2025 Houston Texans Fantasy Preview
2025 Houston Texans After winning consecutive AFC South titles in his first two seasons, changes are coming for DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans. A mere months after Bobby Slowik was a hot head coaching candidate, Ryans jettisoned his offensive coordinator after the unit dipped from seventh in passing in 2023 to 23rd. The offensive line was also a major problem. The Texans allowed the third-most sacks (54) a year ago. Worsening that concern was the club shipping off Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to Washington and signing veteran castoffs to fill in. Second-round OT Aireontae Ersery is enormous and adds some youthful potential to the team’s biggest area of need. New offensive coordinator Nick Caley was the Rams’ passing game coordinator last season. His biggest task will be to recapture the magic that QB C.J. Stroud had in his 2023 rookie campaign. Stroud’s play regressed last season under Slowik, as constant pressure led to poorer decisions and more turnovers. Caley will also be dealing with a revamped receiving corps. The Texans traded for Christian Kirk to man the slot. Kirk replaces Stefon Diggs, who departed for New England. No. 1 wideout Nico Collins missed five games but ranked 10th in fantasy points per game. Collins topped 13 PPR points in seven of his final eight games and remains a locked-in WR1. The Texans also added Iowa State teammates Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, giving the club a vastly improved supporting cast. Both rookies should see ample playing time as Tank Dell is expected to miss the season. In the backfield, Joe Mixon’s three-down role looks secure. Mixon topped 1,000 rushing yards and scored a dozen touchdowns in his first season with the club. His 17.2 PPR points per game ranked 10th at running back, and he accumulated that volume despite leading the NFL with (-94) tackle loss yards due to Houston’s haggard O-line. Mixon is a good fit in this scheme and boasts the volume to post fantasy RB1 numbers. Fourth-round USC rookie Woody Marks will contend with Dameon Pierce for backup duties. Dalton Schultz had his poorest showing at tight end since becoming a starter in 2020. Caley’s background is as a tight ends coach, but he also comes from a Sean McVay system that implemented a committee approach to the position. Houston used a fourth-rounder on Cam Stover in 2024 and ran ’12’ personnel on 31.4 percent of their snaps last season- the fourth-highest rate in football. That makes Schultz merely a middling TE2 option with limited fantasy upside. Fantasy Grade: B+ QB Stroud, C.J., HOU [QB1] After a dynamic debut, C.J. Stroud regressed in his sophomore season. It wasn’t all on Stroud, as he suffered the second-most sacks (52) in the league. But defenses caught up to Stroud, who dropped to 20 touchdowns and jumped from five to 12 picks in Year Two. Reinforcements are on the way. The Texans added OT Aireontae Ersery and a pair of promising Iowa State wideouts (Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel) in the 2025 NFL Draft. Houston also brought in Nick Caley from the Rams to run the offense after ranking 27th in pace of play. Stroud should be better in 2025. However, he’s outside QB1 range. ADVICE: Fantasy QB2 with limited ceiling. QB Mills, Davis, HOU [QB2] Mills is one of the better backups in the league. However, he has no fantasy value unless C.J. Stroud gets injured. Just a name to keep in mind in deep Superflex leagues. RB Mixon, Joe, HOU [RB1] Despite seeing an average of 6.8 defenders in the box (3rd most) running behind Houston’s 26th-ranked run-blocking line, Joe Mixon ranked 9th in PPR points per game. Mixon topped 1,000 rushing yards for the second straight season and posted seven top-10 fantasy weekly performances. Unfortunately, six of those RB1 outings came in Houston’s first eight games. But Mixon remained a force thanks to his superior volume (77.7 percent opportunity share ranked 7th) and 60 red-zone touches (6th). The Texans added receiving help and worked to improve their beleaguered O-line. Mixon remains a high-end RB2 in 2025. UPDATE: Mixon opened training camp on the non-football injury list. We’ve downgraded his projections. ADVICE: High-end RB2 with RB1 potential. RB Chubb, Nick, HOU [RB2] The Texans signed Chubb to a one-year, $2.5 million deal. Chubb has missed 24 games over the past two seasons, most of which occurred after his second major knee injury. When he did play last year, he had no explosiveness and averaged a career-worst 3.3 yards per tote. Maybe an extra offseason of noted viral workouts will help him regain his form. Joe Mixon is also dealing with injury, so if Chubb can rebound, he could cause the Texans to employ a committee backfield. Finally, view Chubb as a low-risk depth piece in the latter rounds. RB Pierce, Dameon, HOU [RB3] ADVICE: Pierce will open the season in his customary spot as Houston’s No. 2 back. However, he could lose snaps to rookie Woody Marks. RB Marks, Woody, HOU [RB4] ADVICE: Prolific pass-catching back (83 receptions for Mississippi State in 2021) who ran the most routes in college from 2021-2024. He’s also got a compact frame that evokes Maurice Jones-Drew comps. Marks is a change-of-pace option behind Joe Mixon. WR Collins, Nico, HOU [WR1] Collins had a nice 2024 with 68 catches for 1006 yards and 7 TDs in only 12 games, while ranking second among all wide receivers in yards per route run (2.86). He finished as the WR6 in points per game (14.9), despite missing four games due to a midseason calf injury. WR Tank Dell may miss all of 2025, and WR Stefon Diggs is in New England, leading to more reliance on Nico in the passing game. His strong rapport with C.J. Stroud, especially on deep routes and in the red zone, makes him a high-ceiling asset in one of the league’s top passing offenses. ADVICE: WR1 with top-5 upside; target
