Dell was one of the most exciting prospects to watch in the entire 2023 NFL Draft class in large part because he plays a lot bigger than his size. This is not another Tavon Austin-type prospect despite them having similar builds. Dell wins with his route-running, and at the collegiate level he was able to utilize his unique ability to stop and start to win at all three levels, not just in the short passing game. The Texans wide receiver room is wide open for business, so if Dell appears to be an early favorite of C.J. Stroud, you should look to draft him with one of your final picks. In rookie-only drafts, it's worth considering him once you get to Round 3.
Texans' Tank Dell: Sits out practice with calf injury
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Dell (calf) didn't practice Wednesday, but the Texans are optimistic that he'll be available for Sunday's game against the Broncos, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Per Wilson, Dell had imaging done on his calf after this past Sunday's 24-21 loss to Jacksonville. Dell's injury is regarded as relatively minor, but he'll likely need to increase his practice participation Thursday or Friday to get the green light to play against Denver. If the rookie wide receiver is unable to play, it would be a major loss for Houston's offense, considering Dell has piled up 25 catches for 369 yards and five touchdowns in his last four games.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Extends TD streak to four games
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Dell caught five of eight targets for 50 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 24-21 loss to the Jaguars. He added 12 yards on one rushing attempt.
Dell scored Houston's first points with a seven-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. He had a 62-yard catch negated by an illegal shift penalty and another would-be long reception ruled an incomplete pass after a Houston challenge, so Dell came close to having an even more productive game. As it is, Dell still extended his touchdown streak to four games, and the rookie wide receiver has caught 25 of 43 targets for 369 yards and five touchdowns over that span. Dell has also provided double-digit rushing yards in four of the past seven games heading into a Week 13 home game against the Broncos.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Team-high receiving yardage in win
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Dell secured eight of 10 targets for 149 yards and a touchdown in the Texans' 21-16 win over the Cardinals on Sunday.
Dell comfortably led the Texans in receiving yards by a wide margin while also setting the pace in receptions. The spectacular rookie also teamed up with fellow first-year star C.J. Stroud on a 40-yard touchdown grab in the right corner of the end zone in the second quarter. Dell now has four touchdowns in his last three games, a sample in which he's eclipsed the century mark on two occasions as well. Dell figures to be a key piece of the air attack once again in a Week 12 home matchup against the Jaguars, and even more so if Noah Brown (knee) sits out another contest.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Logs 14 targets in win
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Dell secured six of 14 targets for 56 yards and a touchdown in the Texans' 30-27 win over the Bengals on Sunday. He also returned three punts for 18 yards.
Dell comfortably led the Texans in targets on a day when Nico Collins (calf) was sidelined, but he wasn't close to full efficiency. Nevertheless, the rookie turned in a productive day and was able to find the end zone for the fifth time this season and third time in the last two games on a six-yard grab to open the scoring for Houston on the afternoon. Dell next takes aim at the inconsistent Cardinals secondary in a Week 11 home matchup that could develop into another high-scoring affair now that Kyler Murray is back under center in Arizona.
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Texans' Nathaniel Dell: Start Him (Lineup Decisions)
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It almost doesn't make sense: a rookie receiver catching balls from a rookie quarterback shouldn't be expected to play well against an aggressive playoff-caliber defense. But even if you forget about last week, Stroud has proven to be quite capable at beating tough defenses, and Dell has been more than just a speedy one-route gimmick. If Stroud throws 35 passes, Dell should see at least eight of them go his way, if not 10. Given his upside, that could push him right back into the top 10 this week. The downside is obviously steep, which is why expectations should be as a WR2, but he should definitely be in lineups ahead of anyone who isn't exciting.
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Texans' Nathaniel Dell: Sleeper WRs
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When Dell has played well this season he has played really well with three games of at least 20.2 PPR points in seven appearances. In the other four games, he's scored 8.3 PPR points or less, so let's hope he goes off again in this matchup. It's been all about the volume for Dell, who had at least seven targets in each of his three big games. I expect C.J. Stroud to be throwing a lot in this contest, and Dell should be heavily involved, especially with Nico Collins (calf) not expected to play. Noah Brown is also worth using as a sleeper in Week 10.
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Texans' Nathaniel Dell: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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When Dell has played well this season he has played really well with three games of at least 20.2 PPR points in seven appearances. In the other four games, he's scored 8.3 PPR points or less, so let's hope he goes off again in this matchup. It's been all about the volume for Dell, who had at least seven targets in each of his three big games. I expect C.J. Stroud to be throwing a lot in this contest, and Dell should be heavily involved, making him a borderline top-25 receiver in all leagues.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Ready for Week 8
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Dell was a full practice participant Wednesday and has cleared the concussion protocol, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
The rookie missed a Week 6 win over the Saints and now is back in action after a Week 7 bye. Meanwhile, Robert Woods (foot) was held out of Wednesday's practice, though the Texans haven't indicated his injury is serious. Woods' status could have a significant impact on Dell's role this Sunday at Carolina, especially if the Texans still want depth receivers like Noah Brown, John Metchie and Xavier Hutchinson (foot) to get some playing time. Dell and Nico Collins have been the most productive of the bunch, with Woods producing just 5.3 yards per carry and the ancillary wideouts not seeing many targets even when they play a decent amount.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Practices Monday, likely for Week 8
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Dell (concussion) took part in the Texans' unofficial practice session Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. "Getting Tank back is big for us. ... He's a guy we can count on for a big play," head coach DeMeco Ryans told DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com.
