Fantasy Football Player Notes
2025 PPR Draft Rankings
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10.
Nico Collins
WR - (vs . IND)
Nico Collins averaged 2.86 yards per route run in 2024, second among all WRs. He picked up right where he left off in 2023, finishing the season as the WR6 in points per game (14.9). He missed four games with an injury but was very effective on the field as C.J. Stroud's clear No.1 target.
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47.
Joe Mixon
RB - (vs . IND)
Mixon volume-hogged his way to an RB8 finish last year. He's primed to do it again in 2025. Last year, he ranked 14th in snap share, fifth in opportunity share, 17th in weighted opportunity, and sixth in red zone touches. The efficiency aspect hasn't been there, and I doubt that it will change in 2025 with another year of touches hitting the body odometer. Last year, he ranked 22nd in explosive run rate, 38th in missed tackles forced per attempt, and 29th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). Woody Marks is Mixon's closest competition in the backfield for volume, which means he'll handle as much as he can this season. Mixon is a solid RB2 with RB1 upside.
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112.
C.J. Stroud
QB - (vs . IND)
After a triumphant rookie season in 2023, C.J. Stroud's production fell dramatically last season. In 2023, Stroud was QB8 in fantasy points per game (18.7) among quarterbacks who made at least nine starts. In 2024, he slipped to QB26 in fantasy points per game (13.7). His passing yardage per game dropped from 273.9 to 219.2. Much of the blame goes to a shoddy offensive line that allowed Stroud to be sacked 52 times and yielded a league-worst 27.2% pressure rate. Houston's offensive line could still be a problem in 2025. The Texans traded away their best offensive lineman, left tackle Laremy Tunsil, although they acquired a solid replacement in Cam Robinson. The Texans added to Stroud's pass-catching arsenal by drafting Iowa State WRs Jaden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, but WR Stefon Diggs left via free agency, and WR Tank Dell might not play in 2025 after sustaining a gruesome knee injury in December. It's probably best to expect something between the highs of 2023 and the lows of 2024, and to regard Stroud as a midrange QB2.
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122.
Christian Kirk
WR - (vs . IND)
Christian Kirk joins the Texans after being acquired for a seventh-round pick, stepping into a starting slot role with Tank Dell likely sidelined for much of 2025. While Kirk has shown flashes of high-end WR2 upside in the past, his 2024 campaign was underwhelming before a collarbone injury ended his season early. He finished as the WR58 in points per game and was largely an afterthought in the red zone, with just a 19% target share and 11.8 expected PPG (WR38). Kirk offers real-life value as a reliable slot target and vertical threat alongside Nico Collins, but he'll face pressure from third-round rookie Jaylin Noe. Kirk also hasn't proven durable down the stretch in recent years. Draft cautiously - he's a fine late-round pick for floor, but the ceiling is limited without the TDs.
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188.
Houston Texans
DST - (vs . IND)
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199.
Jayden Higgins
WR - (vs . IND)
Jayden Higgins lands in a dream fantasy spot after being selected 34th overall by the Houston Texans. With Tank Dell likely sidelined for much of 2025 and Christian Kirk only under contract for one year, Higgins is positioned to start immediately alongside Nico Collins and Kirk in a high-powered offense led by C.J. Stroud. The former Iowa State standout was PFF's highest-graded WR in 2024, commanding a 33% target share while boasting a top-10 career college dominator rating in the class. With a strong blend of size, speed, and draft capital - and strong connections between the Texans and Iowa State coaching staffs - Higgins profiles as a plug-and-play rookie with significant fantasy appeal.
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201.
Dalton Schultz
TE - (vs . IND)
In 2024, Dalton Schultz hit five-year lows in targets (85) catches (53), receiving yards (532) and touchdowns (2). The result was a TE22 fantasy finish in half-point PPR scoring even though Schultz played all 17 of the Texans' games. A slight rebound is possible, but it's hard to see much fantasy upside for Schultz as he enters his age-29 season. WR Nico Collins figures to be the Texans' undisputed target leader, and Houston has also added veteran Christian Kirk and promising rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel at receiver. Consider Schultz a midrange TE2 at best.
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217.
Ka'imi Fairbairn
K - (vs . IND)
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220.
Nick Chubb
RB - (vs . IND)
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236.
Jaylin Noel
WR - (vs . IND)
Jaylin Noel is one of the most exciting under-the-radar rookie wideouts in the 2025 class. The 5'10", 194-pound Iowa State product posted a 33% dominator rating in his final season and led the class in receiving yards on throws of 20+ air yards - despite suffering from some of the worst QB play. He's a vertical slot weapon with elite athleticism, punt return ability, and strong production alongside fellow Texans rookie Jayden Higgins.
Houston snagged Noel in the third round (79th overall), and while he may open the season behind Christian Kirk, the opportunity is there. With Kirk's durability in question and Noel's explosive playmaking, don't be shocked if the rookie earns a major role down the stretch. Attached to C.J. Stroud in a high-powered offense, Noel is a sneaky late-round target. |
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295.
Dameon Pierce
RB - (vs . IND)
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296.
Woody Marks
RB - (vs . IND)
The Texans added Marks to their backfield in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. he looks like a passing down back upgrade over Dare Ogunbowale, who can also take on some early down work to spell Joe Mixon occasionally. I wasn't high on Marks as a prospect. Since 2021, he never finished higher than 102nd in yards after contact per attempt or elusive rating (per PFF). He could siphon off some targets from Mixon, though. He has ranked 26th or higher in receiving grade in three of the last four seasons.
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317.
John Metchie III
WR - (vs . IND)
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330.
Tank Dell
WR - (vs . IND)
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420.
Cade Stover
TE - (vs . IND)
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450.
Luke Lachey
TE - (vs . IND)
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458.
Brevin Jordan
TE - (vs . IND)
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515.
Justin Watson
WR - (vs . IND)
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522.
Xavier Hutchinson
WR - (vs . IND)
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526.
Jakob Johnson
RB - (vs . IND)
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