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.

Texans safety Calen Bullock led the claim that Houston owns the NFL’s best secondary, yet the opener against the Rams exposed a need for sharper eye discipline. Stingley Jr. flashed All-Pro pedigree, but big plays still came through, and Pitre, Lassiter, and Gardner-Johnson paid the price on a couple of critical drives. Stafford’s attack tapped into Houston’s over-commitment to the run with precise play-fakes, allowing Nacua to pile up 130 yards and a late first down, while Williams anchored the Rams’ ground game. Houston’s offense struggled to score, leaving questions for Week 2 against Tampa Bay.

Eye discipline and backfield reads were the decisive factors in the loss. The Rams exploited Cover 2 and a late red-zone miscue, then padded the lead with a crucial play-action sequence that froze multiple Texans defenders. The matchup offered a blueprint for how Houston’s secondary must sharpen its vision and technique if it wants to back up Bullock’s swagger. The next test is a Monday Night showdown with the Buccaneers, where a disciplined secondary could swing a high-stakes fantasy matchup.

Gardner-Johnson’s leadership fuels the Texans in Week 1 against the Rams, a hint Houston plans to lean on its secondary from the opener. Traded from Philadelphia in the offseason, he fired up the squad pre-snap and is a rallying point for a defense that fantasy managers will watch closely as a potential streamer in favorable matchups.

Brevin Jordan’s mention as a locker-room leader signals a potential red-zone connection to start the year, while Houston aims to snag back-to-back season-opening wins for the first time since 2018. The Rams trip to SoFi adds a testy Week 1 script, with division and conference implications lingering from Jaguars and Colts wins, and a Dolphins spark on the other side of the standings.

The Eagles open a roster spot by waiving Kenyon Green as they push for a stronger edge presence after Za’Darius Smith signing last Friday. Early returns on the team’s pass rush looked tepid in the season opener, so Smith’s addition is a clear upgrade bet that should sharpen Philadelphia’s pressure packages in Week 2 against Kansas City.

Concurrent moves reshape the RB picture as Saquon Barkley’s New York Giants loom in Week 2 and Will Shipley suffers a rib injury. Audric Estime was added to the practice squad as a potential internal option, while Ben VanSumeren landed on IR after a season-ending knee injury. The Texans-Gardner-Johnson swap helped financials and opened guard competition with Tyler Steen in the mix for a starting spot.