As the NFL heads into the weekend of week eight, most fantasy football leagues are more than halfway done. Some people like to have their fantasy roster filled with players from their favorite team, but for Houston Texans fans, it wouldn't be a formula for winning this season. The offense has looked different in almost every game, and consistency is valuable in fantasy. There are, however, four players that should still be on your radar.
The most obvious is quarterback CJ Stroud. Per ESPN's PPR rankings, Stroud is QB8 this year, averaging 18.4 points per game. If he keeps his pace, he could beat his personal best for fantasy points in a season (281), which he set as a rookie. Stroud is a lock for the starting lineup every week.
After the injury to Jaylin Noel, the only wide receivers that should be rostered are Nico Collins and Marvin Harrison Jr. At the tight end spot, Dalton Schultz is a solid option, but there aren't any running backs that need to be on your team. Let's dive into what Collins, Harrison and Schultz bring to the table.
Examining the fantasy-worthy Texans players
Starting with Schultz, he should be one of the main benefactors of Noel's injury, as his target share should increase. Schultz already leads the Texans in routes, targets and receptions, and he's third on the team in yards, but he has yet to reach the endzone. The only thing holding him back from being a top-10 TE (currently TE14), is his lack of big plays and touchdowns.
On short throws (under ten air yards), Schultz is second in the NFL among tight ends in receptions (30) and yards (266), per NFL NextGen Stats. The problem is that it makes up most of his production, as his season totals are 33 receptions for 322 yards. The ceiling isn't very high, but a consistent target share means Schultz will be usable down the stretch.
Health is the main concern with Collins, per usual. He opened the season with a 21.2-point performance (7 catches, 75 yards and a touchdown), but missed the next two games with a hamstring injury. When he returned in week four, he exploded back onto the scene with 30.8 points (7 catches, 118 yards and 2 touchdowns). Since week four, however, he has yet to crack 11 points.
Since his big performance in week four, his targets have declined or stayed the same in each game. Against the New York Giants in week seven, he posted a season-low 2.6 fantasy points, which was the fifth-lowest mark of his career. But, when he's healthy, Collins is still the unquestioned WR1 in Houston, and he definitely needs to be on rosters. He just might not be a lock to start, depending on the options.
One of the reasons for his decline in targets is the arrival of Stroud's college teammate Harrison. In two games with the Texans, Harrison had four targets in each, recording three receptions in his debut and one for a touchdown against the Giants. He's only ran 16 routes (NGS), but Stroud will likely begin to look his way even more as the season progresses, and Harrison could be a sneaky fantasy player towards the end of the season.
Xavier Hutchinson and Tank Dell are the only other receivers who will consistently see targets, but their roles are up in the air. Collins could be started every week, as he is in the WR2-Flex range, but prepare for a couple disappointing performances. Harrison is mostly a bench stash until he sees more routes consistently. Schultz is a low-end TE1, but he's not far from being among the elite in fantasy. When it comes down to it, Stroud is the best Texans player in fantasy.
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