Houston Texans

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that rookie wide receiver Keke Coutee is already challenging Braxton Miller for the starting slot job. (Source: Houston Chronicle)

Fantasy Impact: For those who followed our Scouting Profile series on the incoming prospects, this should come as no surprise. In Coutee's profile, we compared him to Tyreek Hill as someone with speed "on-demand." Coutee has been working with Wes Welker this offseason, and according to his teammate DeAndre Hopkins, it's showing. "He's only getting better. He's always hanging around, seeing what I'm doing in between periods, asking me questions. The guy can play football." It'll be tough for Coutee to have an extreme amount of upside with Hopkins and Will Fuller ahead of him on the pecking order, but Coutee is someone who'll put together a highlight reel of NFL plays very soon.

The Houston Chronicle's Aaron Wilson recently sat down with Texans running back D'Onta Foreman to discuss his recovery from a torn Achilles, and though it's been going well, there's no timetable for his return to the field.

Fantasy Impact: Foreman talked about his diet being a big change during the rehab process, as he needs to keep his body fat percentage low because of his inability to do strenuous activities. He also said that the Texans told him it'd be a long recovery from the injury and that he may not be ready to contribute to the team in Week 1. We've heard rumblings about him starting the season on the PUP list, which would explain the Texans decision to re-sign Alfred Blue to another contract and retain Lamar Miller despite a lot of reports suggesting he might be cut this offseason. Foreman suffered the injury on November 19th and it often takes around 11 months for a player to return to the field, which makes it unlikely that he's ready for the start of the season. As of now, Foreman shouldn't be on your redraft radar unless you have a lot of bench spots.

Entering his third season with just 34 receptions for 261 yards and two touchdowns, Braxton Miller could be the odd man out of Houston's receiving corps. The Texans drafted Keke Coutee in the fourth round and re-signed Bruce Ellington. With more pressing injury concerns at both running back and tight end, the Texans may choose to keep five receivers, leaving Miller to battle for a roster spot with Tyler Ervin. (Source: The Texans Wire )

Fantasy Impact: Miller has missed 11 games and averaged a paltry 7.6 yards-per-reception--an atrocious number. The Texans offense as a whole is looking up, but Miller's lack of explosiveness won't help him make the roster. He needs to come up huge in the preseason. Miller can safely be ignored in all formats.

The team's second-round pick in 2015, McKinney will get $21 million guaranteed. He's started all 16 games for Houston in each of the past two seasons, tallying 224 tackles and eight sacks and earning a top-10 grade in run defense last season per Pro Football Focus. (Source: Ian Rapoport via Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The Texans had a lot of room under the cap space so it makes sense for the two sides to get this deal done now. McKinney was entering the final year of his rookie deal. He's not an elite option in IDP leagues, but McKinney is durable and a fairly consistent source of tackles.

Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson took the field for 7-on-7 drills without a knee brace, which is obviously a great sign for his status entering training camp and the regular season. Watson originally injured the knee in practice before Week 9 and has been ahead of schedule in his recovery efforts throughout the offseason. (Source: James Palmer via Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Bill O'Brien will likely approach minicamp cautiously, but for Watson to be doing any on-field activity sans a protective brace bodes very well for his knee. Watson is a locked-in QB1 with top-3 potential.

Houston Texans beat writer Sarah Barshop believes the team "could" release RB Lamar Miller this offseason. (Source: ESPN)

Fantasy Impact: Miller, who is entering year three of the four-year deal he signed with the Texans in the 2016 offseason, could be on his way out of Houston. Barshop believes the team could move on from Miller following a lackluster 2017 campaign in which he accounted for his worst statistical season since 2015 while he was still in Miami. Rushing 238 times for 888 yards and three touchdowns -- he averaged a career-low 3.7 YPC -- while putting up a 36-327-3 stat line as a receiver out of the backfield, Miller finished as the RB14 in standard fantasy formats. However, despite the top 15 finish, the then-rookie D'Onta Foreman was pushing Miller for touches until he ultimately found himself on the season-ending injured reserve list with an Achilles. While I do expect the Texans to retain Miller, I'm anticipating that the RB touches will shift more so in Foreman's direction.

Houston Texans beat writer John McClain is reporting the team informed LB Brian Cushing that he’ll be released prior to the start of the new league year. (Source: John McClain on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: By the time the new league year begins on March 14, Cushing will be released, the Texans informed the troubled linebacker Sunday. And after being suspended for 10 games in the 2017 season following his second violation of the league’s PED policy, plus, a checkered injury history, the move makes sense, especially from a salary cap standpoint — by moving on from Cushing, Houston will save $7.64 million against the cap. The Texans’ all-time leader in tackles, Cushing should have no trouble finding a new club for 2018.

