Baker Mayfield closed Tampa Bay's comeback with an 11-play, 80-yard drive, culminating in a 2-yard TD by Rachaad White after a 15-yard scramble on fourth-and-10 kept the march alive. Mayfield finished 25-of-38 for 215 yards with two TDs and added 33 rushing yards in a 20-19 win that kept TB undefeated at 2-0 this season.

TB leaned on a productive backfield duo as White (65 yards) and Bucky Irving (71 yards) surged, supplementing Mayfield's efficient, clutch passing. Houston struggled offensively, with Stroud going 13-of-24 for 207 yards and a TD, while Nick Chubb added a late 25-yard TD for the Texans in a game that finished with 266 total yards for Houston.

TB now hosts the Jets, while Houston heads to Jacksonville for Week 3, a pair of tests that will shape early fantasy value for playmakers on both sides.

Jalen Pitre's rib injury tests Houston's nickel defense in the MNF clash with Tampa Bay. If he rests or is limited, Derek Stingley and Kamari Lassiter must lock outside while Tremon Smith and Jaylin Smith fill depth roles, heightening Tampa Bay's passing opportunities. Houston also battles missing receivers Christian Kirk, Braxton Berrios, and center Jake Andrews, plus the absence of Joe Mixon, widening the Texans' offensive uncertainty. Tampa Bay, dealing with Luke Goedeke and Tristan Wirfs out, presses Charlie Heck into action on the right side, elevating the Buccaneers' pass protection risks.

Fantasy angles tilt toward volume and volatility. Stroud could see more targets if Houston's defense softens, while Mayfield may exploit any matchup edges with Houston’s thin back end. Will Anderson's rush becomes even more pivotal for Houston, and Danielle Hunter's presence adds to the edge pressure. Monitor Pitre's status as game time nears, since the depth players stepping up will shape weekly lineups and bets.

Houston hosts Tampa Bay in Week 2 Monday Night Football as C.J. Stroud faces Baker Mayfield with both teams chasing their first win. Key receivers are sidelined: Christian Kirk for Houston and Chris Godwin for Tampa Bay, forcing bigger roles for Nico Collins, Emeka Egbuka, and Mike Evans.

Houston sits as a 2.5-point favorite with a 42.5 over/under. The SportsLine projection model, boasting a long run of accurate top picks, leans toward the over and toward one side of the spread in a game that could hinge on rookie gains from Collins and Egbuka and Mayfield’s connection with Evans despite the injuries.

The narrative centers on fantasy relevance: Collins' bounce-back prospects, Egbuka’s emergence, and Fairbairn’s kicking in a likely tight contest. The model’s track record adds weight to the bet and lineup calls for managers seeking value in a game with multiple injury-driven implications.