Houston Texans

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce had a notable rookie campaign after being selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In just 13 games before being sidelined with injuries, he racked up 939 yards and four touchdowns on 220 carries and caught 30 passes for 165 yards and one score. However, his role, production, and efficiency declined in 2023 after the arrival of Devin Singletary, as he posted just 517 total yards and rushed for 2.9 yards per carry. Singletary is now gone, but the team traded for former Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon. Despite this, Texans general manager Nick Caserio spoke highly of Pierce in a recent media availability. "He is going to be a big part of what we're doing. Watching him move on the field, he looks pretty good. Everybody's looking forward to the opportunity in front of them; you can't worry about what's happened in the past," Caserio said. "He's got as good an attitude as anyone on the team. We're glad DP is here." While you never know whether a head coach or general manager is being honest in these situations, Caserio's comments can only help his fantasy stock. Fantasy managers should go into the season with low expectations for Pierce, but he should at least be viewed as a high-end handcuff running back in what projects to be one of the league's best offenses.

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (leg) suffered a gunshot wound on Sunday morning after a 16-year-old suspect opened fire during a physical altercation at a private event in Sanford, Florida. Dell, who was at the event but not involved, suffered a "minor wound," with the team reporting the wideout is in "good spirits" and has been released from the hospital. Others were injured during the incident. Fortunately, no one suffered life-threatening injuries. As far as the gunman, he was arrested and charged with several crimes, including attempted homicide, before being transported to a juvenile detention facility. The 24-year-old is currently working his way back from a broken leg suffered at the end of last season and should remain on schedule to return for the 2024-25 campaign, barring any setbacks related to the incident.

According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, free-agent running back Dare Ogunbowale agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the Texans. The 29-year-old spent the last two seasons in Houston. He made 29 appearances for the franchise during that span, amassing 50 carries for 158 yards and a touchdown while adding 22 catches for 122 yards. However, most of Ogunbowale's snaps were as a member of the special teams unit, and that likely won't change during the 2024-25 campaign. As a result, he's not expected to see any attention from fantasy managers, especially with Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce ahead on the depth chart.

Newly acquired Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs can become a free agent after his 2024 campaign, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The organization wiped out the final three years of Diggs' contract and moved up $3.5 million in guarantees for next season into this year. He will earn a total of $22.52 million in guaranteed money in 2024. This move should add an extra incentive for Diggs to perform his best, and it will be interesting to see if the Texans can lock him up long-term next offseason. Diggs, who turns 31 next season, has accumulated at least 1,000 receiving yards and six touchdowns in each of his last six campaigns dating back to his time with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Buffalo Bills are trading All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs, a 2024 sixth-round pick, and a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick. Needless to say, this is a shocking and exciting development, and quarterback C.J. Stroud will now have no shortage of weapons to throw to in 2024. However, the fantasy football outlooks of Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Dalton Schultz are likely to take sizable hits. In Buffalo, Curtis Samuel and Khalil Shakir now move into the temporary WR1 and WR2 roles, but the Bills are surely planning to draft one or two wide receivers in the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. Diggs has expressed frustration in Buffalo over the last few seasons, but he has remained productive. The 30-year-old has posted at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last six seasons, including at least 1,100 yards in his last four campaigns with Buffalo. He keeps his WR1 upside in his new Texans uniform.