Houston Texans beat writer John McClain is reporting TE C.J. Fiedorowicz (concussion) "may retire" this offseason. (Source: John McClain on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Fiedorowicz, who suffered four concussions since December 2016 -- his latest occurring in Week 13 of the 2017 season -- is considering retiring from the league this offseason as a result of his recurring head injuries. However, although his career is hanging up in the air, the 26-year-old tight end told the press that he plans on reporting for offseason activities and taking part in OTAs. In five games last season, Fiedorowicz only accumulated a 14-127-00 stat line.

Stephen Anderson caught one of two targets for four yards on Sunday against the Colts.

Fantasy Impact: Anderson was largely non-existent down the stretch after a brief run of fantasy-relevancy. With C.J. Fiedorowicz back healthy next year, Anderson won't be under consideration in fantasy leagues.

Will Fuller caught both of his targets for 17 yards on Sunday against the Colts.

Fantasy Impact: Fuller was dynamic with Deshaun Watson, but unfortunately battled injuries throughout the year. If fully healthy next season, he should be an outstanding option with Watson under center for the full year.

Alfred Blue rushed 18 times for 39 yards and a touchdown and added four receptions for 36 yards on Sunday against the Colts.

Fantasy Impact: Blue saw more work than Lamar Miller once again, as the Texans looked to protect Miller for the future. With both Miller and D'Onta Foreman locked and loaded for the future, Blue, an unrestricted free agent, should find himself elsewhere in 2018.

T.J. Yates was unable to get the offence moving in a divisional matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Completing 14 passes from 24 throws for 137 yards and an interception.

Fantasy Impact: Its worth noting that the top target for the Texans (Hopkins) wasn't in the game, but given that rookie QB Deshaun Watson will be leading the offence on returning from injury, Yates will have very low upside for next year

According to the Associated Press, Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (calf) is officially ruled out for Week 17. (Source: AP)

Fantasy Impact: Expected to be a game-time decision, Hopkins will miss his first career game in Sunday's season finale against the Colts with a calf injury. In his absence, expect the Texans' passing game to facilitate through Braxton Miller and Will Fuller. However, even in a plus matchup versus Indianapolis, I'm not trusting any Houston receiving option in Week 17.

Dre Hal recorded seven total tackles (five solo) in the Texans' loss to the Steelers

Fantasy Impact: Hal had a positive ending to the fantasy season, surpassing five tackles for the third time this season.

Zach Cunningham recorded 10 total tackles (seven solo) in the Texans' loss to the Steelers.

Fantasy Impact: Cunningham ended the fantasy season on a high note, reaching double-digit tackles for the first time in 2017.

The Houston Texans D/ST failed to generate any turnovers and didn’t record a sack while allowing 34 points in their blowout Christmas day loss to the Steelers.

Fantasy Impact: Another week another bad game for the Houston D/ST. This is now six consecutive games for the Texans D/ST where they have provided little to nothing. Injuries completely drained this team’s defensive firepower over the course of the season and turned a once potential top D/ST unit into a unit that should be left off rosters for any championship rounds in Week 17.

Andre Ellington had zero rushing attempts and was not involved in the passing game in the Texans’ loss to the Steelers.

Fantasy Impact: Andre Ellington was brought in to give the Texans some much needed backfield depth when rookie back D’Onta Foreman suffered a season ending injury. Ellington played a role as receiver and as a pass catching back in Week 13 and 14, but has not been involved in either of the past two weeks. Whatever happened to Ellington is anyone’s guess, but he is clearly not in Houston’s plans at this point.

Marcus Gilchrist recorded six total tackles (five solo) in the Texans' loss to the Jaguars

Fantasy Impact: Gilchrist has back-to-back six tackle efforts, but unfortunately doesn't hold much fantasy value.

Tom Savage had to leave the game early against the San Francisco 49ers, before he left the game he completed 6 passes for 63 yards from 12 attempts.

Fantasy Impact: Given the severity of the injury, Savage is a doubt for Week 15.

Ka'imi Fairbairn made one of his two field goal attempts as well as one of his two extra point attempts. His lone successful field goal came from 55 yards out.

Fantasy Impact: It looked like Fairbairn may have shaken off the rust from previous weeks after he nailed his career long 55 yard field goal in the first quarter. This was quickly wiped out as he missed his next field goal attempt, as well as the first extra point attempt. Fairbairn is not a recommended fantasy option as the Texans offense is not putting up a ton of points and he has not been very consistent as well.