent young wideouts. Nico Collins (seventh) and Tank Dell (12th) both ranked among the top 12 WRs in PPR points per game last season, with rookie QB C.J. Stroud. The Diggs addition obviously lowers the target-share ceiling for all three wideouts. We'll also have to see exactly how Houston plans to deploy them. Diggs spent 35.7% of his pass snaps in the slot last year; 34.2% the year before. He topped 30% in that category for three of his four Buffalo seasons, surpassed only by his 2016 sophomore season (62.9%). Collins spent 20.1% of his time in the slot last year; Dell 28.7%. We'd bet on all three moving around the formation some. But Diggs could wind up primarily replacing Robert Woods (55.5% slot) and Noah Brown (39.3%). The trio gives Stroud one of the league's best WR groups and boosts his fantasy upside. The QB already sat sixth at the position in Underdog Fantasy ADP, though. That adds risk to Stroud as a draft target and gives him little room to move up. QB Josh Allen, meanwhile, has lost his top two wideouts (Gabe Davis the other) while adding only WR Curtis Samuel this offseason. The dearth of remaining talent adds risk to his fantasy outlook, though you shouldn't expect the high-level rusher to move significantly down our rankings. As for other affected players: Diggs' departure leaves target share available for TE Dalton Kincaid and Khalil Shakir. His arrival in Houston makes life tougher for TE Dalton Schultz. He already sat just 13th among TEs in best ball ADP, though, and will likely fall further following this trade. Be sure to check our rankings for your format to see all the effects of this high-impact deal.

Texans HC Demeco Ryan expects WR Tank Dell (leg) to be ready for the offseason program. Dell fractured a fibula in early December, but the injury shouldn't be an issue for his 2024 fantasy value. He, of course, was excellent before going down, finishing 12th among WRs in PPR points per game as a rookie. Dell returns to the same offense (OC Bobby Slowik) with the same QB (C.J. Stroud) this year. See where Dell sits in our early 2024 fantasy football WR rankings.

The Texans and RB Joe Mixon agreed to a three-year extension worth $27 million total with $13 million guaranteed, according to insider Jordan Schultz. If there was any doubt that Mixon will be Houston's clear lead back at least this coming season, this deal should erase it. The 27-year-old is on the downside of his career but can still carry a load on the ground and is reliable in the passing game. Set to see nice volume in an ascending Texans offense, Mixon has a shot to turn in another RB1 fantasy season in 2024.

You might have thought the Bengals were going to release Joe Mixon ... because that's what got reported Monday. Instead, though, Cincinnati is trading the RB to Houston. That's about as good an outcome as Mixon could have found. Houston jumped from 31st in offensive DVOA in 2022 to 14th last year -- with the run game (19th) trailing the pass offense (10th). Further maturation for QB C.J. Stroud and his young wideouts can only help. And the Texans clearly believe Mixon to be an upgrade over the Devin Singletary-Dameon Pierce tandem. Trading for Mixon's contract ($6 million cap hit in 2024) instead of waiting for him to hit the open market says Houston wants Mixon to lead the backfield. Perhaps Mixon draws fewer targets in an offense unlikely to pass as much as Cincinnati's. But it should be a good spot for his efficiency and scoring opportunities. Mixon played all 17 games in 2023, scored the second-most TDs of his career (despite the Bengals' injury-driven offensive issues), and showed no meaningful drop-off across his advanced metrics. Consider him a high-RB2 for 2024 drafts, with upside into RB1 range. Check our best ball rankings for his updated position.

The Texans re-signed WR Noah Brown, ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime reports. Brown flashed in spurts last year, with receiving lines of 6-153-1, 7-172-0, and 8-82-1. He struggled staying healthy otherwise, missing seven games and most of an eighth. Brown, of course, will be no better than No. 3 on Houston's depth chart in 2024 behind WRs Nico Collins and Tank Dell. If he hangs on to that No. 3 job, though, Brown could at least provide value as a late-round best-ball pick.

NFL Network reports that the Bengals are releasing RB Joe Mixon. This doesn't come as a huge surprise, given the annual reports of it being possible. At the same time, Cincinnati has also agreed to a two-year deal with Zack Moss. The former Colt figures to share the backfield with 2023 fifth-round pick Chase Brown. We'll head toward summer assuming Moss will get the larger share of the workload. But his $4.5 million salary for 2024 doesn't necessarily guarantee him a "lead" role. Mixon, meanwhile, is coming off a rebound season and should get a shot elsewhere. We'll see whether the release knocks Mixon further below his RB27 Underdog Fantasy ADP. He's still worth a look in that range of best ball drafts but adds risk as long as he's without a team. Moss should settle into low-RB2 range, while Brown probably should be more of a low RB3. Check our best ball rankings for updates.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that TE Dalton Schultz has agreed to a three-year $36 million deal with the Texans, including $23.5 million "fully guaranteed at signing." That appears to lock Schultz in with the Texans for at least the next two years -- obviously good news for a TE who will turn 28 in July. Schultz isn't an exciting athlete even relative to his position and has yet to reach 11 yards per catch in an NFL season. But he has caught at least 57 passes in four straight years, averaging 3.8 or more per game in each. Schultz's 10.8 yards per reception last year marked a career high. And being tied to QB C.J. Stroud for the next 2-3 years is obviously a good thing. His re-signing means you can forget about any 2024 dreams you might have had for TE Brevin Jordan, who remains under contract with the Texans for one more year. Schultz has finished four consecutive campaigns among the top 10 TEs in total PPR points. He sits 15th among TEs in ADP for both Underdog Fantasy and FFPC drafting right now. That makes it a good time to get some Schultz on best ball rosters -- at least until/unless his ADP climbs.

