When the Houston Texans started the 2023 season 0-2 with losses to the Baltimore Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts, it seemed as if Houston’s NFL franchise would be nothing but an interesting footnote with new head coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud. Coming off a 3-13-1 2022 season as they had, the Texans went all-out in the draft, taking Ohio State’s Stroud with the second overall pick, and trading up to select Alabama pass-rusher Will Anderson Jr. with the third overall pick. Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio also made some interesting free-agency moves, and took Houston speed receiver Nathaniel “Tank” Dell, but in those first two games, the Texans still looked worlds away from competitive status.
What a difference a couple of months can make. The Texans have won five of their last seven games since that 0-2 start, Ryans and his staff seem to have multiplied and maximized the efforts of just about every player on the roster, and Stroud has graduated from a college quarterback with some question marks about his NFL potential to one of the best quarterbacks in the league, regardless of tenure.
Stroud is the force multiplier for the Texans in conjunction with offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, but is this team good enough to get to the playoffs and make noise there? Houston has had one of the league’s tougher schedules this season, and they close out the 2023 regular season with games against the Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, NEw York Jets, Tennessee Titans, and the Colts. So, it’s a legitimate question, and when you look at the Texans’ entire squad, there’s more than just Stroud to talk about. In truth, the Texans are performing over their projections at just about every position, and they’re doing so with a lot of players you may not even know.
“For us and our team and where we are, we’re still just grinding one week at a time,” Ryans said Monday, one day after his team beat the Cincinnati Bengals in a 30-27 last-second thriller. “Really focused on us and focused on getting better. From our game yesterday, I really loved the fact that everyone contributed to the win. I think that’s the most impressive thing to me about that game. True team win. Everybody stepping up, everybody made a play. If you were up in that game, you made a play, and that’s the cool part about our team is that it doesn’t matter who is out there, we expect everyone to do their best, play to the best of their ability, play fast, play physical, and that’s what you saw from our entire team yesterday.”
More and more, it’s what we’re seeing from the Texans week in and week out as things come together for them.
So, it’s time to focus on the feature question: Who are these guys, anyway, and why are they winning all of a sudden?
Vikings running back Ty Chandler headlines this week’s list of fantasy football waiver wire targets.
Following the Denver Broncos’ game against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football in Week 10, fantasy football managers will begin putting in waiver wire claims for Week 11.
So, who are the best waiver wire targets this week? Our list includes options at running back, wide receiver, tight end, quarterback and kicker. The list is highlighted by a pair of young RBs who might be on the verge of getting larger workloads.
In Baltimore, Gus Edwards continues to lead the Ravens’ backfield (he had 11 carries on Sunday), but rookie Keaton Mitchell won’t go away. Mitchell only got three carries in Week 10, but he turned them into 34 yards and a touchdown. He also caught one pass for 32 yards.
In Minnesota, Ty Chandler might be on the verge of taking over the Vikings’ backfield. Chandler (15 carries) was more involved than Alexander Mattison (eight carries), and the second-year RB also scored a touchdown.
Chandler and Mitchell are the top priorities on the waiver wire this week.
Each player’s rostered percentage in ESPN fantasy football leagues is listed in parentheses. Ready? Let’s get to the full list!
Here are the top targets on the waiver wire in Week 11.
With just a few more weeks until the fantasy football playoffs are here, the waiver wire has a number of intriguing targets for managers to consider entering Week 11.
The slate of Week 10 games will come to a conclusion Monday night when the Buffalo Bills host the Denver Broncos.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.
SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks
Pass-Rush
TD
Dak Prescott
404-17
5
Justin Herbert
323-15
4
Sam Howell
312-17
3
Joshua Dobbs
268-44
2
Geno Smith
369-8
2
Running Backs
Yards
TD
Brian Robinson
8-38
6-119
1
Jahmyr Gibbs
14-77
3-35
2
Devin Singletary
30-150
1-11
1
Austin Ekeler
19-67
4-48
1
Christian McCaffrey
16-95
6-47
0
Wide Receivers
Yards
TD
Keenan Allen
11-175
2
CeeDee Lamb
11-151
1-14
2
Brandin Cooks
9-173
1
Amon-Ra St. Brown
8-156
1
Mike Evans
6-143
1
Tight Ends
Yards
TD
T.J. Hockenson
11-134
1
Trey McBride
8-131
0
George Kittle
3-116
1
Jake Ferguson
4-26
1
Dalton Schultz
4-71
0
Placekickers
XP
FG
Jason Meyers
2
5
Dustin Hopkins
1
4
Matt Prater
1
4
Riley Patterson
5
2
Chris Boswell
2
3
Defense
Sack – TO
TD
49ers
5-4
0
Colts
5-2
0
Ravens
4-2
1
Buccaneers
4-1
0
Browns
3-2
1
Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts
QB Derek Carr – Shoulder / Head
QB Taylor Heinicke – Hamstring
QB Baker Mayfield – Thumb
QB Deshaun Watson – Ankle
TE Gerald Everett – Back
RB Alexander Mattison – Concussion
WR Michael Thomas – Knee
WR Jamal Agnew – Shoulder
Chasing Ambulances
QB Derek Carr – Injured his shoulder and potentially was concussed. Jameis Winston came in and threw two second-half touchdowns and two interceptions. The Saints are on their bye in Week 11, so Carr has two weeks to heal up.