Saturday Playoff Preview
Saturday Playoff Preview The NFL Divisional Round kicks off Saturday with a pair of high-profile matchups. FullTime Fantasy‘s Saturday Playoff Preview breaks down the slate from a fantasy football and sports betting perspective. And just because the fantasy regular season has ended doesn’t mean the fun is over. FFWC Playoff Fantasy Football is a great way to extend the fantasy fun and win amazing prizes! Houston Texans (11-7) at Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) Time: 4:30 Eastern Line: Chiefs -9 Total: 41.5 Money Line: Houston +395, Kansas City -500 Texans Offense Houston’s offense has been stagnant for a while. However, DeMeco Ryans’s D stepped up huge in the Wild Card round, leading the Texans to a 20-point victory. Things won’t be as easy in the Divisional round, as a trip to frigid Missouri to face the defending champs is on deck. It will take a near-perfect game from C.J. Stroud to give the Texans any chance. Stroud and company played in this building five weeks ago, and Stroud threw a pair of interceptions in a 27-19 loss. His play has regressed in Year Two, and facing a well-rested KC defense will be tough in freezing conditions. Although there is some optimism about Houston covering, Stroud is a lesser option in this four-game slate. RB Joe Mixon has cooled after a torrid start. He did rush for 106 yards and a score last week against a formidable Chargers defense. However, facing the Chiefs will be much more difficult. Opposing running backs averaged a league-low 16.2 fantasy points per game versus Kansas City. Mixon will play a high snap share and can contribute as a receiver but he’ll have to score a touchdown to pay off as a DFS option. It’s Nico Collins or bust at receiver for Houston. Collins has an over/under of 83.5 yards and is +180 to score per Vegas. However, our RDA* projections have Collins as the WR3 in this slate thanks to volume. Also, if Houston falls behind by multiple scores, that only favors Collins. Additionally, the Chiefs were below average in terms of surrendering fantasy points to enemy wideouts, so we’re signing off on Nico. After that, Houston offers up little more than DFS dart throws. Robert Woods caught three balls for 19 yards against KC in Week 16. John Metchie and Xavier Hutchinson also don’t inspire a ton of confidence and Jared Wayne was just called up from the practice squad. At tight end, Dalton Schultz had a nice game against KC, snagging five balls for 45 yards and a touchdown. And only three teams allowed more fantasy points to the position than the Chiefs, so our RDA* projections (4.6/43/.33) have Schultz as a top-4 PPR option in Week 20. Chiefs Offense Houston ceded the sixth-fewest passing yards in 2024 and they did a solid job on Patrick Mahomes in Week 16. In that contest, Mahomes threw for 260 yards and one touchdown. However, Mahomes did run for 33 and an additional score to post good fantasy numbers. Vegas has Mahomes projected to total 277.5 yards (23.5 rushing) and he’s -144 to go OVER 1.4 touchdowns. KC’s backfield has resolved into a frustrating committee. However, there is a chance that the club has been saving Isiah Pacheco for another Super Bowl run. Vegas has Pacheco projected to produce 51.5 scrimmage yards and he’s +150 to score. However, our RDA* projections have Pacheco at 62 yards with a 37% chance of hitting pay dirt. Kareem Hunt will also be involved. However, the question remains how much? Hunt out-touched Pacheco against Houston previously and found the end zone. But Vegas has Hunt projected to have fewer yards and be less likely to score than Pacheco. Xavier Worthy has been Kansas City’s leading receiver, including catching a team-high seven balls (11 targets) for 65 and a TD versus Houston last month. Our RDA* projections are just under that but Worthy remains a solid start in Playoff Fantasy Leagues. Week 16 was Hollywood Brown’s first game with the club and he immediately commanded a healthy eight targets. As good as Houston’s pass defense was, they did allow opposing wideouts to score 21 touchdowns, so we like Brown and DeAndre Hopkins as quality options. Houston also allowed eight touchdowns to tight ends. While Travis Kelce has been quiet of late (at least by his standards), he tends to show up big in the postseason. Our RDA* projections have Kelce posting 14.2 PPR points, putting his as the TE2 in the slate. Washington Commanders (13-5) at Detroit Lions (15-2) Time: 8:00 Eastern Line: Detroit -9 Total: 55.5 Money Line: Washington +400, Detroit -550 Commanders Offense The AFC kicks off the day but it’s the NFC game that has the fantasy appeal. The upstart Commanders fly into Detroit to take on the conference’s top seed. And Vegas is expecting fireworks with that outrageous 55.5-point total. That puts Jayden Daniels near the top of the Week 20 QB rankings. However, that is not exactly new territory for Daniels, who finished his rookie season as fantasy’s QB5. Detroit has had issues slowing down opposing QBs all season. The Lions allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to the position, including the fourth-most rushing yards (454) and second-most rushing TDs (6). Therefore, Daniels is our QB3 for the week and worth every bit of his lofty DFS price tag. The matchup for the ground game isn’t as appealing. Detroit surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs even with myriad injuries. Washington will utilize two backs, but it’s Austin Ekeler who leads the way in RDA* projections, mainly due to his pass-catching prowess. Brian Robinson can also factor in as a receiver and is just as likely to punch in a short-yardage score. However, Vegas projects Ekler to have one more scrimmage yard, 51-50. Proceed with caution. As explosive as Washington’s offense is, Terry McLaurin has been the only reliable wide receiver. McLaurin posted WR7 numbers in the regular season, averaging 15.9 PPR points per contest.
