Tank

Dell

The Texans’ diminutive wide receiver led the team with nine targets last week, and evidently got a little banged up in the process. Dell’s early-week participation puts him on track to face the Browns this weekend though. He is a FLEX starter, assuming he is good to go.

The Texans seemed fairly comfortable using Dell in this one, getting him going with a screen pass on the opening drive. His biggest play of the day was a 63-yard touchdown via a go route, in which he simply ran past his coverage defender down the right sideline. CJ Stroud hit Dell in stride and he continued on down the field and into the end zone. Dell managed to earn an end zone target on the Texans’ 11th drive, but was unable to secure it. Dell is officially on the WR3/FLEX radar for Week 10 against the Browns.

It’s a rough blow for Noel, who had been extremely efficient on his targets. It does clear up space for some of Houston’s other receivers. The recently-activated Tank Dell and recently-acquired Marvin Harrison Jr. will benefit a bit from one fewer mouth to feed after the Texans come off bye.

He added a two-yard rush on an end around. While it was good to see him back on the field, it should be noted that it looked like his 43-yard catch glanced off Jaylin Noel’s hands and seemed to immaculately find it’s way into Dell’s as he scampered off for some yards after the catch. Dell further confounded the Houston Wideout Situation, playing just 14 snaps. We have no idea what to trust here beyond Nico Collins. Dell seemed to be running just fine, though it sounded like at times his delay in getting up to speed was about recovery. We’ll all get the Week 8 bye to sort this one out. Dell isn’t a must-roster through it.

Dell will make his long-awaited return next week against the Giants. By the time he takes the field in Week 7, Dell will have been more than 22 months removed from his last regular-season game, which came in Week 16 of the 2024 season. Dell suffered a torn ACL, LCL, and MCL, along with a dislocated knee, in that game against the Chiefs and has been on a long road to recovery. He’ll join a crowded receiver room that recently acquired Marvin Harrison Jr., and Jaylin Noel has posted a solid 17-334-2 line through the first six weeks of the season and topped 100 yards in Sunday’s win over the Jaguars. Targets could be hard to come by for Dell, but his return next week is an impressive feat on its own given the injury he had to work through.

The Texans depart for London tonight to face the Jaguars on Sunday, and Dell will remain in Texas. He is currently practicing in full, but the team has not yet cleared him for game-day activities. Dell does not need to be stashed in 12-team leagues at this time.

The Texans are facing the Jaguars in London this week. If Dell travels, that would indicate that Dell has a chance to play for the first time since suffering a multi-ligament tear in 2024. He would be a low-floor FLEX if he is active.

He did not practice on Friday and was ruled out. The Texans reportedly pushed hard on Dell in full pads on Thursday’s practice despite the questionable listing, it seems his body did not react as they’d hoped. This leaves Jaylin Noel in a potential FLEX-useful spot against a rough Titans secondary.

The diminutive wide receiver remains limited through two practices. In most situations, that would put him on track to play. In this case, Dell might need to consistently practice fully before the Texans let him go out there on game day. Stay tuned.

It is unclear when Dell will take the field on game day, but he is officially participating in his 21-day practice window. His range of potential outcomes is quite wide. Stashing him on fantasy benches is a reasonable move at this time, though he is not guaranteed to be a fantasy contributor.