Cade Stover underwent successful foot surgery after Week 1, placing him on injured reserve and sidelining him indefinitely. Houston pivots to Dalton Schultz as the top TE with Harrison Bryant stepping in as depth, hoping for a midseason return from Stover. Week 2 against the Buccaneers will test the Texans’ TE rotation as Bryant comes off the practice squad to bolster the room, while John Metchie’s offseason trade reshapes the depth chart.

Stover’s 4-catch, 22-yard showing in the opener underscored his fantasy upside, making his absence a real hurdle for Houston’s targets. Schultz should assume lead duties, with Bryant offering a potentialTE2 floor in two-TE sets, and the Texans’ offense recalibrating around these changes as they eye durability and depth in a tough early schedule.

Cade Stover’s broken foot and indefinite sidelining upend Houston’s TE depth, cueing a potential roster upgrade. Stover was a rising factor in two-TE sets; with Irv Smith out for the season, the Texans must lean on Harrison Bryant or Luke Lachey from the practice squad while exploring veteran options in free agency. Jake Andrews’ day-to-day status keeps interior line concerns on the radar. Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios are inching back from hamstring injuries, but timetable remains open.

Fantasy takeaway: Stover’s absence tightens the Texans’ TE target share, elevating Bryant and Lachey as immediate speculative adds with upside if they seize the opportunity, while the team’s free-agent pursuit could alter the midseason TE landscape.

Week 1’s NFL PFF grades spotlighted Houston’s Week 1 showing, with CJ Stroud navigating heavy pressure to post a productive day and Will Anderson Jr. dominating the edge. Nico Collins struggled as Houston’s WR1, while Cade Stover flashed as the Texans’ top pass-catcher before an injury sidelined him. Dare Ogunbowale and Aireontae Ersery had rough debuts, and CJ Gardner-Johnson and Derek Stingley Jr. faced stiffer days than hoped. Dameon Pierce touched the ball sparingly. Week 2 vs Tampa is the next litmus test.

Stroud’s 73.1 grade and 80.5 rushing grade fed optimism for fantasy managers, as he added 32 rushing yards on five carries. Anderson’s 91.0 PFF rating and a sack show the defense could carry DFS value, while Stover impressed (when healthy) with four grabs for 22 yards. Collins’ floor dip, Ersery’s issues, and the back-end fragility highlight Week 2 adjustments for the Texans.

Houston’s Week 1 setback at center with Jake Andrews sidelined by a high-ankle sprain reshapes the Texans’ inside blocking. Jarrett Patterson will start at center for multiple weeks, opening a door for immediate workload. Houston also lost Cade Stover to a foot issue, while Ed Ingram’s early-season injury compounds the rotation up front. C.J. Stroud faced three sacks and 41% pressure on dropbacks, spotlighting the interior line’s continuity as Week 2 vs. Tampa Bay approaches.

With Patterson absorbing the baton, fantasy managers will watch how quickly the Texans stabilize protection and how the offense adapts in pass protection and short-area throws. The Rams game illustrated Stroud’s growing pains; the Buccaneers present a stiffer test, but if Patterson holds the middle, Stroud can regain rhythm and keep receivers involved while the line evolves through miscues and new combinations.

Cade Stover suffered a broken foot and is out indefinitely, leaving Houston with just one active tight end. Stover, who caught four passes for 22 yards in the Rams loss, was a trusted blocker and catcher for C.J. Stroud in college. The injury could end his season, and Brevin Jordan’s season-ending knee injury compounds the Texans’ TE woes. Dalton Schultz remains the lone active TE, while Harrison Bryant and Luke Lachey sit on the practice squad, with three elevations allowed before signing. Houston hosts Tampa Bay on Monday Night Football, heightening the fantasy stakes for TE targets and matchup play.