Saturday Playoff Preview
Saturday Playoff Preview The 6-game NFL Wild Card Weekend kicks off Saturday with a pair of AFC matchups. FullTime Fantasy‘s Saturday Playoff Preview breaks down the slate from a fantasy football and sports betting perspective. And just because the fantasy regular season has ended doesn’t mean the fun is over. FFWC Playoff Fantasy Football is a great way to extend the fantasy fun and win amazing prizes! Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at Houston Texans (10-7) Time: 4:00 Eastern Line: Chargers -3 Total: 42.5 Money Line: Los Angeles -156, Houston +136 Chargers Offense Jim Harbaugh coached the Chargers to an impressive one-year turnaround. Harbaugh inherited a team that went 5-12 and instilled a new culture, resulting in a postseason appearance in Year One. However, Harbaugh’s main influence was on the defense, which allowed the fewest points in the league. LA’s offense ranked 20th overall, including 19th in passing and 17th in rushing. The Chargers did rank 11th in scoring, but points will be at a premium against a Houston defense that ranked 14th in points allowed. Although Houston’s pass defense ranked 6th overall, the Texans allowed an AFC-worst 31 touchdown passes to quarterbacks. That makes Justin Herbert a solid start. Our RDA* projections have Herbert in the top half of Week 19 fantasy signal-callers. Additionally, Herbert ran for 306 yards and two scores this season, which is another area Houston struggled against. Houston surrendered the fifth-fewest fantasy points to running backs, which makes J.K. Dobbins a lesser option in this slate. Dobbins also won’t catch many passes. That makes him game-script-dependent. However, in a game where the Chargers are favored, Dobbins has a decent shot at seeing 15-plus touches and getting into the end zone. There isn’t a ton of upside behind Dobbins. Gus Edwards has been limited and Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins have split RB3 duties. Additionally, the recent signing of Ezekiel Elliott complicates the complementary roles. Avoid. Thumbs up for WR Ladd McConkey. The rookie wideout was fantasy’s WR10 in the last three weeks, reeling in 19-of-24 targets for 276 yards and a score. Houston allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to enemy receivers, making McConkey a top-10 play in our Week 19 RDA* projections. Quentin Johnston offers some boom potential against a secondary that has been decimated by injuries and is vulnerable to big plays. Josh Palmer is OUT, opening up more snaps for D.J. Chark. At tight end, the Chargers will use Wil Dissly and Stone Smartt. However, Dissly out-snapped Smartt 43-14 last week. Texans Offense While the Chargers took vast strides in 2024, the Houston Texans regressed. Facing a first-place schedule will do that, but DeMeco Ryan’s squad simply wasn’t as good on offense. After ranking seventh in passing in 2023, Houston dipped to 21st. There is no denying that C.J. Stroud‘s play dropped off. His metrics and efficiency declined across the board. Meanwhile, he struggled to make the same throws he made as a rookie and he plummeted to 34th in pressured completion rate (53.1%). The Chargers can be challenged through the air. However, Stroud has only thrown 2-plus TDs in a game three times since Week 7. RB Joe Mixon has also cooled off. Mixon hasn’t scored more than 10.6 PPR points in any of his last four games. Meanwhile, the Chargers allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to the position in 2024, including a league-low four rushing scores. Although the volume should be there, this is not a great week to pay up for Mixon’s salary in DFS. Houston’s offense has also been plagued by injuries. Nico Collins is the last man standing at wideout and will undoubtedly be the focal point in this game. Collins hasn’t topped 100 yards since Week 13 but has scored three touchdowns. Our RDA* projections have Collins in for 5.4 grabs, 73 yards, and a 50/50 shot at another score. After Collins, Houston will trot out the uninspiring trio of Robert Woods, John Metchie, and Xavier Hutchinson. However, none of these players are anything more than DFS dart throws in a poor matchup. At tight end, Dalton Schultz is the best bet to see the second-most targets. However, the Chargers allowed a league-low two scores to opposing TEs this season, which severely caps his upside. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) at Baltimore Ravens (12-5) Time: 8:00 Eastern Line: Baltimore -10 Total: 43.5 Money Line: Pittsburgh +400, Baltimore -550 Steelers Offense The Steelers are 4-1 against the spread in their last five matchups with Baltimore. Additionally, the UNDER has hit in 8-of-11 in this AFC North rivalry. However, that paints an ugly picture for Pittsburgh’s offense- a unit that scored all of two touchdowns against Baltimore this season. QB Russell Wilson averaged 211 passing yards, one TD, and one INT in two games versus Baltimore. That’s precisely where our Week 19 RDA* projections have Wilson, making him an unappealing fantasy option. While the Ravens have struggled against the pass, Baltimore’s league-best offense and excellent run defense make the Ravens a poor matchup for running backs. Pittsburgh will use both of their backs, with Najee Harris leading the way. In those two prior matchups, Harris accumulated an innocuous 105 rushing yards with four receptions. Jaylen Warren was better in those games and offers more appeal as a double-digit underdog. Warren reeled in all nine of his targets against the Ravens, racking up 71 receiving yards and averaging over four yards per carry. Paying up for George Pickens is a hard pill to swallow after last week’s embarrassment. However, this is a good rebound spot for Pickens, who caught 8-of-12 targets for 89 yards back in Week 11 against the Ravens. Pickens has topped 75 yards in three of his five career matchups versus Baltimore, who also allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receiver this season. As double-digit dogs, Pickens will see a favorable game script. Calvin Austin and Van Jefferson are the next best bets but offer low floors. However, TE Pat Freiermuth gets a positive matchup. Baltimore surrendered 12.9
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 9
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 9 We enter the second half of the 2024 season with an AFC battle that has lost luster. The Houston Texans are 6-2 but are being hit hard by the injury bug. Meanwhile, the 2-6
We enter the second half of the 2024 season with an AFC battle that has lost luster. The Houston Texans are 6-2 but are being hit hard by the injury bug. Meanwhile, the 2-6 Jets are falling apart and against the wall. The FullTime Fantasy Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 9 breaks down everything fantasy football fans need to know about this week’s game.
