Houston’s playoff push in 2025 hinges on development during training camp and final roster decisions. DeMeco Ryans praised the week of growth across the Texans’ unit after a 20-3 preseason win, stressing the hard choices ahead to trim to 53.

Bubble players like C.J. Stroud’s offense-mesh, Kedon Slovis as a potential backup, and a trio of receiver candidates—Braxton Berrios, John Metchie III, and Justin Watson—shaped the takeaways from the win. Depth at tight end with Irv Smith Jr. and Luke Lachey offered both veteran presence and youth, while the defensive backs Kamari Lassiter, D’Angelo Ross, and Jaylin Smith flashed enough to stay in the conversation.

Fantasy angles center on Stroud’s continued comfort and efficiency, Slovis’s path behind him, and which WRs land the final spots. The camp storyline is less about start and more about who can separate with consistent, game-like play as Houston prepares for Week 1 and a grind-through-cut period.

Aireontae Ersery flashed as Houston’s left tackle in his NFL debut, drawing early praise from Baldy for length and hand usage as he faced Vikings edge Dallas Turner. The Texans’ 10-play opening drive culminated in a Mills-to-Berrios TD, signaling both a fresh start for an overhauled line and a path toward fewer sacks after last year’s 52 allowed. The piece also outlines Houston’s offseason OL overhaul, including the culling of Tunsil and Mason and the addition of Brown, Robinson, Tomlinson and Ingram, and frames Ersery as a potential cornerstone of the rebuild with immediate fantasy relevance should protection improve.

As fantasy-specific takeaways, the breakdown suggests Stroud and Mills could reap the benefits of better pass protection, while Braxton Berrios could see steadier targets in a more competent offense. Ogunbowale’s involvement on the opening drive indicates a versatile backfield that could diversify Houston’s weekly floor and ceiling. Ersery’s performance against a first-round Vikings rookie also provides a blueprint for how soon the Texans’ line might stabilize and unlock deeper playmaking from the unit surrounding the rookie.

Houston’s training-camp week looms large as the Texans sort through a wide-receiver group that could stretch to seven. Braxton Berrios is the wildcard, offering receiving ability and punt/kick return value, putting him in the mix for a rare seventh spot. John Metchie III and Xavier Hutchinson have stepped up, while Kamari Lassiter has flashed playmaking traits. Nico Collins is a lock, with several other battlers vying for the final spots behind him. On defense, E.J. Speed’s move to starter at Will linebacker has sparked optimism, and Kamari Lassiter’s continued ball skills show why Houston values playmaking depth. The mix of youth and experience makes this a pivotal week for roster decisions and fantasy upside.

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.

Braxton Berrios breaks through for a 14-yard TD on a Mills loft, giving Houston an early 7-3 lead in Minnesota. The score fuels optimism about Houston’s offense and the roster battle ahead, with Berrios vying for an active-slot role after signing a two-million-dollar, one-year deal this offseason. A healed ACL and standout special-teams pedigree position him as a potential multi-faceted contributor this preseason.

Houston’s attack leans on Mills’ development and a versatile supporting cast, with Berrios providing both receiving upside and return game value. Career stats—134 catches, 1,323 yards, six TDs plus a kick return TD—underline his ceiling as a gadget option if he lands a regular role. If he gains early-season usage, fantasy managers will want to track how Houston deploys him in competitive games and how significantly he cut into return opportunities.

Minnesota provided the challenge, and the Dolphins’ connection to Berrios adds context to his return narrative. The Texans’ offense looks to balance growth with depth, and the Mills-to-Berrios connection could influence Houston’s weekly upside in fantasy early in the year, depending on how Houston staffs the receiver corps and special teams.