In 2023, Stroud had one of the best ever rookie seasons at quarterback.
That created high expectations heading into his sophomore season,
and he was drafted as a consensus QB1. The addition of WR Stefon
Diggs to play alongside breakout receiver Nico Collins added to
the hopefulness of a stellar season from Stroud. When the dust
settled, Stroud fell short of those expectations, thanks in no
small part to Diggs, Collins, and WR Tank Dell all missing multiple
games. Stroud played in two more games in 2024 than he did in
2023 but finished last season with fewer passing yards, fewer
passing TDs, and more interceptions than his rookie season. Ouch.
Those struggles in 2024 have Stroud slated as a low-end QB2 today.
He reportedly had soreness in his throwing shoulder during offseason
workouts but is said to be fine as training camp approaches. I
actually like the price of Stroud this draft season. If the pieces
around him can stay upright and the offensive line doesn’t
completely fall flat, Stroud can be a solid QB2 with starting
potential some weeks. Draft him with confidence as your high-end
QB2.
Joe Mixon turns 29 this summer but continues playing at a high
level. An injury kept him out of three of Houston’s first
five games. But upon his return to the lineup in Week 6, he scored
10 total TDs over the next six games. The RB2 price that fantasy
managers paid in 2024 was paying off. But he finished the season
with a dud as the entire offense cratered to an anemic level,
scoring only once the rest of the season.
Once again, Mixon enters draft season as an RB2. It’s a lot to
ask of a 29-year-old RB to continue playing at a consistently
high level. Personally, I’m not a fan of relying on RBs at that
age, especially having to use a premium draft pick to get them.
And as mentioned above, the Texans have a leaky O-line that’s
ranked in the bottom-third of the league. Now throw in the fact
that the team signed RB Nick
Chubb, who is also 29 years old, and you have the makings
of a season that falls short of expectations for Mixon. His production
history says yes, draft him. But his age and other conditions
beyond his control say let someone else draft him. Either way,
you should have guarded optimism when it comes to Joe Mixon.
Nico Collins enters the 2025 season as a WR1 in fantasy football.
Collins got off to a hot start in 2024, snagging 32 receptions
for three scores through the season’s first five games.
While the numbers he produced upon his return don’t jump
off the page, they still showed that Houston’s passing game
goes as Collins goes. He is a high-target receiver who the team
heavily relies on, meaning fantasy managers should do the same.
Collins is a big-bodied receiver with the ability to get downfield.
His 14.8 yards-per-catch ranked 15th in the league last season,
ahead of known downfield threats like Ja’Marr Chase, Zay
Flowers, and Tyreek Hill.
This season sets up nicely for Collins. Stroud is one year wiser
and more experienced, and Collins has no real competition for
targets. He’s also smack dab in the prime of his career.
For those selecting near the end of Round 1, Collins is a great
target as a second selection after first picking one of the top
RBs. Don’t be surprised if he flirts with 100 receptions
and double-digit TDs in 2025.
Christian Kirk arrives in Houston as the team’s anticipated
WR2, replacing the departed Diggs. Kirk had a few solid seasons
while in Jacksonville, including his 84-catch, 1,100-yard, eight-TD
campaign of 2022. But he was 26 years old then. He turns 29 in
November, meaning we have probably already seen the best of Kirk.
Houston concluded last season with the 11th most pass attempts,
so there should be chances for Kirk to show flashes of productivity.
But I wouldn’t expect consistency from him. He can serve
as a WR4 with spot duty startability due to byes and injuries,
but he should not be trusted on a regular basis.
With the devastating late-season injury Tank Dell sustained last
December, the door is wide open for second round rookie Jayden
Higgins to carve out a role in Houston’s offense. His measurables
are similar to Collins’ (6’4”, 214 lbs.), so
the Texans could use him on money downs and in the red zone. The
organization truly believes in Higgins’ potential, so much
so that they signed him to the league’s first-ever fully
guaranteed contract for a second-round pick. That tells us all
we need to know about his prospects. Could he supplant Kirk as
the starter opposite Collins at some point this season? That is
a real possibility. We should all just keep quiet about Higgins
and wait until he falls in the double-digit rounds and grab him
as a depth piece with incredible upside.
Dalton Schultz entered last season as a sleeper at tight end
but finished with the fewest receptions, fewest receiving yards,
and fewest TD catches since his 2019 season. We should not anticipate
much changing heading into 2025 for the former Stanford standout.
Schultz is better left undrafted at this point, but it is always
a smart thing to keep tabs on players with his ability. For now,
he is waiver wire fodder.
