Houston Texans DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The Houston Texans re-signed defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi to an undisclosed deal on Wednesday, a source told ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime. Fatukasi will return to Houston after starting 11 games for the team in 2024 while helping bolster a Texans run defense that ranked ninth in fewest yards allowed (107) and eighth in yards per attempt (4.2). The 30-year-old former sixth-round pick (180th overall) by the New York Jets in 2018 out of Connecticut had only one sack in 2024 and 5.5 in his seven-year NFL career, so he's not on the IDP fantasy radar, but he led the Texans defense in run-stuff rate (4.8%) and was tied for third in run-stuff tackles (eight), according to NextGen Stats. Fatukasi dealt with injuries in his first season in Houston, playing in just 11 regular-season games while missing the final three games due to an ankle injury.

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said on Monday that veteran safety Jimmie Ward (foot) is out of his walking boot and has been running after having offseason foot surgery. "Jimmie is doing fine," Ryans said. Ward suffered his foot injury in Week 16 in 2024 in his second year with the Texans and was unable to play again the rest of the way. The 33-year-old veteran recorded 48 tackles (32 solo), five tackles for loss, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and four pass breakups in just 10 starts last year. The 11-year-old veteran has dealt with multiple injuries the last two years in Houston and has played in just 20 total games. It looks like Ward should be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season, but he can be avoided at the defensive back position in IDP fantasy formats. He was originally the 30th overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round in 2014 out of Northern Illinois.

The Houston Chronicle's Jonathan M. Alexander reports that Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) will most likely miss the entire 2025 season and be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Dell tore his ACL, LCL and MCL and also suffered meniscus damage to his left knee and a dislocated kneecap on Dec. 21 of last year. The 25-year-old has already had multiple surgeries on his knee and most likely will not be able to get back on the field this upcoming season, which shouldn't come as a big surprise given the severity of his injury. Dell could be back at some point in 2026, but it wouldn't be surprising if he's never the same player after such a devastating knee injury. It's why Houston drafted both Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in this year's NFL draft after losing Stefon Diggs in free agency. Before his injury last year, Dell had a 51-667-3 line on 81 targets for Houston.

The Houston Chronicle's Jonathan M. Alexander projects Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III to be left off the 53-man roster entering the start of the 2025 season this fall after the team added receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in last week's draft. Houston also added Christian Kirk, Justin Watson and Braxton Berrios in free agency this offseason, creating a lot of competition for the 24-year-old, who has battled injuries and a cancer scare to produce just 40 catches for 412 yards and one touchdown since being drafted in the second round (44th overall) in 2022 out of Alabama. Alexander expects Metchie, Xavier Hutchinson, Berrios and Watson to be battling for the final two receiver spots this summer behind Higgins, Kirk and Nico Collins. Metchie is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2025 and could be a trade candidate if it's clear he's not going to make the roster.

While long-time Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (foot) remains on the free-agent market on the eve of the 2025 NFL draft, he doesn't appear to be considering retirement. "They've already wrote my ending when I'm just getting started," Chubb wrote on Instagram, adding a bat emoji. Chubb also posted a video on his social media page of him squatting significant weight, which is something he hadn't really done since a devastating knee injury that he suffered early in the 2023 season. The 29-year-old second-rounder and four-time Pro Bowler returned to play in eight games for the Browns in 2024 but didn't look like the same guy, averaging a career-worst 3.3 yards per carry on 102 rushing attempts for 332 yards and three touchdowns. Chubb also suffered a season-ending foot fracture in December, which no doubt has many teams skeptical about how much he can offer moving forward.