We are proud to be among the first, if not the first, to publish full projections for the upcoming season, going live just days after the Super Bowl. Publishing detailed projections in early February comes with trade-offs, not the least of which is a near-total lack of clarity on how free agency, cap transactions, and the NFL draft will reshape rosters.
We've been updating our projections in near real time, including during the recent onslaught of free-agent transactions. This version will remain largely stable until we can layer in the April NFL draft, but stable projections don't mean settled debates.
We have a staff of sharp analysts with sharp takes of their own, so I thought it would be worthwhile to solicit their views on the key coin-toss situations that will shape each team's outlook in the coming months. These are important questions where reasonable, informed people can credibly land in very different places. I asked my colleagues to weigh in with one assumption: they were answering strictly through the lens of a standard 0.5-PPR redraft league.
Houston Texans Coin-Toss Questions
- Can Stroud Return to Top-12 Fantasy QB Status?
- Is Montgomery a Reliable Fantasy Starter in Houston?
- Is Collins Still a Fantasy WR1 in 2026?
- Are Higgins, Dell, or Noel Worth Drafting in 2026?
- Will the Texans' Offensive Line Upgrades Matter for Fantasy?
Reports indicate Tank Dell should be healthy to start this season, after missing 2025. How do you rank Jayden Higgins, Tank Dell, and Jaylin Noel? Assuming they all stay healthy, are any draftable in a 12-team redraft?
Maurile: I'd rank them Tank Dell first, Jayden Higgins second, Jaylin Noel third. Dell is the only one I'd call clearly draftable in a normal 12-team redraft, and even then, more as a late-round upside pick than a projected fantasy starter. Dell was one of Houston's most dangerous receivers before the injury, with inside-outside flexibility. Higgins is more of a fringe last-pick dart throw — he showed promise as a rookie but is still in a depth role. Noel looks more like a returner with some slot potential, and is undraftable in standard 12-team redraft leagues.
Andy: Dell suffered a serious injury that was, and may still be, career-threatening. The Texans are likely to take a cautious approach with his recovery, and just as importantly, Dell will need to regain full confidence in his body. If he can return to his previous level, his upside sits around the top-30 range. Jayden Higgins, meanwhile, impressed as a rookie. His production statistically outperformed Luther Burden III, who is expected to be ranked significantly higher this season. Drafted 34th overall, Higgins brings an imposing physical profile, and if anyone in this group is capable of challenging Nico Collins for the WR1 role, it's him — his upside pushes into the top 24. Jaylin Noel, selected 79th overall, showed early promise in his rookie campaign but faded down the stretch, managing just eight receptions across the final eight games. That drop-off suggests he may be better suited to a complementary role. Rankings: Higgins first, then Dell — both worth drafting. Noel, at this stage, is not.
Jeff: My ranking: 1. Jayden Higgins, 2. Jaylin Noel, 3. Tank Dell. That multi-ligament injury changes a person. I need to see Dell play before I elevate him to draftable status.
