Probably the most unexpected success story of 2023 was the meteoric rise of the Houston Texans, which went from winning three games in 2022 to going 10-7 and capturing the AFC South banner. The biggest factor in the rapid turnaround was the arrival of quarterback C.J. Stroud, who would win NFL Rookie of the Year behind a stat line that included 4,108 yards passing and 23 touchdowns against just five interceptions.
What made that performance even more impressive was the lack of established talent on the outside with wide receivers Nico Collins, Noah Brown and Robert Woods atop the depth chart heading into last season. Collins was the breakout star, and he also was the only player on the team to top 750 yards. Then-rookie WR Tank Dell also looked like a legit NFL player, and he almost certainly would’ve broken the 1,000-yard mark as well had he not suffered a leg injury in early December.
Even with two young studs coming back, the Texans made a move to bring in Stefon Diggs from the Buffalo Bills, giving them an established frontline receiver to pair with Collins and Dell. Between those three and tight end Dalton Schultz, Stroud has a deep collection of options. There’s only one football, though, so can the second-year signal caller keep everyone fed? And what does it all mean for fantasy owners? Let’s dive in.
Stefon Diggs
In each of his four seasons with the Bills, Diggs caught more than 100 passes, topped 1,100 yards, and scored at least eight touchdowns. Going back to his days with the Minnesota Vikings, Diggs has now logged more than 1,000 yards in six straight seasons. Despite that, the Bills ran out of patience with his behavior off the field and were willing to move on from their No. 1 wideout.
Shortly after announcing the trade, the Texans made a calculated gamble, adjusting Diggs’ contract so that he can become an unrestricted free agent in 2025. That gives the veteran added incentive to play his best ball (and be on his best behavior) entering his age-31 season in hopes of securing one last big payday. Durable and productive throughout his nine seasons, Diggs is as reliable as they come.
Nico Collins
While Collins had flashed during his first two years in the league, he’d appeared in just 24 of 34 possible games and hadn’t reached the 500-yard mark for a season. Touchdowns had also eluded him, scoring on three of 70 career grabs. All of that changed in 2023. The Michigan product displayed immediate chemistry with Stroud, collecting 428 yards in their first four games together, and he’d go on to post 80 receptions, 1,297 yards, and eight TDs — he added 164 yards and another score in the playoffs.
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Durability remains a concern with Collins, who missed two games with a calf injury last year, making it an even dozen contests he has missed thus far in his career. Houston believes he’s a future star, though, giving him a massive extension in late May.
Tank Dell
Dell, a third-round pick last year, looks like a possible steal. Undersized at 5-foot-10, 165 pounds, Dell consistently found ways to get open, posting a 47-709-7 line in 10 games before suffering a broken fibula blocking near the goal line on Dec. 3, ending his rookie year. He has great speed and the type of elusiveness in the open field to make defenders miss. Dell figures to see a lot of single coverage working from the slot this season, which gives him interesting upside.
Fantasy football outlook
Although it’s unfair to pigeonhole any of these three receivers, it’s hard to look at this trio and not envision their roles as follows: Diggs as the possession guy who’ll make tough catches in traffic, Collins as the top downfield threat, and Dell getting a lot of work near the line of scrimmage where the Texans simply get the ball in his hands to let him create.
It ultimately falls on Stroud to keep everyone involved. Given the command he showed as a rookie, there’s no reason to think he can’t do it. Diggs should be the safest choice, checking in as a top-20 fantasy receiver, with Collins offering the most upside from a WR2 designation as well. Dell is more of a wild card, but considering how well he played last year he’s worth targeting as a low-end WR3 or high-end No. 4.