Although the Texans are among the AFC favorites, they enter this contest severely depleted. Down Nico Collins and now Stefon Diggs, Bobby Slowik, and Houston’s offense will have little time to reinvent themselves against a strong Jets defense.
Speaking of the Jets, firing Robert Saleh didn’t fix New York’s issues. The Jets have lost five straight games to fall into last place in the weak AFC East. There is significant pressure on Aaron Rodgers and company to salvage what increasingly looks like a lost season.
The over/under opened at 45 but has fallen three points. Meanwhile, the Jets are oddly favored by 1.5 points.
Matchup
| TEAM | OFFENSE | PASS | RUSH | YDS/PLAY | POINTS |
| Houston Texans | 9 | 7 | 15 | 16 | 11 |
| New York Jets | 18 | 10 | 30 | 23 | 23 |
Despite the injuries, the Texans are still a top-10 overall offense. QB C.J. Stroud hasn’t been as effective as he was in Year One but Houston boasts a balanced offense just outside the elite scoring units.
However, injuries and poor offensive line play have been an issue for DeMeco Ryan’s club. Houston’s beleaguered O-line ranks 25th in pass-block win rate and 30th in run-block win rate. The latter is a particular concern against a New York defense that ranks fifth in run-stop win rate.
Meanwhile, seeing the Jets rank 30th in rushing with two young stud running backs is a surprise. However, like the Texans, New York has offensive line issues. QB Aaron Rodgers is constantly under duress and that’s a big problem against a fearsome Houston pass rush with Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter.
Houston’s defense ranks second in win rate versus the run and fourth versus the pass. That’s going to be a problem for this Jets’ offense.
Houston Offense
After a stellar rookie campaign, C.J. Stroud sits at 13th in QB rating after eight games. Defenses have started pressuring Stroud,
How will Thursday’s Texans vs. Jets game go?
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2024 Houston Texans Fantasy Preview
2024 Houston Texans Fantasy Preview The 2023 Houston Texans were projected to win the fewest games in the AFC, but a strange thing happened on their way to the AFC South basement. In one offseason, the franchise hired the right
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Division Round Playoff Preview: Saturday
After going 5-1 picking the Wild Card games, my Division Round Playoff Preview: Saturday breaks down the upstart Houston Texans traveling to Baltimore, and the Green Bay Packers trip to San Francisco to face the NFC’s top seed. Using our RDA* projections, we can break down each game to find the statistical edge that can give us a leg up in playoff fantasy and daily fantasy lineups. Also, we can determine the best bets to make. Before you place those winning bets, our partner Edge Boost can help you double your entries and payouts! Click below to increase your winnings today. Houston Texans (11-7) at Baltimore Ravens (13-4) Time: 4:30 Eastern Line: Baltimore -9.5 Total: 43.5 Money Line: Texans +340, Ravens -420 Houston Offense Look no further than last week’s thrashing of Cleveland to identify the value of probably rookie-of-the-year C.J. Stroud. Three weeks prior, that same Browns squad destroyed Houston on the same field. However, Stroud missed that game with a concussion. Back and healthy, the No. 2 pick lit up the league’s top defense. But things won’t get easier in the division round. Stroud now must go on the road to face a well-rested Baltimore defense that ceded the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Stroud has also played noticeably better at home and will contend with freezing temperatures and windy conditions. Baltimore ranked 6th against the pass but just 14th versus the run. That could mean a few more opportunities for Devin Singletary. “Motor” led all NFL running backs in the Wild Card round with a 72% snap share. Expect another week of heavy usage, making Singletary a strong option in DFS and playoff lineups. Back in the season opener, Nico Collins reeled in 6-of-11 targets for 80 yards in Houston’s 25-9 loss in Baltimore. This is a favorable game script for Collins, but Houston’s implied total of 17 points is a concern. Our RDA* projections have Collins approaching 12 points on Sunday. Noah Brown was placed on IR. That means No. 2 wideout duties will go to Robert Woods. Woods hasn’t done much this season but did go 10/6/57/0 against the Ravens in the season opener. John Metchie logged 35 snaps and a 13.6% target share last week. Xavier Hutchison was also in on 44% of Houston’s snaps. The Ravens only allowed three touchdowns to tight ends all season. But, with Houston’s receiving corps thin, expect Dalton Schultz to be heavily involved. Schultz has topped four catches in four of Houston’s past