Injuries and trade reshape WR room
Stroud heads into the regular season with Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel (hamstring) and Kayshon Boutte as his top wide receivers, while Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports that Tank Dell (knee) will begin the season on IR with a designation to return.
The Texans traded for Boutte from New England after Jayden Higgins tore his ACL, knocking the 2025 second-round pick out for the season. Boutte's 551 receiving yards for the Patriots in the 2025 regular season would have ranked second among Houston's wideouts behind Collins. Hutchinson had a career-high 428 receiving yards during the 2025 regular season, Noel has some intriguing upside as a 2025 third-round pick, and Houston is hoping to get Dell back eventually from the knee injury that sidelined him for the entire 2025 season. Stroud is looking to bounce back after a 2025 campaign in which he threw for career lows in both passing yards (3,041) and touchdown passes (19) during the regular season before coughing up seven turnovers in two playoff games.
More Houston Texans Fantasy Football News
Woody Marks
Expected to split backfield work
Marks is expected to split backfield work pretty evenly with David Montgomery this season, Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Nico Collins
Depth chart uncertain behind him
Collins is the clear No. 1 wide receiver for the Texans heading into the regular season, but the pecking order at the position behind him is uncertain, as Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel (hamstring), Kayshon Boutte and Jared Wayne are vying for roles, while Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports that Tank Dell (knee) will begin the season on IR with a designation to return.
David Montgomery
Tops RB depth chart over Marks and Brooks
Montgomery is one of three running backs on Houston's 53-man roster, along with Woody Marks and British Brooks, Jared Koch of SI.com reports.
Dalton Schultz
Held out of exhibition games
Schultz did not play in any of the Texans' three preseason games.
Tank Dell
Inching closer to return
Texans general manager Nick Caserio said Tuesday that Dell (knee) is getting "closer" to a return, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. "He's close, he's not quite there," Caserio said. "He's closer than he was during training camp."
Tank Dell
Landing on IR
Dell (knee) will begin the season on IR with a designation to return, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Jawhar Jordan
Expected back at practice soon
Jordan (hip) is likely to resume practicing next week, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Ka'imi Fairbairn
Wraps up perfect preseason
Fairbairn converted both his field-goal attempts and his only PAT during Friday's 16-13 preseason loss to the Panthers.
Kayshon Boutte
Dealt to Texans
The Patriots traded Boutte to the Texans for safety Jaylen Reed and a draft pick Monday, Tom Pelissero of Netflix reports.
Ka'imi Fairbairn
Perfect against Vegas
Fairbairn converted both field-goal attempts and both extra-point tries in Thursday night's 22-20 preseason loss to the Raiders.