Houston’s Week 2 outlook hinges on the health of Christian Kirk, with hamstring concerns keeping him out of Friday practice and his Week 2 status uncertain for Monday vs. Tampa Bay. Braxton Berrios and Jake Andrews also missed time, elevating the Texans’ WR room and leaving Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, and rookie Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel as the most likely beneficiaries if Kirk sits. Ed Ingram’s return to full practice bolsters the line, but receiver depth remains a concern as Houston eyes a primetime matchup.

If Kirk misses, Collins could lead targets, with Hutchinson and the rookie duo stepping into significant roles. The Texans may lean on a quick-hitting, pass-friendly script to ease quarterback C.J. Stroud into his second start, while TB’s defense tests the Texans’ growing inexperienced group. Fantasy managers should monitor Kirk’s practice status Saturday for clear Week 2 guidance.

Week 2 fantasy evals for three late-round rookie backs. Skattebo struggled in Week 1 behind a leaky Giants line, with just two rushing attempts for -3 yards and 12 receiving yards on two catches. Gordon’s debut was muted in a blowout loss, limited to two carries for 4 yards and one catch for -1, as Achane dominated the Dolphins’ backfield. Marks saw minimal usage for Houston, three carries for three yards and no targets. Expectations suggest waivers or bench for Skattebo and Gordon in most leagues, with Marks a deep-dly hold or drop depending on format.

Beyond Week 2, the path to real fantasy relevance hinges on backfield volume and offensive line upgrades. The trio faces crowded roles and game-script dependencies, so rostering them requires patience and a willingness to chase any bump in touches or injuries in the weeks ahead. For now, most managers should lean toward safer options while monitoring opportunity shifts.