five road contests. Baltimore Offense Lamar Jackson had his worst fantasy game of the season against the Texans back in Week 1. He was limited to 169 passing yards and 38 on the ground. While the Texans have made significant strides on that side of the ball, we’re expecting a much different outcome in the rematch. In fact, our RDA* projections have Jackson as the top QB for the slate. The projections indicate Jackson will throw for 228 yards, two scores, and contribute an additional 64 rushing yards. That makes L-Jax a must-start in all fantasy formats paying in Week 20. Those strides Houston made defensively highlight the amazing job DeMeco Ryans did. The Texans improved to 6th in the NFL in run defense. Baltimore will employ a committee backfield. Gus Edwards leads the way but will need a touchdown to pay off. Edwards cedes most pass-catching work to Justice Hill. After cutting Melvin Gordon, don’t discount Dalvin Cook‘s chances of leading this backfield in touches, making him a sneaky DFS option. Zay Flowers is Baltimore’s No. 1 wideout. Only the Jets allowed fewer touchdowns to wideouts (5) than Houston’s 10. Flowers put 17.7 fantasy points on this defense in Week 1. He’s also scored five touchdowns in his last five games. Consider Flowers a strong WR1 play in this slate. After Flowers, it’s trickier. Odell Beckham is the best bet to make an impact downfield. Beckham’s 14% target share easily outpaced the ancillary wideouts. Of those lesser options, Rashod Bateman will see more snaps and targets than Nelson Agholor. Houston’s biggest defensive weakness came against tight ends. Now that we know the Ravens have ruled Mark Andres OUT, Isaiah Likely becomes a locked-in top-4 play this week. His reduced salary makes him particularly appealing in DFS showdown slates. If this game comes down to turnovers, it could swing Houston’s way. The Texans were +10 in turnover differential. The Ravens actually led the league with a +12 margin. However, Houston had an NFL-low 14 giveaways. Most of Houston’s key offensive contributors also have experience in colder weather. I think the Stroud can keep them hanging around in this game and will take the points. Houston +9.5 Green Bay Packers (10-8) at San Francisco 49ers (12-5) Time: 8:15 PM Eastern Line: San Francisco -9.5 Total: 50.5 Money Line: Packers +360, 49ers -450 Green Bay Offense Jordan Love and the Packers are on quite a heater. Green Bay has won four straight, seven of nine, and Love has produced 21 touchdowns and thrown only ONE interception since Week 11. Meanwhile, the 49ers have picked off a league-leading 22 balls this season. However, the Niners have had issues against the pass. The Niners are also below average in pass rush and on third downs. This looks like another favorable game script for Love to keep drives alive and keep the Packers within striking distance. Aaron Jones won many fantasy contests last week. His usage indicated that he was primed to exploit a sagging Dallas defense. San Francisco’s 4th-ranked fantasy run D will be a more formidable opponent. But Jones remains an elite play due to his involvement in the passing game. All of Green Bay’s wide receivers are in play against a subpar San Francisco secondary. Christian Watson returned last week but only played in 41% of Green Bay’s snaps. He did emerge unscathed, so fair to assume we’ll see a bump. Jayden Reed had a rare zero but had a 14% target share. Romeo Doubs had the finest game of his career last week thanks to a massive 29% target share. TE Tucker Kraft tripled Luke Musgrave in snaps
Jody Smith’s Rankings: Divisional Round
Jody Smith’s Rankings: Divisional Round FullTime Fantasy has been synonymous with accurate fantasy football rankings for years. Our rankings have garnered numerous industry accolades, with several top-5 finishes in season-long, weekly, and even sports betting accuracy. This is the home
FullTime Fantasy has been synonymous with accurate fantasy football rankings for years. Our rankings have garnered numerous industry accolades, with several top-5 finishes in season-long, weekly, and even sports betting accuracy. This is the home of our FullTime Fantasy Football Rankings: Divisional Round.
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Our staff was ranked No. 1 last season, with not one but TWO analysts inside the top 10. With projections powered by NFBC Hall-of-Fame writer Shawn Childs and former FantasyPro’s Most Accurate Expert Jody Smith, FullTime Fantasy Members get instant access to reliable and trustworthy weekly rankings.
Additionally, Jody and Adam Krautwurst co-host the FullTime Fantasy Podcast, which is live-streamed weekly on YouTube. The guys are also active in the FullTime Fantasy Discord channel, helping answer all fantasy and sports betting inquiries.
