Houston Texans Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins And More
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Houston Texans Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins And More

Dwain McFarland and Ian Hartitz break down the Houston Texans for fantasy football in the 2026 season.

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After going to the playoffs and winning a game for the last three years, things are pointed upward for the Houston Texans. Yet they finished with uneven performances in the playoffs by their QB left some questions about the future in Houston, even with it having a dominant defense. Ian Hartitz and Dwain McFarland bring you everything you need to know about the Texans for fantasy football with their fantasy football cheat sheet, highlighting their fantasy football rankings, projections and more.

HOU_texans-logo.svgHouston Texans 2026 Team Snapshot

  • 2025 Record / Rank in PPG: 12-5 / 23.8 (23)
  • 2026 Proj TDs per game: 2.2 (rank: 23)
  • Head Coach: DeMeco Ryans
  • Offensive Playcaller: OC Nick Caley
  • Projected Plays Per Game: 61.5 (rank: 12)
  • Projected Dropback Rate: 60% (rank: 18)
  • Matthew Freedman’s Projected Win Total: 10.1
  • Offensive Line Grades: D-
  • Key Departures: Christian Kirk
  • Key Additions: David Montgomery, Marlin Klein, Lewis Bond

Texans Fantasy Football Rankings and Depth Chart

QB: C.J. Stroud (QB22)

RB: David Montgomery (RB21) | Woody Marks (RB47) 

WR: Nico Collins (WR10) | Jayden Higgins (WR56) | Jaylin Noel (WR102)

TE: Dalton Schultz (TE23)

2026 Fantasy Football Overview for the Houston Texans

While C.J. Stroud's 4-INT stinker against the Patriots wasn't exactly a great way to end last season, he did improve across most meaningful efficiency metrics from his down 2024. Unfortunately, that still produced just 14.9 fantasy points per game (QB23)—this low ceiling isn't worth chasing in fantasy land aside from in superflex/two-QB formats.

New RB1 David Montgomery hasn't really had a bad season … ever. The man averaged 1,212 total yards and 7.5 touchdowns in four seasons in mostly bad Bears offenses before going for 3,156 total yards and 33 scores during his last three years in Detroit. There's potential here for 15-20 touches per game on a team with the sort of dominant defense that could lead to plenty of fantasy-friendly leading game scripts. Woody Marks is the next-man-up and could flirt with a fantasy-relevant pass-game role, but his standing as one of the league's worst running backs in most meaningful efficiency metrics as a rookie wasn't ideal.

Nico Collins has cleared 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons despite missing nine combined games. Fantasy Life projections believe in the 27-year-old talent replicating that success: Collins' 1,266 receiving yards projection is the sixth-highest mark at the position. There isn't too steep of target competition elsewhere. It'd make sense if Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel and a returning Tank Dell rotate in the other two starting receiver spots. Here's to hoping the latter speedster manages to regain his pre-injury explosiveness and emerge as a late-round gem in fantasy land.

Dalton Schultz has posted TE11, TE28 and TE15 finishes in PPR points per game in three seasons in Houston. Fireworks are unlikely—the 30-year-old veteran's yards-per-catch marks have decreased in each of the past two seasons—but another borderline TE1 finish is possible at a VERY late-round price.

Texans Utilization Notes for 2026

Nico Collins has delivered three consecutive top-10 finishes in PPR points per game. Over that span, he ranks seventh with 16.6 points per contest. His underlying data backs that up: 26% targets per route (10th) and 2.75 yards per route (2nd). Still well within his prime at age 27, Collins offers a strong floor and high-end WR1 upside. His primary nemesis has been the injury bug, missing at least two games each of the last three years. In early drafts, he is one of the best picks available at the Round 2-3 turn.

Players Mentioned in this Article

  1. C.J. Stroud
    C.J.Stroud
    QBHOUHOU
    PPG
    14.1
    Proj
    257.0
  2. Nico Collins
    NicoCollins
    WRHOUHOU
    PPG
    12.0
    Proj
    211.2
  3. David Montgomery
    DavidMontgomery
    RBHOUHOU
    PPG
    8.9
    Proj
    184.6
  4. JaydenHiggins
    WRHOUHOU
    PPG
    6.5
    Proj
    105.8

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