Braxton

Berrios

Jordan’s absence likely brings veteran Nick Chubb back into the fold in the backfield pecking order, although rookie Woody Marks appears to be in line for a hefty workload against the Steelers. There are no real surprises with the remainder of the inactives list out of Houston as they look to topple the Steelers on the road in the first week of the postseason.

Cornerback Kamari Lassiter is active after coming into the weekend listed as questionable, leaving no real surprises for the Texans as they look to continue their torrid second half of the season. Winners of four straight, the Texans could all but end Kansas City’s streak of consecutive postseason appearances with an upset on the road.

Berrios’ inactivity interestingly reduces the Texans’ slot receiver rotation to a two-player committee, including Christian Kirk and Jaylin Noel. Berrios was listed with a quad injury this week but practiced in full. Lane is worth stashing at this time. Stroud will now miss his third straight game since suffering a brain injury in Week 9 against the Broncos. He managed one limited session on Tuesday.

The Texans’ Week 9 wide receiver deployment is consequential. Rookie slot WR Jaylin Noel has played very well over the last two weeks while splitting time with veteran slot WR Braxton Berrios (chest). Kirk’s return jeopardizes Noel’s access to the slot, though it is possible Kirk could take some reps on the perimeter. Berrios has been cleared to play and will be available as well. Noel is worth holding, but carries clear risk as a FLEX option with upside. Kirk is a seemingly stable, floor-oriented FLEX option.

Kirk is now on track to return for Week 9 against the Broncos, while backup slot receiver Braxton Berrios (chest) remains limited. Kirk’s expected return jeopardizes rookie slot WR Jaylin Noel’s access to the starting slot role. Noel has played very well in recent weeks, but Texans coaches could choose to keep the veteran installed as the starter. Friday’s injury report is worth monitoring.

He had five catches for 38 yards before leaving. Berrios made a nice move on an early first-down catch and has taken some hits over the middle in this one. Even if he does return, he won’t be in the fantasy conversation going forward with Nico Collins and Christian Kirk expected back in Week 9.

With Kirk sidelined in Week 7, veteran WR Braxton Berrios and exciting rookie WR Jaylin Noel split snaps. Noel led the receiving corps with 77 yards while Berrios finished with minus-one. Noel’s upside may be capped by Berrios’ presence, but he looked like the most capable, healthy Texans wide receiver last week after Nico Collins (concussion) was forced from play.

Both Collins and slot receiver Christian Kirk (hamstring) failed to practice all week. The injuries leave WRs Xavier Hutchinson, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel and Braxton Berrios as a likely four-player platoon. While Noel led Texans wide receivers with 77 yards last week, he was stuck splitting slot snaps with Berrios. Noel can be expected to play efficiently, but he may be stuck in a positional rotation again this week. Noel, Hutchinson and Higgins are all on the FLEX radar, with Higgins and Noel likely possessing the highest upside.

All of these players are healthy scratches. The only players ruled out for Houston on Friday were placed on IR before the game or are designated to return players still in their 21-day window. Notably, Dameon Pierce is active as Houston’s third running back. Berrios missed the first two weeks with a hamstring injury and has not been active yet this season.

We’ll monitor the practice status ahead of Week 3’s #RevengeGame against the Jaguars for Kirk, but it’s a promising sign that the coach is already declaring strongly that he’s expecting Kirk back. Braxton Berrios (also hamstring) is also expected back for the Texans, potentially forecasting a shakeup on a wideout depth chart that hasn’t given anything but Nico Collins incompletions (and one touchdown) to talk about so far.