Fantasy Football Rankings: Divisional Round
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Saturday Playoff Preview
The opening round of the 2023 NFL playoffs are all set. The FullTime Fantasy Saturday Playoff Preview looks at both the Browns vs. Texans and Dolphins vs. Chiefs games from a fantasy and sports betting perspective. Using our RDA* projections, we can break down each game to find the statistical edge that can give us a leg up in playoff fantasy and daily fantasy lineups. Also, we can determine the best bets to make. Before you place those winning bets, our partner Edge Boost can help you double your entries and payouts! Click below to increase your winnings today. Cleveland Browns (11-6) at Houston Texans (10-7) Time: 4:30 Eastern Line: Cleveland -2.5 Total: 44.5 Money Line: Browns -145, Texans +125 Cleveland Offense Back in Week, the Browns went into NRG Stadium and throttled the Texans 36-22. The game wasn’t even that close as Houston piled on 15 garbage-time points. In that game, Joe Flacco completed 27-of-42 for 368 yards and three scores. Flacco’s 22.8 fantasy points in that game were the second-most allowed by a much-improved Houston defense all season. In the rematch, Houston’s pass rush will be healthier. Additionally, the Texans will have more success moving the ball than they did with Davis Mills under center. Also, Flacco’s penchant for turnovers could make the difference in a close game. View Flacco as a solid start this week. However, the floor makes him a riskier play than the other three signal-callers suiting up Saturday. Houston’s run defense also made big strides in 2023. Jerome Ford was held to 25 yards on 15 totes in Week 16. Ford salvaged his day with a touchdown but was otherwise ineffective. Our RDA* projections call for Ford to get 16 touches, generate about 65 yards of offense, and is about a 50/50 bet to find the end zone. Kareem Hunt (groin) returned to practice Wednesday. Hunt won’t see as many touches as Ford in this game. However, Hunt is the preferred option in short-yardage. This week, he’ll be a TD-or-Bust option. That gives him some DFS appeal. Amari Cooper set a franchise record with 265 yards three weeks ago versus the Texans. However, Houston played without Will Anderson and Jonathan Greenard in that game, which led to no pass rush. Cooper won’t have a repeat of his gaudy Week 16 figures, but he still comes in as a top-5 fantasy wideout per our RDA* projections. Elijah Moore didn’t do much in the previous game and is still questionable with a concussion. Cedric Tillman has also been ruled out, leaving David Bell as an interesting flier. The Texans allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends in 2023. David Njoku caught six passes including a TD in the previous matchup. He’s our No. 2 tight end for the slate. Houston Offense It’s best to ignore the previous game from the Texans’ perspective. At least on offense. Houston didn’t accomplish much with Davis Mills and Case Keenum under center. However, with the return of C.J. Stroud, the Texans’ offense should be far more effective. After missing two games with a head injury, Stroud returned in the season finale to post solid, but unspectacular numbers. Stroud has been one of the best QBs in football at home. However, facing the NFL’s No. 1 defense will be problematic. If Stroud can continue his stellar play at NRG, the Texans have a good shot. Devin Singletary has taken over as the club’s feature back. Cleveland is far better against the pass than run, so expect Houston to make Singletary a big part of the game plan. Our RDA* projections have Singletary approaching 80 scrimmage yards. However, he is less likely to find to hit pay dirt. Cleveland ranked 4th in the league in limiting fantasy points to opposing wideouts. Nico Collins is Houston’s undisputed top wide receiver. But the Browns limited Collins to 18 yards on four receptions. Collins did score in that game to somewhat salvage his day. But our RDA* projections predict another modest outing. Robert Woods will return in this game and is likely to be Houston’s No. 3 with Noah Brown returning to practice Thursday. This is a tough matchup for Houston, even if the Texans have played much better at home. That makes all of their ancillary pass-catchers little more than DFS dart throws. Brown has more boom potential. Tight end Dalton Schultz should fill the void as Houston’s top target. Back in Week 16, Schultz reeled in a team-high eight grabs for 61 yards. However, the matchup is worse for tight ends. Cleveland allowed only 9.7 fantasy points per game to the position- second-lowest in the NFL. As much as Cleveland feels like the better team, eventually, the magic will run out, right? I’m on the home dogs. Houston +2.5 WIN Miami Dolphins (11-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (11-6) Time: 8:00 PM Eastern Line: Kansas City -4.5 Total: 51.5 Money Line: Dolphins +190, Chiefs -225 Miami Offense For most of the season, this would have looked like a premier matchup with unlimited offensive potential. However, the Chiefs and Dolphins stumbled to the finish line to damper the fantasy appeal. The opening line of 51.5 seems high for two teams that have not played well. Also, weather will be a factor. The forecast calls for a high of 7 degrees with game-time temps hovering around 0. Brrrr. That will pose problems for Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins. In his last five road games, Tagovailoa averaged just 233.8 passing yards per game with seven touchdown passes. Meanwhile, facing Kansas City boasts a top-10 defense that surrendered the third-fewest touchdown passes in 2023. Kansas City was also stout against the run. However, the Dolphins boasted the NFL’s No. 6 rushing attack. Raheem Mostert will return after sitting out the last two regular-season games. Mostert led the NFL in rushing scores, including seven rushing TDs in seven road contests. De’Von Achane will also be heavily involved. Achane boasts enormous upside but has slowed down after eclipsing 100 rushing yards in three of
