Team news: Houston Texans

Texans WR Nico Collins injured his hamstring at Wednesday’s practice, met with doctors after and they “don’t believe it’s serious,” per source. Yet Collins’ status for Sunday’s game vs. the Bengals is in jeopardy.

Related Players: C.J. Stroud, Dalton Schultz, Xavier Hutchinson, Kayshon Boutte, Jaylin Noel

The early medical assessment is reassuring, but this was a new injury suffered during practice rather than a maintenance limitation. Collins can remain in projected lineups for now, though a Thursday absence would create legitimate concern. Hutchinson, Boutte and Noel would compete for additional receiver reps if Collins cannot play, with Schultz also positioned for more targets. Stroud’s ceiling would take a noticeable hit.

Texans GM Nick Caserio on Tank Dell on IR-designated for return: "He's close, he's not quite there."

Related players: Nico Collins, Kayshon Boutte, Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson

Caserio went on to say Dell is, "closer than he was during training camp." Dell can be activated after four games but it's not a lock it will be that quick. As the story said, it's a matter of whenever team starts clock on him returning to practice. With Jayden Higgins lost for the year, the team brought in Boutte to compete for targets behind Collins. There's no doubt the Texans could use Dell, unfortunately, it will at least be after four weeks.

The Texans are placing WR Tank Dell on injured reserve with the designation to return.

The new rule allows teams to designate two players to return from injured reserve during the cutdown to 53. Previously, a player had to be on the initial 53-man roster before being placed on IR. This will allow Dell more time to recover as he makes his way back from his knee injury two seasons ago in the playoffs. He’ll miss at least the first four games of the season. The Texans recently traded for Kayshon Boutte after also losing Jayden Higgins to a season-ending injury and Jaylin Noel is also still dealing with an injury.

Trade! The Patriots are sending WR Kayshon Boutte to the Texans for safety Jaylen Reed and a draft pick.

Related players: Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, Tank Dell

The trade makes a lot of sense for both teams as Boutte was buried on the depth chart in New England when the Pats added Romeo Doubs and A.J. Brown. With Higgins lost for the season for the Texans with a torn ACL, and Dell coming back from a serious knee injury, Boutte could step right in as a deep threat option. Last year, Boutte had 33 receptions for 551 yards and six touchdowns. He should at least be on your fantasy radar.

Texans WR Jayden Higgins tore his ACL, per a source, ending his 2026 season.

Related Players: Nico Collins, Jaylin Noel, Tank Dell, Xavier Hutchinson, Justin Watson, Dalton Schultz

Is Collins going to get a 40% target share?

Noel has been dealing with his own injuries through camp, while Dell is coming out of that gruesome 2024 injury that has kept him sidelined since. We'll have to see how things shake out, but the only players we can really trust for fantasy purposes right now is Collins (WR1) and Schultz (mid-tier TE2).

Wide receiver Tank Dell took another step back toward the Texans lineup on Wednesday.

Reporters at Texans training camp shared photos and videos of Dell taking part in practice while wearing full pads. It’s the first time that Dell has practiced in pads since he suffered a severe knee injury in December 2024.

Dell was not placed on the physically unable to perform list at the start of camp, but the team has brought him along deliberately given how long he has been out of action.

Related Players: Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson

This is an important milestone, but participating in a padded practice is only the beginning of Dell’s path back to fantasy relevance. Houston has added Higgins and Noel since Dell last played, leaving him with significant target competition behind Collins. Dell remains an intriguing late-round option in deep leagues, but his workload and explosiveness will need to be monitored throughout camp.

Patriots Wednesday

🚶‍♂️🏈❌10a: Walkthrough (No. 10/closed to public)

🔟🗣️ 12:15p: Drake Maye

NOTES: Mike Vrabel - "Line of scrimmage has to be where we begin our identity"...OLB DreMont Jones - "Rejuvenating" in NE...WR A.J. Brown full participant after left thumb dislocation.

Related Players: Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, Demario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams

Looks as though the thumb will be a non-issue moving forward, but we'll keep an eye on things to see if any discomfort bothers him. Brown is currently locked in the mid-range WR1 conversation.

Nick Caserio said wide receiver Jaylin Noel hurt his finger and should be back in a few weeks.

Related Players: Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, Tank Dell

With positive news coming out about Dell making strides toward his long-term comeback, this could be about the worst time for Noel to be missing time. For the time being, Noel should probably be considered the fourth fantasy option out of this group, unless we hear of a setback for Dell.

Texans receiver Tank Dell continues to make major strides in comeback from major knee injury from December, 2024.

It was tough injury to watch if you happened to be tuned into the game that day. Wilson went on say in the post that Dell is regaining explosiveness, cutting ability and strength. Wilson then added that all involved are encouraged by his outlook heading into camp and Dell has had a productive summer. It's a great sign that Dell avoided the PUP list, so it looks like he could be ready to go in some capacity for Week 1.

WR Kayshon Boutte, WR Mack Hollins, OLB Harold Landry, LB Robert Spillane, DT Khyiris Tonga and LG Jared Wilson are all ruled out for Sunday, according to Mike Vrabel.

RB TreVeyon Henderson and WR Pop Douglas are questionable, per Vrabel.

Related Players: Rhamondre Stevenson

This makes things tough for fantasy managers setting lineups ahead of Saturday's games, but it's doubtful we get more information prior to Sunday morning. As it stands, Henderson *should* be a great RB2 play against the Jets, but you have to hedge your bets a little bit if you're in a start/sit conundrum with one of the backs playing Saturday.

If Henderson ends up missing Week 17, Stevenson would be a great RB2 play in his stead.