• Tank Dell scores earlier than a severe leg harm: Houston Texans receiver Tank Dell delivered his greatest fantasy efficiency of the season earlier than exiting with a knee harm. The setback is anticipated to sideline him for the rest of the season.
• Hollywood Brown returns: Brown caught 4 passes for 41 yards in his Kansas Metropolis debut, contributing as a part of the workforce’s broad receiver rotation.
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Estimated studying time: 5 minutes
PFF’s fantasy soccer recap focuses on participant utilization and stats, breaking down all of the very important data it’s good to obtain fantasy success in 2024.
Houston Texans @ Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
- Tank Dell: 6 receptions, 98 yards, 1 landing
- Xavier Worthy: 7 receptions, 65 yards, 1 landing; 3 carries, 10 receiving yards
Hollywood Brown makes his Chiefs’ debut: Brown had been coping with a shoulder S/C joint separation.
Brown, who had been sidelined since struggling a shoulder S/C joint separation on the primary play of the preseason, lastly made his debut for Kansas Metropolis. He was initially anticipated to start out this season alongside Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, however his return added one other layer to the Chiefs’ broad receiver rotation.
In current weeks, Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy have solidified themselves as the highest two receiving choices, whereas DeAndre Hopkins, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Justin Watson, and tight finish Noah Grey have all seen constant taking part in time at over 50% of snaps. Brown’s return didn’t considerably have an effect on the Chiefs’ prime choices however did end in fewer snaps for Smith-Schuster, Watson, and Grey.
Grey, specifically, noticed a notable decline in taking part in time, making him a much less viable possibility for these looking for a good finish from the waiver wire. Whereas Brown made a number of good performs in his debut, his snap charge will seemingly improve within the coming weeks.
If this have been the center of the season, Brown can be a transparent waiver wire goal. Nonetheless, with the fantasy season ending subsequent week and Kansas Metropolis dealing with a troublesome Pittsburgh Steelers secondary in 4 days, Brown is a dangerous begin in most fantasy leagues regardless of the potential for a powerful efficiency.
Monitor Tank Dell’s well being: Dell had one in all his greatest video games of the season in below 35 minutes however suffered a leg harm on a landing catch.
The Texans entered this sport with out one in all their prime broad receivers, as John Metchie III was inactive attributable to a shoulder harm. Metchie has been one of many three main receivers in 11 personnel. In his absence, Xavier Hutchinson stepped into a bigger function, with Robert Woods additionally seeing elevated snaps in three-receiver formations.
Dell and Woods break up snaps in 12 personnel — an uptick for Dell, who had performed simply 39% of 12 personnel snaps this season. A few of this improve was attributable to Metchie’s absence, nevertheless it was evident that Dell was a focus of the sport plan. Dell’s effectivity, highlighted by his robust yards per route run towards man protection, made him notably valuable towards a Chiefs protection that employs man protection closely
The Texans launched Steven Sims on Friday and elevated Jared Wayne from the observe squad. Wayne served as Nico Collins’ backup at X receiver, a task he additionally performed in Week 13 when Hutchinson was inactive. As anticipated, Collins performed most snaps, persevering with to anchor the receiving corps when wholesome.
Dell’s harm, which occurred on his landing catch, was to the identical leg he injured final season. He was down for a number of minutes earlier than being carted off the sphere. Based mostly on the looks, it appeared season-ending, making it a scenario to observe heading into the offseason.
After Dell’s exit, Woods and Hutchinson joined Collins in three-receiver units. The Texans face a positive matchup towards the Baltimore Ravens subsequent week, seemingly requiring a pass-heavy strategy. Any of Woods, Hutchinson, or Metchie may step up, relying on Metchie’s well being. Woods provides the most secure ground, however Metchie would supply extra upside if he can play.
Miscellaneous Notes
- The Chiefs’ Isiah Pacheco led the operating again rotation with Kareem Hunt. They might every take 5-6 performs in a row, ignoring third downs, earlier than getting changed by the opposite again. Samaje Perine took third-down snaps, as he’s finished all season.
- Texans backup tight finish Cade Stover was inactive for a second straight week after having an emergency appendectomy per week in the past. The Texans have three different backup tight ends on injured reserve.
- Houston signed tight finish Irv Smith Jr. to the lively roster as the first backup. Fullback/tight finish hybrid Andrew Beck was activated from the observe squad for Houston for the primary time this season. Beck began 11 video games for the Texans final season however had spent most of this season with the Inexperienced Bay Packers observe squad, taking part in three video games for them.
- Tight finish Anthony Firkser was elevated from the Chiefs observe squad for the third time this season. The Chiefs equally have three backup tight ends on injured reserve.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens
Coming quickly…
Desk Notes
• Snaps embody performs known as again attributable to penalties, together with offensive holding or defensive cross interference. The opposite three stats have these performs eliminated.
• Targets might differ from official NFL sources. The almost definitely discrepancy can be from a transparent thrown-away cross, the place the NFL might give the goal to the closest receiver, whereas this information is not going to.
• Carries are solely on designed performs. Quarterback scrambles gained’t rely for the whole variety of carries within the sport.
