Davis Mills showed he can run Houston’s Caley-era attack, completing 4 of 5 throws for 50 yards and a TD on the Texans’ lone scoring drive, capping preseason optimism about the offense. The wideout room will be fiercely cut, with Metchie, Hutchinson and Berrios pushing for two spots behind Collins and Nico. On the line and in the backfield, the Texans liked what they saw from Ogunbowale, Marks and Jordan, while Taylor and Speed anchored a stout, swarming defense. Mertz, coming back from ACL rehab, faced the rookie scrutiny, Slovis offered steadier relief, and Stroud’s preseason absence drew deserved critique as reps matter early. The Kubiak-influenced play-action system already feels familiar, even as the Texans sort depth at DB and on the O-line and chase continuity for the opener.

Minnesota’s rookie class delivered in a 20-10 preseason win over Houston, with four of five picks taking the field. Gavin Bartholomew sat on the PUP list, but the rest of the rookie contingent flashed in limited action, led by Max Brosmer’s poised showing at quarterback and Tai Felton’s two-catch, first-down drives plus a notable punt-coverage moment. On defense, Kobe King and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins logged solid snaps, while Silas Bolden and Tyler Batty offered intriguing special-teams and situational looks. The results hint at depth battles to watch as roster cut days approach.

Houston’s backfield signs a high-variance path for 2025 fantasy drafts. Nick Chubb leads the Texans’ ground game while Joe Mixon heals, with Dameon Pierce stepping in as the likely early-down engine behind the uncertain offensive line. Dare Ogunbowale provides passing-game familiarity, but the rookie Woody Marks is the sleeper the lineup hints at, thanks to USC-era receiving chops and multi-down potential. Jawhar Jordan also looms as a development piece, while Marks’ upside in PPR formats keeps him squarely in the conversation for late-round targets.

Chubb’s pedigree and lead-back role offer week-to-week floor early on, but recent injury history and the ambiguity of Houston’s run-blocking raise the ceiling and floor in tandem. Marks, meanwhile, is flagged as a viable three-down option who might emerge as Mixon’s absence prolongs, giving him massive upside in PPR formats at a modest cost. Pierce remains the one to watch for an immediate Week 1 role if the injury timetable pushes Mixon deeper into the season. The draft strategy boils down to patience for Marks and opportunistic pull for Chubb if you need immediate help behind Mixon’s absence.

In this dynamic, managers should weigh Chubb for immediate value against Marks for late-season upside. If Mixon’s return is delayed, Marks and Pierce could anchor a better-than-expected Texans’ committee, especially in a pass-friendly scheme. If you’re drafting with a patient build, Marks’ upside makes him an enticing late-round gamble; if you need Week 1 reliability, Chubb remains the safer anchor, with Pierce offering a floor-raising option in the early part of the season.