Houston Texans DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III earned a shoutout from head coach DeMeco Ryans for making a "significant leap" over the last year, according to Mike Jones of The Athletic. Metchie sat out 2022 due to a cancer diagnosis but returned to catch 16 passes for 158 yards last year. While it's not wise to invest much stock into coachspeak, it's still worth noting that Ryans has a particularly favorable view of Metchie as he enters his third pro campaign. The presence of Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell will likely keep Metchie off the redraft radar, but he could be an appealing target in deeper dynasty leagues as the 2024 season approaches.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud gave wide receiver Nico Collins some high praise at this week's mandatory minicamp, comparing him to Hall of Famer and former Texan Andre Johnson. "[Collins is] a generational talent. He's like our age's Andre Johnson, in my opinion," Stroud said. "Just how fast he is, how he gets in and out of his braces, releases, how strong he is. I think last year was just a preview of what's to come for him." Collins had a career year in 2023, going for 1,297 receiving yards on 80 receptions (109 targets) and eight touchdowns in 15 regular season games (10 starts). The 1,297 yards rank eighth in the team's single-season record books, and his eight touchdowns are tied for fifth. The Texans rewarded Collins with a three-year, $72.5 million extension, but he could have a tough time replicating those numbers in 2024 with Stefon Diggs now in town in Houston.

Houston Texans tight end Brevin Jordan has been receiving praise from head coach DeMeco Ryans. Ryans told the media that Jordan is "playing fast and confidently and making some great catches." Jordan served as the backup tight end in Houston last season to Dalton Schultz and finished the campaign with 219 yards and two touchdowns on 17 catches. While this is a great sign for the 23-year-old in the long term, he still should be expected to retain a similar second-string role to Schultz in 2024. However, the former fifth-round pick has flashed at times with an eye-catching 7.6 average yards after the catch, which places him in the top-95th percentile among all tight ends, and he had an impressive 76-yard score in the wild-card game last season. Jordan could emerge as a fantasy-viable tight end if Schultz were to miss time, but for now, he has a difficult path to consistent playing time.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Texans and wide receiver Nico Collins agreed on a three-year, $72.75 million extension. The wideout, who will make $52 million in guaranteed cash on his new deal, had a breakout season in 2023-24, amassing 80 catches for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns. While Houston added Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon to the equation, two players who will command targets during the 2024-25 campaign, Collins remains a viable fantasy option in any format, considering the Texans could be one of the NFL's highest-scoring offenses.

According to Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, running back Dameon Pierce will have a role this season. While Joe Mixon is believed to be the No. 1 option on the depth chart, it appears Pierce could have a bigger function than anticipated. "I see Dameon having a very clear headspace as we are out working, and I think that will allow him to have a really productive year this year, " said Ryans during an interview with the Houston Chronicle. "He has everything it takes to be a really good running back for us, and I think him and Joe as a one-two punch would be very beneficial for us all." Of course, it remains to be seen how things will work out for the revamped Texans' offense. However, it seems Mixon and Pierce could collectively remain productive enough to exceed expectations during the 2024-25 campaign, although it will be tough to tell which player will be the most productive from week to week.