Tag: Tank Dell fantasy football

NFL preseason Week 1 fantasy football recap

Reviewing all of the notable fantasy football performances from Week 1 exhibition play.

While NFL preseason stats ultimately don’t matter in the quest for a fantasy football championship, that’s not to say it those numbers are entirely useless to track. Exhibition action gives us a glimpse into unearthed gems and allows gamers to recalibrate late-round flier rankings. After all, just getting an opportunity to showcase one’s talent can be the difference in making a roster or not, which sometimes is enough to create an inroad for a chance during the regular season.

With that established, here’s a spin around the noteworthy performances — good and otherwise — over the first week of the preseason. Since the NFL splits the games up over several days, be sure to check back multiple times for updates.

Searching for fantasy football value among Houston’s receivers

Are there any diamonds in the rough to be uncovered in Houston’s WR corps?

Not much went right for the Houston Texans in 2022, and that included their passing offense. With quarterback Davis Mills stumbling through an unremarkable sophomore campaign, the Texans finished 31st in total offense and 25th in passing with 196.7 yards per game through the air. It should come as no surprise that their leading receiver finished with 699 yards, which ranked 53rd in the NFL.

While that certainly wasn’t impressive, it’s worth noting the wideout who accumulated those 699 yards was Brandin Cooks, who was traded to the Dallas Cowboys during the offseason, removing the one proven upper-tier target on the club. To help soften the blow, Houston signed a pair of veterans in receivers Robert Woods and Noah Brown. It then spent a couple of draft picks on WRs Nathaniel Dell and Xavier Hutchinson. They’ll also be counting on the return of WR John Metchie III, who missed his entire rookie season after being diagnosed with leukemia.

Of course, the biggest addition might be that of QB C.J. Stroud, who was selected second overall. The Ohio State product is considered a polished commodity coming out of college, and the hope is that he can hit the ground running. Let’s see what all that means for fantasy owners looking for some value at the receiver position in Houston.

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Tank Dell, Houston

Tank Dell proves big plays can come in small packages.

Houston Cougars wide receiver Nathaniel “Tank” Dell has taken a twisting and turning path to the 2023 NFL Draft both on and off the field. The electric pass catcher is among the smallest big-play options available, a factor making his draft stock and landing spot tough to pin down.

In 2018, Dell attended Alabama A&M after a three-star prep rating coming out of the state of Florida. He redshirted after four games (12-364-3) and then transferred to Independence Community College for the 2019 season before choosing Houston over several other FBS options.

Height: 5-foot-8 3/4
Weight: 165 pounds
40 time: 4.49 seconds

It didn’t take long for Dell to make his presence felt with the Cougars, scoring in his second game with the program. He finished the season with three scores over 29 grabs and flashed a hint of what was to come. The 2021 campaign put defenders on notice as he broke out in a big way, only to follow it up with an even stronger showing in 2022. Dell would be recognized with first-team All-AAC honors in consecutive years.

Table: Tank Dell stats (2018-22)

Year School Class G Receiving Rushing
Rec Yds Avg TD Att Yds Avg TD
2018 Alabama A&M rFr 4 12 364 30.3 3 2 -1 -0.5 0
*2020 Houston rSo 8 29 428 14.8 3 0.0 0 — 0
*2021 Houston rJr 14 90 1,329 14.8 12 1.0 5 5 0
*2022 Houston rSr 13 109 1,398 12.8 17 4.0 9 2.3 0

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

Pros

  • Extremely productive and can leave a mark without huge volume
  • Dangerous out of the slot but also works on the outside
  • Above-average long speed but has immediate access to elite burst within a 10-yard split to get a step on a defensive back
  • Offers utility for gadget plays
  • Unafraid to mix it up in traffic
  • Excellent feel for intermediate routes and rarely tips off his intentions
  • Comes out of breaks crisply and uncovers with ease
  • Can fit just about any NFL offensive style but is built for a spread design
  • Doesn’t waste much motion getting up the field after the catch — while he’s plenty capable of juking defenders, Dell isn’t the jitterbug type we typically see from players of his size
  • Tracks the ball well and makes necessary adjustments
  • Can attack from all three levels of the route tree
  • Special teams experience as both a kickoff and punt returner

[lawrence-related id=476002]

Cons

  • Thin build will open him up to increased injury risk and can make him easier to jam at the line
  • Will be 24 years old as a rookie
  • Physical stature limitations will hinder his effectiveness in some situations — small catch radius, not a serious threat for 50/50 balls, etc.
  • His hands aren’t exactly a liability but there are enough examples of him having the ball knocked free in traffic before he can secure a reception. Pro Football Forecast attributes 21 drops to Dell over the last two seasons, albeit over a whopping 290 targets (7% drop rate).
  • Offers almost nothing as a blocker

Fantasy football outlook

Dell isn’t as fast as DeSean Jackson or Hollywood Brown, but he’s a precise route runner who plays with an attitude and will come to an NFL team at a much cheaper price tag. He’s a likely Day 3 selection, probably going between the middle of Round 4 to the end of the fifth.

His Year 1 fantasy appeal should be limited to daily action or as a flier in deep setups. Over the long haul, Dell has WR2 fantasy potential but has a shorter career trajectory given his advanced age for a rookie.