Who Should I Start? Tank Dell or Xavier Smith

Tuesday, March 31, 12:31 PM

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said it's unclear if wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) will be ready for organized team activities this spring, but he said he knows "he'll be back for us at some point this year," according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. "As I told Tank, it's not a matter of getting back to OTAs just to get back, it's just a matter of getting back in a really good spot physically to where you stay there. That's the main thing," Ryans said. The 26-year-old former third-rounder in 2023 out of Houston didn't play at all in 2025 after suffering a devastating knee injury in 2024, in which he tore multiple ligaments. Before his knee injury, Dell caught 98 of his 156 targets for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns in 25 games (18 starts) in his first two NFL seasons, including seven touchdowns in 11 games in his rookie campaign. His fantasy stock in dynasty/keeper leagues is on the rise, and he could even be worth a late-round dart throw in single-year leagues later this year if his recovery is coming along nicely this summer. If fully healthy, Dell could be competing for the WR2 role in Houston with second-year wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, behind Nico Collins.