Fantasy Football Matchup Analyzer: Week 10
Hard to believe we are already at Week 10 of the 2023 season. That means the fantasy playoffs are now just one month away. Subsequently, winning these upcoming games is crucial for clinching a spot in the postseason tournament. FullTime Fantasy‘s exclusive Fantasy Football Matchup Analyzer: Week 10 tool shows you which players have favorable upcoming schedules. These are the players you want to target in trades. Also, this tool can help break ties in players who are closely matched in our weekly fantasy football rankings. Quarterbacks Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers) – This is the ideal time to buy low on Purdy. San Francisco took a three-game losing streak into their Week 9 bye. However, three out of their next four come against teams ranked in the bottom 10 in terms of surrendering fantasy points to quarterbacks. C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans) – Stroud gets a tough task in Week 10 trying to follow up his historic Week 9 outing. But the next three games look appealing, taking on the Cardinals, Jaguars, and Broncos. Also, those three games all occur at NRG Stadium, where Stroud has played exceptionally well. Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers) – Week 10 was another dud in Chicago. Also, next week looks challenging traveling to Dallas. However, things ease up after that. Young still has games against the Buccaneers, Falcons, and Jaguars left on the schedule. All bottom 10 squads versus the pass. Running Backs Dameon Pierce & Devin Singletary (Houston Texans) – The Texans also have a favorable slate for the backfield. However, the Texans rank just 27th in rushing. Perhaps the upcoming schedule that features two of the NFL’s three worst run defenses will turn that around. Pierce is hurt and Singletary did very little with his 15 touches last week. Subsequently, this is a good ‘buy low’ opportunity. Tony Pollard (Dallas Cowboys) – Pollard has been a disappointment, but redemption starts this week. Pollard lit up New York in Week 1 to the tune of 82 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Now, the Giants are down to their third quarterback and the Cowboys are massive home favorites in Week 10. Additionally, the Commanders rank 31st in run defense, and both Seattle and Washington are below average. Rachaad White (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – White now ranks fourth among all running backs with a 78.1% snap share. That kind of massive volume puts him on the RB1 radar for the next month. White has caught 33 of the 34 targets he’s seen this season. That 97% catch rate leads the NFL. FullTime Fantasy Members have seen over a 60% increase in their playoff appearances over the past three seasons. Get weekly access to this Fantasy Matchup Analyzer and find out which unheralded signal-caller has top-10 upside in Week 10 by signing up TODAY! Wide Receivers Brandon Aiyuk & Deebo Samuel (San Francisco 49ers) – Hopefully, the week off gave San Francisco’s offense a chance to refresh and reset. Samuel is now healthy and poised to re-enter the WR2 conversation beginning with this week’s trip to Jacksonville to take on a Jaguars’ secondary yielding the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts. Also, Aiyuk has topped 50 yards in six of seven games this season- a figure he should blow by weekly with the upcoming soft schedule. Adam Thielen (Carolina Panthers) – Another quiet outing in Chicago opens up a good trade window for Thielen. After topping double-digit fantasy points in six straight, Thielen has been held under 50 yards in back-to-back games. However, things look promising in Weeks 11 and 12 facing two bottom 10 secondaries. DeAndre Hopkins (Tennessee Titans) – One of the opponents Thielen faces also has an appealing schedule. DeAndre Hopkins has absorbed 17 targets in two games with Will Levis under center. Now that Levis has been named Tennssee’s starter, D-Hop should continue to feast on a schedule that looks very tempting starting this week in Tampa. Tight Ends George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers) – Kittle has been erratic, with two massive 20-plus point games and three under five points. If the Kittle manager in your league is tired of dealing with those swings, put out a trade offer. The 49ers are about to get healthy in a hurry. And the schedule for Kittle is indicative of a player who is about to post top-5 production down the stretch. Dalton Schultz (Houston Texans) – The absence of Robert Woods has benefitted Schultz, who is fantasy’s TE2 with 16.8 fantasy points per game over Houston’s last four contests. Schultz has built a rapport with C.J. Stroud and that connection will remain strong over the next four games. Only the Texans themselves have ceded more fantasy points to tight ends than the Bengals and Broncos. Chigoziem Okonkwo (Tennesee Titans) – In addition to three games against four upcoming opponents who rank in the bottom 11 in fantasy points allowed to tight ends, Okonkwo gets to feast on Houston’s league-worst TE defense ENTER OUR WEEK 10 DRAFT CONTEST! How it Works: First, draft your team using our On-Demand Simulator. Second, try to stack the team with players you think will do well this week. Finally, the highest Week 10 Score wins. (PLUS: You get to see the Thursday Night game and then draft!) Also, here’s our Week 10 Player Rankings to help. It’s a best-ball contest, so no need to submit a lineup. We’ll optimize the best one. Just sit back and watch your team climb the leaderboard. Weekly Prizes and a Grand Prize at the end of the season! The Grand Prize Winner (highest individual week of the season) gets to choose from the amazing prizes below. If you don’t know just how awesome and amazing the Panini Flawless Football briefcase is, make sure and watch the video starting at the 8-minute mark! Trading cards are back! MEMBER PERK! Fulltime Members get 5 Free On-Demand Drafts each month in our contest! DRAFT YOUR WEEK 10 TEAM and enter your REDEMPTION CODE you received by email. Finally, thank you
