Houston Texans

RB Mark Ingram said “he isn't sure what his role will be” in the Texans backfield. (Source: Aaron Reiss on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Ingram signed a one-year deal with the Texans during the offseason. He joins a crowded backfield that includes David Johnson and Phillip Lindsay. He struggled in 2020, logging 72 carries for 299 rushing yards along with six receptions for 50 receiving yards and two total touchdowns across 11 games for the Ravens. Ingram and the Texans crowded backfield is one to avoid in fantasy for upcoming 2021 drafts.

Houston Texans PR announced on Twitter that they have waived WR Chad Hansen. (Source: Houston Texans PR on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Hansen had a minimal role in 2020. He appeared in five games and will look to sign with another team for the 2021 season. He caught 17 passes for 236 yards and one touchdown.

The Houston Chronicle's John McClain writes that Texans QB Deshaun Watson is "still destined to be traded." (Source: Houston Chronicle)

Fantasy Impact: McClain is one of the more plugged in beat reporters in football, so it's always worth noting what he has to say on the Watson situation. There's a wrinkle to this prediction, though. McClain says it's possible that Watson isn't moved until the trade deadline or even until the 2022 NFL Draft. This is obviously due to the ongoing investigation into the star quarterback. Interested teams would want to know if Watson is going to be suspended before dealing for him. It's clear this has caused his trade value to take a hit. It remains to be seen where the NFL will go from here. The investigation is still taking place.

Houston Texans LT Laremy Tunsil has reportedly agreed to restructure his 2021 salary into a $990K base with a $15.16M signing bonus to create $10.11M in cap space for the Texans in 2021, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Tunsil converted his original base salary for 2021 into a signing bonus worth $15.16 million and will also receive his original $13 million signing bonus prorated across 2022 and 2023. This move allows the Texans to continue pursuing free agents in what appears to be a massive rebuild under new GM Nick Caserio. Regardless of who winds up starting under center for Houston this season, Tunsil's massive presence on the blind-side will certainly be a commodity. More help will be needed through free agency and the draft in order to improve one of the league's worst offensive lines in 2020.

Former Houston Texans OLB Brennan Scarlett has reportedly signed a deal with the Miami Dolphins, per Aaron Wilson. (Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Scarlett totaled 28 tackles and one TFL across 11 games for the Texans in 2020 and will add depth to an outstanding linebacking core in Miami. The fifth-year linebacker will look to make an impression on head coach Brian Flores, a defensive mastermind who could utilize his tough tackling in a rotation to preserve starters Jerome Baker and Emmanuel Ogbah throughout the 2021 season.

WR Will Fuller is signing a one-year deal with the Dolphins. The deal reportedly includes up to $10 million with “significant upside,” per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Fuller missed the final five games of the 2020 season after being handed down a six-game suspension for PED use. He won’t make his Dolphins debut until Week 2. The 26-year-old WR was finally able to stay healthy last season, setting career-highs in receptions (53), receiving yards (879) and touchdowns (8) across 11 games. Fuller gives the Dolphins a big-time deep threat and will compete with DeVante Parker and Preston Williams for targets in the Dolphins passing game. Fuller is currently 27th among all wideouts in the latest expert consensus draft rankings.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Texans are trading Benardrick McKinney to the Dolphins in exchange for Shaq Lawson. (Source: Ian rapoport of NFL Network)

Fantasy Impact: The Texans after giving McKinney a few weeks to try and find a trade partner for the veteran finally found a landing spot for the LB. McKinney had a down year last season recording just 37 tackles after having 101 the season before. Lawson makes alot of sense for the Texans as he's two years younger than McKinney.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that the Houston Texans and Brandin Cooks have agreed to a contract restructure. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: In an effort to create cap space the Texans have restructured Cooks’ contract freeing up $6.5M. The veteran WR is coming off his fifth 1,000 yard season and currently projects to be the top wide receiver for the Texans with Will Fuller entering free agency. Cooks should see a lot of volume during 2021, but his success will ultimately depend on what the Texans decide to do with Deshaun Watson.

Ian Rapoport is reporting that David Johnson has agreed to restructure his contract to a one-year deal worth up to $6M, with $4.25M fully guaranteed. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Johnson was originally slated to receive almost $8M this year through the deal that the Texans inherited from the Cardinals. Now 29 years old, Johnson is no longer in his prime as an NFL running back. Still, the veteran looked great in 2020 and had a stretch towards the end of the season that won many fantasy championships. With Duke Johnson out of town, David Johnson could end up with a true bellcow role in 2021. There is still a lot of uncertainty in Houston regarding Deshaun Watson. Still, given Johnson's pass-catching abilities and his current expected volume, he should see a sizable bump in average draft position as well as our expert consensus rankings. The Texans could bring in another back for a relief role, but right now, it appears as if the backfield is Johnson's for the taking.