QB Taylor Heinicke – Hurt his hamstring and did not return to the game. Desmond Ridder replaced him in time to ensure the eventual loss to the Cardinals. Like Derek Carr, the Falcons have their bye this week and Heinicke will have two weeks to heal. But HC Arthur Smith also has two weeks to decide what he wants to do.
QB Baker Mayfield – Hit his hand on the facemask of a defender and injured his thumb in the middle of the fourth quarter. He still finished the game and later said it was okay. The Buccaneers play in San Francisco this week, so he’ll need to be healthy to keep the Bucs in that matchup.
QB Deshaun Watson – Injured his ankle in the second quarter during a rough tackle (one of many), but still played the balance of the game. It became notable when he left the locker room with a walking boot but said that he’d be fine. It is something to track this week and the Browns face a critical matchup when they host the Steelers.
RB Alexander Mattison – The Vikings starting running back left in the third quarter of the win over the Saints with a concussion. Ty Chandler replaced him and rushed for 45 yards on 15 carries with one touchdown. Mattison will enter the protocol this week and his availability to play in Denver on Sunday depends on how he progresses.
WR Michael Thomas – Left the loss to the Vikings early in the first quarter after taking a hard hit and hurting his knee. He was officially ruled out in the second half. He already had a legal situation with an arrest last week. The Saints enter their bye, so he has time to heal up and deal with any repercussions from his arrest.
Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables
RB Ty Chandler (MIN) – The Vikings already lost Cam Akers, and then Alexander Mattison suffered a concussion in the win over the Saints. Ty Chandler ran for 45 yards and a score but never had a target. The Vikings play in Denver this week and will go against one of the worst defenses versus running backs. He’s a need pick for the Mattison owner but a luxury for any other fantasy team unless Mattison misses games.
QB Bailey Zappe (NE) – Bill Belichick benched Mac Jones in the loss to the Colts, and Zappe only completed 3-of-7 for 25 yards during the matchup in Germany. But the Pats slipped to 2-8 and the time to get desperate has already passed. The Patriots, shockingly, are reaching the point where changes need to be made, if only to look like they haven’t given up. That could involve Zappe or any of the Pats’ other players. This is all new territory for the Patriots and a situation that Belichick hasn’t dealt with in decades.
QB Joshua Dobbs (MIN) – Playing in his first start with the Vikings, the ex-Cardinal threw for 268 yards and a touchdown, plus rushed for 44 yards on eight runs. He’s slipped in quickly and already engineered a win. Dobbs not only has his next opponents of the Broncos, Bears, and Raiders, he may be getting Justin Jefferson on the field this weekend.
RB Devin Singletary (HOU) – Dameon Pierce was inactive this week so the Texans had to rely on Singletary. The ex-Bill responded well to his first start in Houston when he ran for 150 yards on 30 carries and caught an 11-yard pass. Pierce is out with an ankle injury and never practiced last week. The Texans’ next three opponents are all at home – Cardinals, Jaguars, and Broncos. The Jags are above-average against running backs but the Cardinals and Broncos are two of the worst.
RB Rico Dowdle (DAL) – The Cowboys dominated the Giants on Sunday, but Tony Pollard only gained 55 yards on 14 rushes (3.7 YPC). The Cowboys stuck with Pollard in the first quarter when they reached the Giants’ goal line but turned the ball over on downs, unable to score. Dowdle was given 12 rushes and gained 79 yards (6.6 YPC) and punched in a one-yard score in the fourth quarter. Dowdle saw more use in this blowout, but he had been limited to just five carries in all previous games. This week, the Cowboys play in Carolina against the No. 30 defense versus running backs. Pollard was unsuccessful at home against the No. 26 defense, so maybe Dowdle is slowly buying more playing time.
