Houston

Texans

Schultz came back to life last week with 45 yards and a score on five grabs. Even with Tank Dell out for this game (and the rest of the year), the veteran tight end failed to step up versus the Ravens, though that wasn’t entirely on him. C.J. Stroud missed him on multiple easy throws, turning a potentially average fantasy game into a flop for Schultz. With five catches and 66 yards serving as the ceiling performances for Schultz this year, he is stuck in the TE2 ranks for Week 18.

Metchie operated as the team’s No. 2 receiver with Tank Dell done for the year. He parlayed the role into a team-high in targets and only fell 11 yards short of Nico Collins. While Metchie will have to play a prominent role in the offense in Week 18 and beyond, Diontae Johnson is expected to suit up next week, throwing a wrench in the Metchie streaming plans. He is, at best, a WR5 heading into Week 18 against the Titans.

Collins erupted for 119 yards versus the Jags in Week 13 but has been quiet ever since. He has 136 yards in his subsequent three games. John Metchie led the Texans in targets this week with eight looks, though that likely speaks to just how dysfunctional the team was versus a superior Baltimore squad. Collins gets the Titans in Week 18. He went for 92 yards and a touchdown when the teams last faced in Week 12. Houston has nothing left to play for with the AFC South title already in hand, so fantasy managers with stake in the final game of the year will want to make sure Houston is playing their starters before rolling out Collins as a WR1 next week.

The Texans couldn’t get anything going on offense and fell behind early, giving them no shot at establishing a ground game. Mixon, in turn, was held under 60 yards for the third time in four weeks. The veteran back has been banged up late this year and Houston’s offense isn’t setting him up for success. A date with the Titans would normally be a phenomenal remedy for his slump, but Houston has nothing to play for next week. Mixon and the rest of the starters could get the day off. If he does suit up, Mixon will be a mid-range RB2 versus Tennessee.

It was another stagnant outing from Stroud and the Texans’ offense. Stroud routinely missed layup throws in the first half and was put in bad spots with destined-to-fail runs on early downs all too often. The second-year passer also got banged up on several plays. He was stepped on early but didn’t seem affected after a play or two. Then, right before the end of the first half, Stroud was slammed to the ground by a Baltimore defender and seemed to injure his right arm in the process. Davis Mills took one snap but Stroud was back on the field for the next play. After being thoroughly out-played for another quarter and change, the Houston starters hit the bench late in the contest. Although the injury didn’t stop Sroud from playing beyond the lone rep, it could keep him on the sidelines for Week 18. The Texans have the AFC South title locked up but are stuck with the No. 4 seed regardless of the outcome of their final game. It’s possible Stroud gets the week off to recover and prepare for the playoffs instead of facing the Titans.

As expected, the Texans will not have Johnson make his debut against his former team after just claiming the wideout from Baltimore on Monday. Houston will get John Metchie III (shoulder) for the Wednesday contest, and he could see a chunk of targets due to the depleted injury room. The rest of the Texans inactives are LB Devin White, G Shaq Mason, C/G Juice Scruggs, DT Folorunso Fatukasi, and DE Jerry Hughes.

Johnson was claimed off waivers from Baltimore on Monday, but even with the Houston wide receiver corps decimated by injuries, the 28-year-old won’t be able to make his debut until Week 18 against the Titans it appears.

Stover had an emergency appendectomy before Week 15’s game against the Dolphins and missed two games. He should take over as the No. 2 tight end again. With a 14/132/1 line before the appendectomy, Stover isn’t a fantasy football start at this time.

Metchie could see a role increase with Tank Dell out, but he will be hard to trust in fantasy football until we see a big game out of him. Baltimore’s defense has been stellar of late. We’d classify him as a deep-league only play for the moment.

Metchie missed the team’s Week 16 loss to the Chiefs with a shoulder injury but got in a full session in the team’s first true practice of the week in preparation for a Week 17 meeting with the Ravens. We’ll get further confirmation from the team on Tuesday, but it certainly appears as if Metchie will return from his one-game absence.