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?
The Texans have reshaped their offensive line again this offseason. Do you expect the line to improve, and how important is line improvement to your assessment of the offense's fantasy prospects?
Maurile Tremblay: Yes, I'd expect the line to be a bit better, but probably not dramatically better. The new group looks better on paper for both protection and power running, but some of the key additions — mainly Braden Smith and Wyatt Teller — come with durability questions, and there were still center and snap issues in the playoff loss. As for its importance to fantasy, line improvement is one of the biggest reasons to believe in a Stroud rebound and in Montgomery being usable as an RB2. If the line really gels, the whole offense gets more efficient and scores more. If it's only marginally better, we still get fantasy value from the main pieces, but the ceiling is more modest.
Andy Hicks: The offensive line was among the league's worst last season. Multiple changes have been made, and while they should improve the unit, the key question is how quickly the group can come together and perform at a high level. Significant resources have already been invested, and further additions in the draft remain likely. Offensive line evaluation isn't my primary area of expertise, so I lean on trusted analysts in that space. Early reviews of the changes have been positive. Ultimately, the line's performance will have a meaningful impact on the rest of the offense, though it isn't my main focus when assessing the skill-position players.
Jeff Haseley: The offensive line is everything. Stroud's sack rate spiked last year. If this reshaped unit can keep him clean, the entire offense hits its ceiling. Without it, they're just talented but volatile.