Dell has had two significant leg injuries in as many seasons and missed all of 2025 recovering. But in his last 17 games with at least a 50% snap share, he caught 70 passes for 922 yards and seven touchdowns. If he can get back to 100%, he has a chance to be a Fantasy WR3 next to Nico Collins in this offense -- but he won't be drafted before the double-digit rounds, if at all. Dell will have to compete with second-year wideout Jaylin Noel and veteran Xavier Hutchinson for snaps, and this could easily turn into a situation where they are all part-time players behind Collins. However, with second-year wide receiver Jayden Higgins suffering a torn ACL in camp, a door opens for Dell. And it's worth remembering that Stroud and Dell had an unmistakable connection before 2025. If he stays healthy as he has through the preseason, he's someone who deserves consideration in most 12-team leagues because of his upside.
Fantasy Stats
receiving
rushing
fantasy
Year
rec
Receptions
yds
Receiving Yards
avg
Average Yards per Reception
td
Receiving Touchdowns
yds
Rushing Yards
avg
Average Yards per Rush
fpts
Fantasy Points
fpts/g
Fantasy Points per Game
2026
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
2025
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
2024
51
667
13.08
3
43
4.78
82
5.9
3y Avg.
33
459
13.91
3
31
4.43
57
7.1
Fantasy News
Texans' Tank Dell: Working back at his own pace
Rotowire
Coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday that he's unsure if Dell (knee) will play during the Texans' preseason slate, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. "With Tank, he's on his own plan," Ryans noted. "Whatever that entails, geared toward what's best for Tank Dell."
Dell didn't play in Friday's preseason game against the Chargers, which comes as no surprise because he's been limited to individual drills after missing the entire 2025 campaign following a December 2024 play in which he dislocated his left kneecap while also tearing the ACL and MCL in that knee. The Texans' next exhibition is Thursday versus the Raiders, and Houston opens the regular season Sunday, Sept. 13 against the Bills.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Involved in full-team drills Monday
Rotowire
Dell (knee) participated in "full-team drills" Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Dell practiced in pads last week for the first time since injuring his knee, and after initially being limited to individual drills he has advanced to team work. His status for Week 1 remains uncertain, but if he can avoid any setbacks there's reason to believe he'll be out there when the regular season gets underway.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Week 1 status unclear
Rotowire
Dell said, "I'm taking it one day at a time" when asked Friday about his potential availability for Week 1 of the regular season versus Buffalo, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN reports.
Dell practiced with pads Wednesday for the first time in training camp, though at this point he's limited to individual drills. The Texans have so far not committed to a timeframe for when Dell will be ready to play during the regular season, but the good news is that doctors have deemed his knee "100 percent stable." When Dell gets into a contest, it will be his first game action since he tore multiple knee ligaments and dislocated his kneecap against the Chiefs in Week 16 of the 2024 campaign.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Limited to individual drills
Rotowire
Dell (knee) was limited to individual drills Wednesday while wearing pads for the first time this summer, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
It's both a sign of progress and a reminder that the Texans want to slow-play things after Dell suffered major knee/leg injuries in each of his first two NFL seasons. He still has a shot to be ready in September, but his initial role could be small even if the team still views him as a potential top-three WR down the line.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Practicing with pads for first time
Rotowire
Dell (knee) is wearing pads at practice Wednesday for the first time this year, Jane Slater of NFL Network reports.
Dell won't be a full practice participant, and there's still been no report of him gaining clearance for contact, but this at least represents another step in the right direction. Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports that Dell went through individual drills at the beginning of practice.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Being ramped up
Rotowire
Dell (knee) will be held out of full-team reps to open training camp, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Dell's limitations are no surprise, though it is encouraging that he was able to avoid the active/PUP list to kick off camp. Wilson reports that Dell will work on the side during Wednesday's practice and for the early portion of training camp. It remains to be seen when Dell will be cleared for full-team work, but the wideout's recovery from his multi-ligament knee injury continues to look encouraging.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Moved to reserve/PUP list
Rotowire
The Texans placed Dell (knee) on the reserve/PUP list Tuesday.