WR Noah Brown (HOU) – He replaced the injured Nico Collins in Week 9 and gained a career-best 153 yards and a score on six catches in the Texans win over the Panthers. With Collins out again, Brown turned in seven receptions for 172 yards. The ex-Cowboys is buying himself more playing time. Nico Collins missed the last two practices last week with a calf injury. He’ll start against the Cardinals this week if Collins remains out.
WR Brandin Cooks (DAL) – Entering into Week 10, Cooks had not gained more than 49 yards in any game for the Cowboys but had scored in Weeks 6 and 8. Facing the Giants, Cooks abused them for 173 yards and a touchdown on nine catches. His three scores over the last four games are more impressive than the high-yardage blip from last Sunday.
QB Kyler Murray (ARZ) – The Cardinals quarterback debuted against the Falcons on Sunday. While he only threw for 249 yards and an interception, he scored on his six runs for 33 yards and led six drives that ended in scores, including the drive in the final 2:33 in the game when he brought the Cards down to the ATL 16-yard line where they kicked the walk-off winning field goal.
TE Trey McBride (ARZ) – Expectations for the second-year tight end were higher this year and he already had a 95-yard performance in Week 8. His first game with Kyler Murray this season resulted in a career-best 131 yards on eight receptions in the win over the Falcons. They play in Houston this week against the No. 31 defense against tight ends.
Huddle player of the week
Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Dak Prescott – After starting the year with marginal passing stats, Prescott perked up against the Rams and Eagles. He just upped those games with 404 yards and four passing scores versus the visiting Giants and even ran in a touchdown. The Cowboys had the game already well in hand before the second quarter but continued the bombing while scoring the entire game through the final two minutes. Fantasy football loves a big score and the NFL’s absence of a mercy rule.
Salute!
Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry
Houston Texans receiver Noah Brown would make sense as a waiver wire pickup in fantasy football.
The Houston Texans have their quarterback in place with C.J. Stroud. The No. 2 overall pick showed he can bless fantasy football teams with his 470-yard, five-touchdown performance last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Stroud has quickly slid into the safe category for starters.
The Texans’ receiving corps is also becoming more of a sure option in fantasy.
Noah Brown has seen a major uptick in usage over the last two weeks, and during quarterback C.J. Stroud’s incredible game Brown became a huge piece of the offensive puzzle. With 153 yards and a touchdown on six catches, it’s likely that Brown will continue to be in the mix of an offense that is looking to air it our with their exciting new rookie. Brown is a boom or bust addition, but the upside is there.
Brown get even more attention than in Week 9 as the Texans will be without receiver Nico Collins against the Cincinnati Bengals. A greater emphasis will be on wideouts Tank Dell, Robert Woods, and Brown to attack Cincinnati’s secondary.
In the two games prior to Brown’s career day, the former Dallas Cowboys 2017 seventh-round pick posted yards per receptions of 19.0 and 18.5, indicating his ability to produce chunk plays.
Houston Texans receiver Noah Brown picked up recognition from Pro Football Focus for his career game in Week 9.
While the Week 9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did well to add more verses to the ballad of C.J. Stroud, the 39-37 thriller was also very productive for Houston Texans receivers.
Houston won a hard-fought battle against Tampa Bay to improve to 4-4 on the season. C.J. Stroud set a rookie passing record with 470 yards, and three Texans finished with 100-yard receiving games. Brown led the way with a career-high 153 receiving yards. All of his first down gains came in the second half, including three explosive gains for 134 yards. Brown recorded 106 yards from 20-plus yards downfield (second) and 148 total yards in the second half (first). He also finished with a perfect target rating for the week.
What helped Brown post career numbers was a 75-yard catch wherein rookie Tank Dell sprung a block that allowed Brown to continue streaking down the left sideline. The one-play, 75-yard touchdown drive with 12:32 to go in the third quarter pulled Houston within four, 20-16.
On the season, Brown has caught 14 passes for 267 yards and a touchdown through four games, one of which he has started.
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had a monster game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Here is how it went down in Week 9.
It was a tumultuous week of discourse around the Houston Texans.
There was visible frustration in the fanbase over a loss to the previously winless Carolina Panthers. Additionally, there were some puzzling questions around offensive coordintor Bobby Slowik and the choices that led to just 24 pass attempts from rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud during the 15-13 loss on the road. After the game, offensive tackles Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard took to Twitter to promise the team would look better the next week.
We will be better next week! On the the Buccaneers!!
The rookie quarterback the duo has spent all season protecting more than delivered.
