NFL Splits Tool, Week 9: Walking Wounded Texans

Each week, I’ll be using the FTN Fantasy Splits Tool to evaluate different teams, monitoring some of the most critical situations around the league.

The Splits Tool is a great way to evaluate the impact of different situations and environmental factors by comparing and contrasting historical data based on pre-game spreads/totals, locations, coaching changes, current and former teammates, etc. It’s a must-have for serious fantasy football managers and sports betters, especially when it comes to making difficult start/sit decisions or trying to gain an edge against the books.

Texans Down WRs

At 6-2, the Texans have a commanding two-game lead in the AFC South but will have their work cut out for them going forward, continuing to lose bodies at wide receiver. They’ll be without the NFL leader in receiving yards per game, Nico Collins, for at least another week, as well as Stefon Diggs, who suffered a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season. Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz stand to benefit the most without Collins and Diggs, already seeing a significant uptick in usage over the last three weeks.

Tank Dell, WR

Tank Dell has run a route on 81.6% of C.J. Stroud’s dropbacks over the last three weeks, up from 77.9% in four games with Collins. Even with an uptick in snaps and routes, Dell’s production hasn’t been much different without Collins, averaging less than four catches (3.7) on 5.7 targets for just over 30 yards (30.7). Still, his 17.3% target share and 21.4% air yard share trails only Diggs (23.5% target share, 37.8% air yard share) for second on the team in both categories and should only improve as long as Collins is out.

Dalton Schultz, TE

Dalton Schultz has seen six-plus targets in three out of the last four games, leading the Texans in route participation rate (87.8%) over the last three weeks without Nico Collins In Week 8, Schultz caught four passes on six targets for 52 yards, surpassing 34 yards for the first time this season, playing without Stefon Diggs for nearly a half. Like Tank Dell, Schultz’s usage should only get better as long as Collins is sidelined, making him a viable streaming tight end based on volume alone.