Dell will be required to miss a minimum of four games, though it remains to be see exactly when -- if at all -- he'll be ready to resume practicing. The 2023 third-round pick is recovering from a severe knee injury sustained last December. Nico Collins and Christian Kirk will kick off the 2025 campaign as C.J. Stroud's clear top two wide receivers, while rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel compete for No. 3 reps.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Placed on PUP list
Rotowire
The Texans placed Dell (knee) on the active/PUP list for the start of training camp, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Dell is unlikely to participate this summer, as he is coming back from MCL, LCL and ACL tears suffered Week 16 of last season. He'll likely miss a good chunk of the upcoming regular season, if not all of it. Dell had multiple surgeries this offseason, with the first in mid-January and the most recent in early March.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Progressing, but return timeline TBD
Rotowire
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans reiterated Monday that Dell (knee) remains without a timetable for return, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Wilson reports that Dell is making "steady and impressive progress with major steps taken" following a pair of surgeries to repair the MCL, LCL and ACL in his left knee after he was injured in the Texans' Week 16 loss to the Chiefs. There have been rumblings that Dell could miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season. In an effort to stabilize the wide receiver position following Dell's serious injury and the departure of Stefon Diggs in free agency, the Texans acquired Christian Kirk and then used second- and third-round picks on Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, respectively.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Will need multiple knee surgeries
Rotowire
Dell is expected to require multiple surgeries to address damage to his left knee, the first of which he's scheduled to undergo Wednesday, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The 25-year-old will face a long road back from the severe season-ending knee injury he sustained in the Texans' Dec. 21 loss to Kansas City. In addition to tearing the ACL, MCL and LCL in his knee, Dell also dislocated the knee and suffered damage to his meniscus. Given the nature of the injury and the multiple surgeries he'll require to repair the damage, the wideout's recovery will likely extend well into the 2025 season and potentially keep him sidelined for the entire campaign. The Texans may have a clearer timeline for Dell's return by the start of training camp, when he should be a few months removed from the last of his procedures. He concluded his second NFL season with 51 catches for 667 yards and three touchdowns on 81 targets over 14 regular-season games.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Dislocates kneecap Saturday
Rotowire
Dell suffered an apparent dislocated kneecap in his left leg during Saturday's loss at Kansas City, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Dell was injured as he reeled in a 30-yard touchdown from QB C.J. Stroud in the middle of the third quarter. He remained on the turf for some time as medical staff immobilized his left leg in an air cast before carting him off the field and transporting him to a Kansas City area hospital, where he's expected to remain overnight, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. Per Rapoport, doctors still are determining the overall damage to Dell's left knee, and while surgery is a possibility, it has yet to occur.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Will stay in hospital Saturday night
Rotowire
Coach DeMeco Ryans said Dell will remain in a Kansas City area hospital overnight with a "significant" left knee injury that he suffered during Saturday's loss to the Chiefs, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Dell had his left leg rolled up on while gathering in a 30-yard touchdown from QB C.J. Stroud in the back of the end zone during the third quarter. After teammates immediately signaled to the sideline for assistance, Dell's leg was immobilized in an air cast, and he was carted off the field. With a hospital stay required for further evaluation, he very well may have played his game of the season.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Transported to hospital
Rotowire
Dell was transported to a Kansas City area hospital during Saturday's loss to the Chiefs, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
In the process of hauling in a 30-yard touchdown from C.J. Stroud in the third quarter, Dell had his left leg rolled up on, and teammates immediately motioned to the Texans' sideline for assistance. The leg in question was immobilized by an air cast before Dell was carted off the field. Considering he's requiring a visit to the hospital for further evaluation, there's a decent chance Dell may have played his last snap of the 2024 campaign.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Suffers significant knee injury
Rotowire
Dell was carted off Saturday's game against the Chiefs after suffering a knee injury, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports. His leg was immobilized by a brace.
Dell caught a 30-yard touchdown but in the process had his knee rolled into by a teammate. The second-year receiver had tallied six catches for 98 yards and a touchdown before suffering the injury during the early stages of the third quarter.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Tallies 86 all-purpose yards Sunday
Rotowire
Dell secured both targets for 26 yards and rushed once for 15 yards in the Texans' 20-12 win over the Dolphins on Sunday. He also returned three punts for 45 yards.
Dell's receiving yardage total, modest as it was, qualified as the second highest on the Texans for the afternoon behind Joe Mixon's 33. Dell also recorded his longest rush since Week 2 with his 15-yard run, but he's now posted under 40 receiving yards in five of his last eight games overall. Dell will look to make inroads against the Chiefs' defense in a Week 16 road matchup on Saturday afternoon.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Expected to suit up in Week 10
Rotowire
Dell (back), who is questionable for Sunday's game against Detroit, is expected to play, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Dell popped up on the injury report Friday and logged a limited practice due to a back issue. While late-week additions to the injury report are often ominous, Dell appears set to play through the injury. Fellow wideout Nico Collins (hamstring) was activated off injured reserve Saturday and could be active Sunday, so the Texans might have their top two receivers available for a crucial contest against the Lions. It's important to note, however, that Sunday's game won't kick off until 8:20 p.m. ET, so fantasy managers who roster Dell or Collins may want to have a backup plan in place since neither is 100 percent certain to play.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Sleeper WRs
Rotowire
Nico Collins (hamstring) is expected to return in Week 10 against the Lions, but I still like Dell as a borderline starter in all leagues. Keep in mind that Stefon Diggs (knee) is out for the season, and Dell just had his best game of the year in Week 9 at the Jets with six catches for 126 yards on nine targets for 18.6 PPR points. The Lions are No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, so Dell should have the chance to make plenty of plays once again in Week 10.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Questionable for Sunday
Rotowire
Dell (back) is listed as questionable for Sunday night's game against the Lions after being limited in practice Friday.
Dell wasn't on the Texans' injury report Wednesday or Thursday, so his addition Friday is notable. Meanwhile, fellow WR Nico Collins (IR, hamstring) was limited in his return to practice Friday and carries a questionable game status as well. Look for added context with regard to the duo's Week 10 availability to arrive no later than Saturday night or early Sunday via the usual posting of weekly injury updates from national reporters, but the Texans' 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday night complicates things from a fantasy perspective.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Eclipses century mark in loss
Rotowire
Dell secured six of nine targets for 126 yards in the Texans' 21-13 loss to the Jets on Thursday night.
Dell was the last man standing of the Texans' top wideouts with Stefon Diggs (IR, knee) and Nico Collins (IR, hamstring) sidelined, and the second-year pro turned in a season-high yardage total. Dell also tied his personal best in targets for the campaign, and he should continue playing an integral role in a Week 10 interconference home showdown with the Lions on Sunday night, Nov. 10, even with Collins expected to return for that game.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Sleeper WRs
Rotowire
I'm going back to Dell as a No. 3 receiver in all leagues in Week 8 against the Colts, and Dell should rebound from his disappointing performance in Week 7 at Green Bay when he had no catches on four targets. Prior to that, Dell had seven catches for 57 yards and a touchdown on nine targets at New England, and he should be heavily involved with Nico Collins (hamstring) still out. Stefon Diggs is a must-start Fantasy receiver in all leagues in Week 8, but Dell should be productive for C.J. Stroud as well.