Stroud had the best game of his career, and possibly the best of his life even including record performances while at Ohio State. He completed 30 of 42 passes for 470 yards and five touchdowns in addition to a two-point conversion during a high-powered 39-37 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The win flashed the elite accuracy, decision making, pocket movement and mobility that have made Stroud the early favorite for offensive rookie of the year.
The first half started somewhat slower for Stroud where he was 14-of-22 for 145 yards and a touchdown. Despite the gaudy output, it included some frustrating misses with fellow rookie Tank Dell and a missed deep ball that almost certainly would have seen a 90-yard score had it been thrown in bounds.
The duo didn’t flinch afterwards.
Tank Dell finished the day with 114 yards and two touchdowns off six catches. That included a spectacular side line catch and the eventual game winning touchdown as the offense conducted their game winning drive with just 45 seconds left to play. Dell wasn’t alone as the benefactor of Stroud’s career afternoon.
Tight end Dalton Schultz saw 11 targets and turned them into 10 receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown. Noah Brown saw a modest six targets but those turned into six receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown. Even Nico Collins, who saw a lot of defensive attention throughout the afternoon, caught three balls for 54 yards and Houston’s opening touchdown.
Everyone looks a little better playing next to Stroud. It comes with the territory of having a franchise quarterback on the roster.
C.J. Stroud, on first down alone, was 16 of 19 for 298 yards, 4 touchdowns and a perfect passer rating of 158.3
A total tendency breaker for Houston's offense turned into a career day for their rookie quarterback #WeAreTexans
Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, previously criticized for his commitment to the running game, turned to Stroud on early downs more than ever before. The Ohio State product was 16-of-19 for 298 yards and four touchdowns on first down passing attempts. It almost looked like the effort, and explicit changes by the coaching staff, would be wasted after a late touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield to tight end Cade Otton.
Instead, a collected Stroud marched down the field with 5 consecutive completions and the eventual 15-yard touchdown to Dell that placed the team over the top with just six seconds remaining on the clock.
The special performance from No. 7 will only bring more national attention to a Houston Texans team that has outperformed expectations. They’ve already surpassed their win total from last season and still have nine remaining games to play. Surprising to many, they remain firmly in the hunt for an AFC South title as well. Houston sits just two games behind the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2) for the division title and the right to host a home playoff game.
This is a victory that Houston fans will remember and enjoy for a long time. It’s also a victory that, with C.J. Stroud under center in the Battle Red, that they’ll likely enjoy many more of the same over the coming years.
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is a distributor.
The No. 2 overall pick put the ball in a playmaker’s hands Sunday and allowed him to do the work. Stroud hit a crosser to receiver Noah Brown, and the seven-year veteran did the rest as he turned upfield for a 75-yard touchdown in the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NRG Stadium.
The touchdown was the first for Brown since signing with the Texans as a free agent.
Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik told reporters earlier in the week that having explosive plays would be key against the Buccaneers.
“Being able to take advantage of the explosive opportunities is going to be a huge part of every game we’re in,” said Slowik.
Since returning from a groin injury, Noah Brown has given the Houston Texans depth in their receiving corps.
The Houston Texans signed Noah Brown in free agency to bolster a position group that features a variety of targets from big-bodied Nico Collins to shifty Tank Dell.
Although injuries affected the Texans’ receiving corps the past two games with Dell dealing with a concussion in Week 7 and Robert Woods a foot injury in Week 8, Brown has been a model of consistency throughout the hits to the position.
Noah Brown recorded three catches for 57 yards in Houston’s loss to Carolina. He had two explosive gains for 54 yards and finished with a 116.7 passer rating when targeted. Brown suffered a groin injury against the Ravens in Week 1 and has played in three games this season, leading to only 114 receiving yards on the year, but his yardage has gradually increased in each outing.
On the season, Brown has eight catches for 114 yards. Brown should figure to be a part of the Texans’ passing game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9 as Woods will miss another game due to injury.
The Houston Texans have activated receiver Noah Brown from injured reserve for Week 6 against the New Orleans Saints.
The Houston Texans are bringing back a receiver from injured reserve.
The club announced Saturday they have activated Noah Brown, who had been placed on injured reserve after Week 1 with a groin injury.
Houston also designated cornerback D’Angelo Ross as their standard practice squad elevation for Week 6 against the New Orleans Saints. Ross was elevated last week against the Atlanta Falcons. The 26-year-old has one more standard elevation remaining.
The Texans waived cornerback Alex Austin from the practice squad. Houston claimed the former Buffalo Bills 2023 seventh-round pick off waivers at the end of preseason.
