Irv Smith Jr. was released by Houston, opening a TE room now led by Dalton Schultz, Harrison Bryant and Brendan Bates. Cade Stover remains on IR, with a Week 6 return on the horizon that could shift targets once healthy. Smith’s free-agency path remains uncertain, but a landing spot with a 53-man roster or practice squad could materialize if he’s healthy enough to contribute.

Houston also traded Cam Robinson to Cleveland for a late-round pick swap, reshaping the Texans’ line depth and teeing up Schultz as the primary pass-catching option. Bryant and Bates offer steady, if capped, run as Stover’s status looms. Week 5’s plan centers on target stability in a TE-by-committee, with the Rams opener serving as a reminder of how depth matters for fantasy managers.

Overall, the Texans’ tight end landscape is in flux, with Smith’s exit creating a potential comeback path elsewhere while the current trio anchors Week 5.”

Texans claimed Brenden Bates off the Browns’ practice squad after Cleveland’s 0-2 start, signaling Houston’s push to supplement C.J. Stroud’s tight end options. Bates has yet to log a stat in the NFL. Browns filled the open practice squad spot after Cade Stover’s IR injury, and with Green Bay looming, Cleveland’s TE depth could shift quickly as the season progresses.

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.