On the Mend: Tank Dell Injury Update and Fantasy Outlook

The sophomore wide receiver is back at OTAs for the Texans. When should you draft him?

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) celebrates a touchdown run Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (3) in the fourth quarter of a Week 10 NFL football game between the Houston Texans and the Cincinnati Bengals, / Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY

Fantasy managers will never forget the impressive rookie season from Tank Dell, whose campaign was cut short by a broken leg in December. After watching highlight reel and highlight reel of CJ Stroud connecting with the third-round pick out of Houston, it was heartbreaking to see Dell carted off the field during the December 9th game vs. the Broncos as the Texans were making a surprising playoff push.

Luckily for Texans fans, Houston still grabbed that playoff berth. 

Before exiting with the injury, Dell had bested WR Nico Collins in multiple essential metrics. Dell led the team with a 22.5% target share vs. Collins' 22.1%, and he had a significant advantage in air yards share: 35.9% vs. 25.3%. On a fantasy points-per-game basis, Dell averaged 18.7 points per game compared to Collins' 18.1. 

Dell was one of the season's most successful waiver wire pickups until that injury occurred.

Dell was nearly fully recovered from his leg injury when he sustained another freak leg injury last month - this time from a bullet wound at a bar shooting in Florida. Luckily, in Dell's own words, this was a "wrong place at the wrong time" injury that was not severe.

However, the good news is that Dell was a full participant in all OTAs for the Texans just three weeks after his gunshot wound, and all reports are that he returned at high speed.

Fantasy managers should feel safe betting on the health and talent of Tank Dell despite the crowded receiver room in Houston. The Texans offense is sure to be high-powered with Dell, Collins, and the newly acquired veteran Stefon Diggs, not to mention tight end Dalton Schultz, who just signed a fresh three-year contract. However, Dell was drafted by the Texans at Stroud's request, and their chemistry is undeniable. 

Dell's 107 targeted air yards per game was more than CeeDee Lamb in 2023, and his 70.9 receiving yards per game was more than Chris Olave and Amari Cooper. He was also a touchdown machine, averaging .7 scores per game, trailing only Mike Evans and Tyreek Hill. Dell is coming off the board as the WR37 well after Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs. I'm taking Dell at that value every day of the week.