NFL Week 1 Texans at Ravens: DFS & Fantasy Preview
NFL Week 1 Texans at Ravens: DFS & Fantasy Preview Betting Line: Ravens – 9.5 Over/Under: 44.0 Baltimore has a primo matchup for their offense in Week 1, and Lamar Jackson has a much better receiving corps heading into 2023. Zay Flower has been getting plenty of hype in training camp for his speed and quickness, and Rashod Bateman looks ready to shine out of the gate. The Ravens have a stud tight end (Mark Andrews) with plenty of firepower at the position off the bench. Baltimore will run the ball a lot against Houston’s run defense, which ranked poorly in 2022. The Texans stroll into this matchup with a high-upside rookie quarterback (C.J. Stroud). They upgraded their tight end position in the offseason by signing Dalton Schultz. Houston has a young group of wideouts – Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and John Metchie that will give defenses fits as the season progresses. With Baltimore expected to have success scoring, the Texans will have to air the ball out to stay in the game. Note: The fantasy points per $1,000 are based on the early projections for Week 1. The above grid shows the top players excepted to contribute in Week 1 in the fantasy games. I listed each player’s salary at DraftKings and FanDuel, plus their fantasy points expected per $1,000 of salary invested. In GPP (grand prize pools) events, the goal is to find players with a chance to score four times their salary at DraftKings ($50,000 salary cap and three times at FanDuel ($60,000 salary cap). Houston Texans C.J. Stroud Stroud makes his first start in the NFL vs. Ravens defense that ranked 26th in passing yards allowed while minimizing the damage in passing TDs (20). Baltimore did get after the quarterback (48 sacks) in 2022. Over his final 25 starts at Ohio State, Stroud threw 85 touchdown passes with only 12 interceptions. He offered minimal value in the run game. Houston has some intriguing young wide receivers that should help move the chains. Baltimore had a top-tier run defense last year, pointing to the Texans needing to finish drives with passing touchdowns in the red zone. I don’t see a difference-maker gain by Stroud. He needs about 250 passing yards and three scores to pay off. I expect him to be on a low percentage of rosters, making him worth a dart or two. Dameon Pierce Pierce played well in his rookie season (220/939/4 with 30 catches for 165 yards and one touchdown), but he was worthless in the fantasy market after Week 10 (55/167/1 with eight catches for 39 yards) while missing the final four games with an ankle injury. His pass-protecting skills are below par, pointing to Pierce standing on the sideline on passing downs. Houston will rotate in a second back, limiting the ceiling of Pierce. A top run defense should limit his scoring upside. Pierce almost needs 100 yards rushing and two scores to pay off. I have him in my fade column in the DFS market in Week 1 Devin Singletary Most Dameon Pierce supporters don’t respect Singletary. He’s gained over 1,000 combined yards in back-to-back seasons with the high-scoring Bills. Singletary averaged 38.7 catches over the past three seasons with some value in scoring (14 combined touchdowns in 2021 and 2022). Game flow may favor him in this matchup. He scored over 18.00 fantasy points in PPR formats twice last season. Nice Collins In the early draft season, Collins ranked 54th at wide receiver, translating to just over 7.00 fantasy points in PPR leagues last year. He has three career scores over his 24 games with Houston while averaging 2.9 catches for 39 yards. Last year, Collins scored more than 15.00 fantasy points in one game (5/49/1). His size (6’4” and 215 lbs.) gives Stroud a big target at the goal line, and Collins worked more as a big play receiver (17.8 yards per catch) in college. He needs the best game of his career to be winning play. I’ll pass due to Houston expected to rotate in four wideouts plus service Dalton Schultz with targets at tight end. Robert Woods Veteran wide receiver with an excellent three-year run with the Rams from 2018 to 2020 (86/1,219/6, 90/1,134/2, and 90/936/6). Wood also had success rushing the ball (266/3,289/14) over this span. A torn ACL cost him eight games in 2021, followed by a quiet year with the Titans (53/527/2). At age 31, his best days are behind him. Woods has the resume and experience to post a 5/50/1 game that works for his Week 1 salary. More of a gamble than a winning play in the DFS market. John Metchie The Texans drafted Metchie in the second round in 2022, but he missed all of last season with a battle with promyelocytic leukemia. The year off did help him recover from a torn ACL with Alabama. In his best season in college, Metchie caught 96 balls for 1,142 yards and eight scores on 133 targets. His stock should rise as the second moves on, but without a starting job, he would only be a flier in the DFS market. Tank Dell Dell was a beast over his final two seasons (90/1,329/12 and 109/1,398/17) at Houston. His skill set and quickness point to a slot role with the Texans in his rookie year. Dell is undersized (5’8” and 165 lbs.), but he looks ready to handle the next step in his career. Dell had a 5/65/1 game in the preseason before being limited with a slight hamstring issue. For someone looking for a $3,000 salary savior at DraftKings, he should have the opportunity to be a winning play based on game flow. Dalton Schultz Schultz blossomed into a top-12 tight end over the past three seasons at Dallas (63/615/4, 78/808/8, and 57/577/5). The Texans’ tight ends had 77 catches for 959 yards and eight touchdowns on 130 targets in 2022. Schultz scored 19.00 fantasy points or more in three (19.10, 24.60,