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Houston Texans DST

Player Outlook
The Texans have had a top-five Fantasy defense in each of the past two seasons, and only the Seahawks scored more Fantasy points last year. Houston gave up the fewest yards in the league in 2025 and the second-fewest points. They lost very little from this defense in the offseason, while adding Reed Blankenship in free agency and Kayden McDonald in Round 2 of the NFL Draft. There could be some regression from the four defensive touchdowns they scored last year, but they should easily still be a top-five unit that should be drafted as early as Round 12 of your draft.

Fantasy News

  • Texans' Jake Hansen: Carted off from practice

    Rotowire
    Hansen (lower body) was carted off the field from practice Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. The linebacker fell to the ground and then had trouble applying weight to his leg, per Wilson. Hansen played mostly on special teams last season and finished with 19 tackles (11 solo) across 15 regular-season games.
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  • Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Participating in training camp

    Rotowire
    Al-Shaair (thumb) was on the field participating in Thursday's practice, Ashley Landis of hjnews.com reports. Al-Shaair underwent thumb surgery in early February after suffering an injury near the end of the 2025 regular season and then playing through it in the postseason. The starting middle linebacker has returned to team activities armed with a new $54 million deal and a clean bill of health.
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  • Texans' Jake Hansen: Let go by Houston

    Rotowire
    The Texans waived Hansen (chest) on Wednesday. Hansen was primarily a special-teams player in 2025, playing just six defensive snaps to 306 special-teams snaps over 15 regular-season games. The linebacker will become a free agent if he can clear waivers. The Texans signed wide receiver DJ Turner in a corresponding move.
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  • Texans' Jamal Hill: Recovering well from wrist surgery

    Rotowire
    Hill underwent a procedure to address a wrist ligament injury during the offseason, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. Per Wilson, Hill was able to continue training and practicing while wearing a cast, but it's not fully clear whether he'll be ready to suit up come Week 1 of the regular season. Any reps he misses could mean extra attention for offseason trade acquisition Marte Mapu.
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  • Texans' M.J. Stewart: To start camp on PUP

    Rotowire
    Stewart (quad) will begin training camp on the Texans' active/PUP list, per the team's official site. Stewart sat out all of Houston's last 10 games last year, including two postseason games, with a quadriceps injury, and he's still not back to full strength with training camp now underway. Until he's able to practice again, 2025 sixth-rounder Jaylen Reed could get more action in the defensive backfield.
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  • Texans' E.J. Speed: On PUP to start training camp

    Rotowire
    Speed (quadriceps) will begin training camp on the Texans' active/PUP list, per the team's official site. Speed suffered a partial tear to his quadriceps and quad tendon while lifting weights back in May, and as training camp starts up, he's still not ready to return to football activities. In his stead, rookie fourth-rounder Wade Woodaz could get some practice reps with the first-team defense.
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  • Folorunso Fatukasi: Gets in workout with G-Men

    Rotowire
    The Giants worked out Fatukasi (shoulder) on Monday, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports. Fatukasi appeared in just four games for Houston in 2025 as he nursed a shoulder injury, but he's now healthy enough to try out for a new club. If the veteran DT signs somewhere before the start of the 2026 campaign, it will likely be to fill a depth role.
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  • Ajani Carter: Expected to play this season

    Rotowire
    Carter is healthy enough to play in 2026 after undergoing and rehabbing from arthroscopic knee surgery, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. Carter was waived from Houston's injured reserve list Wednesday, but he'll still need to pass a physical before getting another opportunity, whether it's with the Texans or a different team.
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  • Xavier Thomas: Cut by Texans

    Rotowire
    Houston waived Thomas (undisclosed) from injured reserve on Wednesday, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports. Thomas had been cut with an injury designation in May and subsequently reverted to IR. The 2024 fifth-round pick has totaled 10 tackles, including 2.5 sacks, and one pass breakup across 18 career regular-season games.
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  • Texans' Logan Hall: Dealing with leg issue

    Rotowire
    Hall (leg) was sidelined during the Texans' minicamp session Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. It's not clear when Hall picked up the injury, but it isn't expected to cause a long-term absence. Until he's back to full strength, rookie second-rounder Kayden McDonald could see more practice reps.
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  • Texans' Jaylin Smith: Back to 100 percent