Texans WR Tank Dell expects to be able to participate in the team's offseason program, according to insider Aaron Wilson. Dell's rookie season ended with a fractured fibula in early December, but the injury shouldn't be an issue for his 2024 fantasy value. Dell was brilliant before that injury, ranking 12th among WRs in PPR points per game. His 2.22 yards per route run ranked 16th among 80 qualifying WRs and third among 14 qualifying rookie WRs. Dell sits 20th in our initial PPR WR Rankings.

Bobby Slowik is getting a "significant raise" to remain the Texans' OC, according to insider Albert Breer. Slowik drew significant HC interest after leading Houston to top-13 finishes in both total yards and points this past year. His return is good news for QB C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense, although we'd like to see Slowik lean further toward the pass in 2024. Last year's Texans ranked 16th in neutral pass rate and 19th in Pass Rate Over Expected.

Texans WR Noah Brown has been placed on IR with the shoulder injury he suffered in Saturday's Wild Card win over the Browns. He'll miss the rest of the postseason. Brown flashed a few times during the 2023 season but was unable to string together more than a handful of healthy games at a time. The 28-year-old is due to hit free agency in March.

Texans WR Noah Brown suffered a shoulder injury in the first half of Saturday's game vs. the Browns and has been ruled out. That leaves WRs Robert Woods, John Metchie, and Xavier Hutchinson behind alpha dog Nico Collins.

Texans WRs Robert Woods (hip) and Noah Brown (back) are active for today's game vs. the Browns. Neither guy figures to be operating at 100%, so they're not attractive DFS or playoff contest plays.

Texans WR Robert Woods (hip) is questionable for Saturday's Wild Card game vs. the Browns. He got in limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday, so he's at least in better shape than teammate Noah Brown. We're tentatively projecting Woods to play, although he's not an exciting fantasy option.

Texans WR Noah Brown (back) is listed as questionable for Saturday's Wild Card game vs. the Browns. He only got in a limited practice on Thursday, so it's safe to assume that Brown won't be close to 100% if he ends up playing. He's not an attractive option in playoff-long contests or the Wild Card DFS slate.

Texans WR Robert Woods (hip) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. That gives him a shot to play vs. the Browns on Saturday. We'll see how he's listed on the final injury report on Thursday afternoon. WR Noah Brown (back) remained sidelined on Wednesday and is unlikely to play in the Wild Card round.

Texans WRs Robert Woods (hip) and Noah Brown (back) did not practice on Tuesday. Both guys missed the Week 18 win over the Colts and are iffy for Saturday's Wild Card game vs. the Browns. Their absences last week left John Metchie and Xavier Hutchinson as Houston's No. 2 and 3 WRs -- although neither made an impact. WR Nico Collins hogged 35% of the targets and posted a big 9-195-1 line.

Texans WR Robert Woods (hip) is inactive for tonight’s game vs. the Colts. He joins WR Noah Brown (back) on the inactive list. That leaves WRs Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie behind No. 1 WR Nico Collins. TE Dalton Schultz could play an expanded role in the passing game tonight.

Texans WR Noah Brown (back) is out for Saturday night's game vs. the Colts. WR Robert Woods (hip) is listed as questionable but didn't practice all week. WRs Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie might be forced into significant roles in this must-win game.

Texans Edge Will Anderson Jr. (ankle) and Edge Jonathan Greenard (ankle) missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday, ahead of Saturday's game against the Colts. Anderson missed the first two practices last week but then played and produced in the win over the Titans. We'd bet he'll be ready for Week 18. Greenard missed last week. We'll see what the week's final injury report (Thursday afternoon) says for each player.

Texans WRs Noah Brown (back) and Robert Woods (hip) did not practice on Wednesday. Both guys were knocked out of last week's win and are in danger of missing Saturday night's game against the Colts. Their absences would leave Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie as Houston' No. 2 and 3 WRs behind Nico Collins. We'll see how Brown and Woods are listed on the final injury report tomorrow.