While Ryans didn't officially confirm that Dell has cleared the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, the coach's comments to the media suggest that the Texans fully expect the rookie receiver to be available for Sunday's game in Carolina. Dell missed the Texans' Week 6 win over the Saints with the brain injury, but a well-timed Week 7 bye seemingly gave him added time to recover. Through his first five NFL games, Dell has compiled a 19-324-2 line on 28 targets.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Expected to sit out Week 6
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Dell (concussion), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Saints, isn't expected to play, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Dell missed practices Wednesday and Thursday before returning to the field as a limited participant Friday. Though he didn't put in a full practice this week, Dell took a questionable tag into the weekend, but Schefter's report suggests that the rookie wideout didn't clear the five- step concussion protocol. Dell will likely be inactive for Sunday's contest, but his status won't be confirmed until Houston releases its inactive list 90 minutes prior to the game's 1 p.m. ET kickoff. If Dell is sidelined, Noah Brown, John Metchie and Xavier Hutchinson could be in store for expanded roles behind Nico Collins and Robert Woods (ribs).
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Texans' Tank Dell: Still not practicing
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Dell (concussion) wasn't spotted during the media-access portion of Friday's practice, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Dell also missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, so the wideout's continued absence Friday suggests that he's trending toward missing Sunday's game against the Saints. The Texans' upcoming injury report will add some clarity on that front, and if Dell is out this weekend, John Metchie and Xavier Hutchinson would figure to see added WR snaps in Week 6.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Remains sidelined Thursday
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Dell (concussion) didn't practice Thursday.
Dell has one more chance to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Saints, but back-to-back absences from practice cloud his Week 6 status. If Dell is unavailable versus New Orleans, John Metchie and Xavier Hutchinson would figure to see added WR snaps for the Texans this weekend. Adding to uncertainty at wideout is the status of Robert Woods (ribs), who missed Wednesday's practice and was a limited participant Thursday.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Won't return Sunday
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Dell (concussion) has been ruled out for a return to Sunday's game against the Falcons.
Dell was presumably diagnosed with a brain injury after he exited the contest late in the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion when he hit his head on the turf while reeling in a catch. He'll finish the game with three catches for 57 yards on four targets. The rookie receiver out of Houston will now look to clear the five-step concussion protocol ahead of the Texans' next game Oct. 15 versus the Saints.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Getting checked for concussion
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Dell is questionable to return to the second half of Sunday's game against the Falcons while receiving an evaluation for a concussion.
Dell appeared to hit his head hard on the turf when he reeled in a key third-down catch in the second quarter. He'll get examined in the locker room before a determination is made if he's fit to return. If Dell's day is over, he'll finish the Week 5 contest with three receptions for 57 yards on four targets. He also carried twice for minus-4 yards.
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Texans' Nathaniel Dell: Sleeper WRs
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Nico Collins has become a must-start Fantasy receiver in all leagues, and I'm going back to Dell as a borderline starter in all formats as well. He should bounce back after a dud in Week 3 against Pittsburgh when he caught one pass for 16 yards on three targets. Prior to that, Dell scored at least 20.2 PPR points in each of his previous two games against the Colts and Jaguars, and I'm expecting a solid showing against the Falcons. Atlanta has allowed five receivers to score at least 11.8 PPR points in the past three games, and Dell should remain a go-to option for C.J. Stroud in this matchup.
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Texans' Nathaniel Dell: Sit Him (Lineup Decision)
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Dell's upside for one huge catch keeps him in play as a middle-of-the-pack flex, but you should be willing to consider other receivers with safer floors and nearly as much upside. And if the game is low-scoring or a one-sided win for Houston (don't laugh, they just did it last week), it further lowers Dell's ceiling. I'd rather start Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Adam Thielen.
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Texans' Nathaniel Dell: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Nico Collins has become a must-start Fantasy receiver in all leagues, and I'm going back to Dell as a borderline starter in all formats as well. He should bounce back after a dud in Week 3 against Pittsburgh when he caught one pass for 16 yards on three targets. Prior to that, Dell scored at least 20.2 PPR points in each of his previous two games against the Colts and Jaguars, and I'm expecting a solid showing against the Falcons. Atlanta has allowed five receivers to score at least 11.8 PPR points in the past three games, and Dell should remain a go-to option for C.J. Stroud in this matchup.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Quiet following breakout
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Dell caught one of three targets for 16 yards, had two carries for 13 yards and returned two punts for 14 yards in Sunday's 30-6 win over Pittsburgh.
Dell was a popular free-agent fantasy acquisition after a Week 3 breakout (5-145-1), but he failed to build on that performance. The rushing attempts, however, were an interesting wrinkle. Houston's ground game had done little the first three games before producing its first 100-yard game of the season Sunday. Dell remains third on the depth chart at WR but played nearly as many snaps (50) as Nico Collins (54) and Robert Woods (51), as the Houston offense is put more in the hands of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.
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Texans' Nathaniel Dell: Week 4 Adds (WR Preview)
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Dell is winning all over the field, lining up outside and in the slot, and absolutely thriving with C.J. Stroud. At this point I think it's fair to wonder if Dell or Stroud will be the top Texans wide receiver rest of season. I prefer Nico Collins in Week 4, but they are both startable in a three-receiver league.
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Texans' Nathaniel Dell: Week 4 Waiver Priority List
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Dell has been a star for the past two weeks with 12 catches for 217 yards and two touchdowns on 17 targets, and he might be the best receiver in Houston. I'll still give Nico Collins that designation, but Dell has been fantastic in games against the Colts and Jaguars and should be rostered in all leagues. We'll see what he does in Week 4 against Pittsburgh, but Dell should be started in all three-receiver leagues. He should be added for at least 15 percent of your FAB.