Adam Schefter is reporting that the Texans have released veteran running back Duke Johnson Jr.

Fantasy Impact: Johnson spent two years in Houston, playing backup to Carlos Hyde in 2019 and backup to David Johnson in 2020. His career 4.4 yards per attempt took a sizeable hit this season when he was named the starter for five weeks. During that five-week stretch, Johnson saw 43 carries which he managed to turn into just 140 rushing yards with no touchdowns. Known primarily as a scatback, the 5'9" veteran has always done the majority of his damage through the air. Now 27 years old, the former third-rounder will likely end up in a third-down role for a new team next season.

The Texans have released defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes with a non-football injury designation, creating roughly $990,000 in cap space. (Source: Houston Texans on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Houston did not disclose the nature of the injury. After appearing in 16 games in his rookie year, the former third-round pick has taken the field just three more times over the past three years. He opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19.

Houston Texans RB/returner Dontrell Hilliard has re-signed a one-year, $1.25 million deal with $200,000 guaranteed to return to the team in 2021. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Hilliard spent time with the Cleveland Browns and the Houston Texans in 2020, primarily functioning as the kick returner after arriving in Houston. He has blazing speed and could work up to a hybrid offensive role similar to his usage in Cleveland, where Hilliard totaled nine carries for 48 yards.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the Texans are releasing franchise player J.J. Watt. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Watt then confirmed the news by posting a video to social media. Rapoport added that Houston could've received a "solid draft pick" in return for Watt, but instead chose to handle the situation with class, giving Watt full control over where he winds up next. The Texans' first-round pick from 2011, Watt became one of the best players in franchise history, as well as a wildly important figure in the Houston community. Set to turn 32 in March, Watt's best days are behind him, but he's still an impact defender that can help overhaul a team's culture.

The Texans defense gave up five touchdowns including two to Derrick Henry on Sunday as the Titans defeated the Texans by a 41-38 score in Week 17 action.

Fantasy Impact: The Texans recovered a fumble, while also coming away with two sacks, seven tackles for losses and two passes defended on Sunday. The defense struggled all season and will need an over haul which should happen with the new coaching staff that will be coming in.

Ka'imi Fairbairn was 4-for-4 in field goal attempts and 2-for-3 in extra-point tries on Sunday as the Texans lost to the Titans by a 41-38 score.

Fantasy Impact: Fairbairn was one of the bright spots for the Texans this season as the veteran kicker finished 27-for-31 in field goal attempts. And Fairbairn missed three extra points all season and should go into 2021 with his job secure.

Darren Fells wasn't targeted on Sunday in the Texans' Week 17 loss to the Titans by a 41-38 score.

Fantasy Impact: Fells played a backup role to Jordan Akins at tight end for most of the season. The veteran finishes with 21 catches, 312 receiving yards, and four touchdown receptions.

Pharaoh Brown caught 5-of-5 targets for 48 yards and a touchdown in the Texans' Week 17 loss to the Titans by a 41-38 score.

Fantasy Impact: Brown had a season-high in catches on Sunday as the tight end is more known for his blocking than his passing skills. The 26-year-old will be fighting for a roster spot in 2021 and will not be fantasy relevant.

Jordan Akins caught 1-of-2 targets for nine yards in the Texans' Week 17 loss to the Titans by a 41-38 score.

Fantasy Impact: Akins was at the top of the depth chart at the tight end position for most of the season but really never broke out as many people expected. Akins finishes the season with 37 receptions, 403 receiving yards, and one touchdown.

Keke Coutee caught 6-of-7 targets for 90 yards in the Texans' Week 17 loss to the Titans by a 41-38 score.

Fantasy Impact: Coutee had a strong finish to the season and over his last six games had 27 receptions for 362 yards. The 23-year-old receiver could have a bigger role going into 2021 and could be worth owning in 12 team fantasy leagues and deeper.

Kahale Warring caught one of three targets for three yards on Sunday as the Texans lost to the Bengals by a 37-31 score in Week 16 action.

Fantasy Impact: Warring now has three catches over the last five games as the second-year tight end tries to work his way up the depth chart. Warring was a third-round pick last year and has been injured most of his time in the NFL and may be given more of a chance to play in Week 17.