Davis Mills signed a fully guaranteed one-year extension with Houston through 2026, keeping him as C.J. Stroud’s backup. Mills has 38 NFL games (26 starts) with 6,167 yards, 35 TDs and 25 INTs, and last season he played mop-up duty in four games. The deal signals stability behind Stroud while Houston develops its rookie quarterback.

Graham Mertz earned Houston's No. 3 quarterback job after a strong preseason push, edging Kedon Slovis. He went 23-for-32 for 174 yards with one TD and three INTs across three games, setting the stage for mop-up duty behind C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills as Houston opens against the Rams.

Wisconsin alum Joe Huber cracked the Vikings' 53-man roster, while Tanner Mordecai, Quintez Cephus and Trey Wedig did not. The rookie depth chart update tightens Texans' QB considerations for fantasy late-rounds and injury scenarios, with the Texans' Week 1 outlook hinging on how Stroud and Mills handle business.

Graham Mertz’s Texans preseason showing in Week 2 was brief and quiet: two completions for one yard across three series, sandwiched by a punt and a kneel-down. Houston’s QB pecking order remains Stroud, Mills and Slovis, leaving the former Badger with a clear roster battle entering the Aug. 23 finale against Detroit. The Texans won 20-3, but Mertz’s three drives did little to alter the path of a six-round pick fighting for a 53-man spot. Fantasy takeaways: don’t count on Mertz contributing in 2025 unless injuries create a late-season opening; his best path remains as a practice-squad developmental option if he clears waivers.

For dynasty managers, the narrative centers on depth-chart leverage more than immediate upside. Stroud’s early hold on the starter’s role, Mills’ veteran presence, and Slovis’s developing upside keep Mertz on the outside looking in, though any dramatic shift in roster-building or in-game opportunity could change his odds quickly.

Houston’s overhaul centers on Stroud and Anderson, whose arrival under DeMeco Ryans has redefined the Texans’ trajectory. Stroud’s breakout moments in the 2022 playoff landscape foreshadowed a franchise quarterback who thrives under pressure, while Anderson’s relentless motor anchors a defense built to contend. The 2023 draft capital—kept when Houston stayed at No. 2 and then jumped to No. 3—paved the way for a roster around its two stars. The result: 22 wins across two seasons and playoff wins that signal a true turnaround, with Stroud and Anderson as the program’s cornerstones and a path toward a Super Bowl someday. The surrounding class—Dell, Scruggs, Horton, To’oTo’o—adds depth and complementary talent that could sustain this rise. Houston’s the favorite in the AFC South entering 2025, but health and a sturdy line will determine how soon the ceiling is reached.