It took C.J. Stroud less than a month to establish himself as the future of the Texans' franchise. Through four career games, Stroud racked up 1,212 passing yards and six touchdowns while leading the Texans to a 2-2 record, marking the first time Houston had a record of .500 or better through four games since 2019.
Not only did Stroud cement himself as the future of NFL football in Houston, but he also elevated the receivers by his side. After averaging 38.6 yards per game through his first two NFL seasons, Nico Collins exploded for 1,297 yards in his third season with Stroud under center. Collins wasn't the only receiver in Houston who broke out last year - rookie Tank Dell was competing neck and neck with Collins before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 8.
Heading into Stroud's sophomore season, the Texans have made it clear that his arm will be the focal point of their offense. The offseason move that hammered this home was the acquisition of wide receiver Stefon Diggs from the Buffalo Bills. The addition of Diggs creates what could very easily be the best wide receiver trio in the NFL.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: 2024 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet
With so much talent in the Texans' wide receiver room, there is plenty of value to be extracted for fantasy purposes. There is a legitimate case for any of these three being the top fantasy performer in this offense.
Houston Texans' WR Fantasy Football Outlook: Should you draft Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, or Tank Dell in 2024?
Stefon Diggs' fantasy football outlook
After what seemed to be a falling out with the Buffalo Bills, Diggs was traded to Houston this offseason to join forces with Stroud and company. Diggs' production last season may have disappointed those who drafted him last year, but there's still reason to believe that he can produce at a high level.
Diggs was an elite target earner last year despite his minimal yardage output down the stretch. His 29.5-percent target share ranked 9th among WRs, and his 0.27 targets per route run was the 13th-highest rate at the position. Diggs' primary issue was that he connected with Allen for very few deep strikes last year, but this may not have been his fault.
Diggs still has the talent to be a significant part of this Texans offense. If he can quickly develop a connection with Stroud, he could realistically return to the Diggs that fantasy managers have known and loved.
2024 PPR RANKINGS
Top 250 Overall | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF/ST | K
Nico Collins' fantasy football outlook
Nico Collins didn't quite earn targets at the rate Diggs did last year, but he was elite in his own right. Collins was one of only four receivers to clear 3.00 yards per route run, joining Tyreek Hill, Justin Jefferson, and Brandon Aiyuk. That's pretty good company.
Some may believe that Collins' performance and overall production were propped up by Dell's injury. But Collins actually scored more points per game while sharing the field with Dell. In 10 games where both receivers played, Collins averaged 18.21 points per game. In five games without Dell, this number fell to 15.66. Adding Diggs into the mix complicates things, but Collins is still capable of succeeding while sharing the field with talented receivers.
2024 FANTASY SLEEPERS
QB | RB | WR | TE
Collins was able to score fantasy points in droves despite being a borderline part-time player last year. He was on the field for just 68 percent of snaps and ran a route on 77 percent of dropbacks. This is set to change in 2024; it seems the Texans view Collins as their true alpha receiver of the offense. Collins was on the field for 21-of-23 snaps (91 percent) with the starters this preseason. It's a small sample size, but it's a large step up from last year and is a positive indication of what the team thinks of Collins.
Tank Dell's fantasy football outlook
Tank Dell may be small, but boy is he mighty. If it weren't for a completely avoidable injury, Dell could have finished as a top-15 receiver. He quickly became Stroud's go-to downfield target and the pair connected for seven touchdowns in 11 games.
This is a role that Dell should reprise in his sophomore year. Collins and Diggs are quality deep threats as well, but the Texans seem to love this guy as their vertical threat and explosive playmaker. He quickly developed an almost indescribable connection with Stroud and was the perfect complement to Collins.
2024 STANDARD, NON-PPR RANKINGS
Top 250 Overall | QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | K
The only question with Dell is whether he'll be efficient enough to overcome what could be a part-time role. Dell was not on the field for any of the Texans' plays in 12 personnel (2-WR sets), only playing in formations with three receivers. As a result, Dell was on the field for just 61 percent of the snaps with the starters in the preseason. Dell has the explosive, big-play skill set to overcome a part-time role, but this is something to take note of.
The Verdict: Which Texans WR should you draft in PPR fantasy football leagues?
As you may be able to tell, it's not very difficult to get excited about any of these three receivers. Who doesn't want a piece of the receiving corps for the quarterback who became the 5th rookie to throw for 4,000 yards in his debut season?
Regardless of who it may be, getting a piece of this passing attack is advisable. But if you are going to target just one of them, it has to be Nico Collins, who is available in early Round 3 as the WR13. He has displayed the traits of an alpha receiver in the making. Everything the Texans have done this preseason, from his usage to his contract extension, has indicated that they believe he is their receiver of the future. Hitching your wagon to Stroud's No. 1 option is never a bad idea.
2024 FANTASY AUCTION VALUES (PPR & STANDARD)
Overall | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF/ST | K