Houston Texans DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. The Texans are relatively banged up after their Week 2 game against the Chicago Bears. Starting running back Joe Mixon (ankle) was also a non-participant. Pierce already missed Week 2 after recording three carries for 16 yards in Week 1. He appears to be in danger of missing Week 3. If Mixon cannot go or is limited, the Texans will need to find depth at the running back position. Cam Akers appears to be next in line for increased opportunities. For now, fantasy managers should keep an eye on this situation.

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hip/foot) did not practice on Wednesday. The lack of practice is worrisome considering there was no sign of injury during the Texans' Week 2 game against the Chicago Bears. It is possible that the lack of practice is more maintenance-related. Fantasy managers will need to keep an eye on Collins' practice activity throughout the week. Collins has been a stud thus far in 2024. He leads the league with 252 receiving yards and has scored one touchdown. He has been every bit the player that fantasy managers wanted coming into this season. If Collins were to miss time, then wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell would see a massive uptick in opportunities.

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is not practicing on Wednesday after suffering an ankle injury in the Week 2 win over the Chicago Bears. The former Cincinnati Bengal had a fantastic Week 1 performance against the Indianapolis Colts, posting 178 total yards and a touchdown on 33 touches. In Week 2, he only racked up 50 total yards on 12 touches. Backup running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) missed Week 2 and is also not practicing on Wednesday. If Mixon plays, he's still likely a strong starting option against the Minnesota Vikings, but if he and Pierce miss Sunday's game, Cam Akers will enter the fantasy radar as a flex consideration. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Mixon's status throughout the week.

The Houston Texans placed tight end Brevin Jordan (undisclosed) on Injured Reserve on Wednesday, meaning Jordan will now have to miss at least the team's next four games. Jordan will be eligible to return to play in Week 7 on the road at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers. It helps explain why the Texans signed former Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith to their practice squad on Tuesday. In the first two games of the season, Jordan caught only two passes on three targets for seven yards while working behind starter Dalton Schultz. With Jordan now out for the foreseeable future, the Texans will roll with rookie Cade Stover, Chris Myarick and Smith as depth behind Schultz at the position. Schultz has also been a disappointment for fantasy managers as a TE1 option through the first two weeks in 2024, catching five of six targets for only 37 yards.

The Houston Texans signed free-agent tight end Irv Smith and former starting center Scott Quessenberry to their practice squad on Tuesday following successful tryouts, according to league sources. Smith, a former second-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings out of Alabama, will give Houston more depth at the TE position behind Dalton Schultz, Brevin Jordan and rookie Cade Stover. He has 109 career receptions for 973 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career with the Vikings, Bengals and Chiefs, but injuries have really held him back from reaching his true ceiling. Texans center Juice Scruggs (groin), who missed the Week 2 win over the Bears on Sunday night, is on track to return this week against the Vikings, but Quessenberry will give the team more depth at the position. Quessenberry started for Houston two seasons ago when Justin Britt stepped away for personal reasons.