    Rotowire
    Smith (knee) is participating in OTAs this week, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. A third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Smith suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2 that landed him on injured reserve until returning in Week 8. He then sustained a season-ending torn meniscus in his knee in Week 9. Wilson reports Smith is now 100 percent healthy and has no restrictions this offseason. He'll compete for a role behind starters Derek Stingley, Kamari Lassiter and slot corner Jalen Pitre.
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  • Texans' Ajani Carter: Reverts to IR

    Rotowire
    Carter (knee) reverted to Houston's injured reserve list Tuesday, per NFL Communications. Carter was waived/injured by the Texans on May 21, but after going unclaimed on waivers, he's reverted to IR. The Houston product underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last week but should be able to return at some point during the 2026 season, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. Carter appeared in just two regular-season games during the Texans' 2025 campaign, handling 36 special-teams snaps.
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  • Texans' E.J. Speed: Needs surgery for quad injury

    Rotowire
    Speed partially tore his quadriceps and quad tendon during training and will have surgery next week, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. Per Wilson, Speed was injured while lifting weights. He's expected to need at least three months after surgery before he can begin rehab, so it's almost certain that the veteran linebacker will miss a significant portion of the upcoming season, though the expectation is that he'll be able to return at some point during the campaign. Speed started nine of the 16 regular-season games in which he played for Houston last season and also was a contributor on special teams. Jake Hansen (chest), Jamal Hill, Marte Mapu and Jake Hummel, along with rookie draft picks Wade Woodaz and Aiden Fisher, are candidates to get significant defensive snaps in Speed's absence.
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  • Ajani Carter: Waived with injury tag

    Rotowire
    The Texans waived/injured Carter (hamstring) on Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. Carter ended his rookie season on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, and it's uncertain if his current injury is related. Regardless, the 25-year-old cornerback will land on injured reserve if he isn't claimed on waivers. Carter played two games for the Texans last year and stuck to special teams.
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  • Texans' Xavier Thomas: Shifts back to IR

    Rotowire
    Thomas (undisclosed) cleared waivers Thursday and reverted to injured reserve, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. The 2024 fifth-round pick (Cardinals) played 18 games over his first two seasons, recording 10 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a pass breakup. However, he was waived by the Cardinals midway through the 2025 season before landing on the Texans' practice squad. It's unclear what he's dealing with, but he'll remain on IR unless he reaches an injury settlement with the Texans.
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  • Ravens' K'Von Wallace: Signs with Baltimore

    Rotowire
    The Ravens signed Wallace on Monday, Clifton Brown of the team's official site reports. Wallace is a six-year veteran who has appeared in 74 career regular-season games. The safety was signed to compete for a depth role in the Baltimore secondary under new head coach Jesse Minter. Minter likes to run three safeties frequently, so Wallace will compete with Keondre Jackson and Jahquez Robinson for snaps behind the team's starters. The 28-year-old's experience as both a depth option and special teams player will give him an edge during what will likely be a heated training camp battle to stay on the 53-man roster.
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  • Texans' Ali Gaye: Claimed by Houston

    Rotowire
    Gaye was claimed off waivers by the Texans on Friday. The defensive end dressed for three regular-season games for Tennessee last year, playing on 37 defensive snaps and 21 special-teams snaps, making one tackle. Gaye has nine tackles (eight solo) across two NFL campaigns.
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  • Giants' Leki Fotu: Headed to New York

    Rotowire
    Fotu and the Giants agreed on a one-year contract Wednesday, Patricia Traina of SI.com reports. Fotu will head to New York after recording 11 total tackles (three solo), including 1.0 sacks, over eight regular-season contests with the Texans and Raiders last year. The 28-year-old will provide the Giants with an additional veteran option at defensive tackle in 2026.
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  • Texans' Kamari Ramsey: Added by Houston

    Rotowire
    The Texans selected Ramsey in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 141st overall. Ramsey (6-foot-0, 202 pounds) started the second of his first two collegiate seasons at UCLA and then both of his campaigns at USC, though over the course of his three seasons as a starter he missed a total of seven games due to injury. While Ramsey doesn't stand out in terms of frame, athleticism or physicality, he boasts experience and versatility, having rotated between his natural position at safety and nickel in 2025 to help round out USC's secondary. As a rookie in Houston, Ramsey figures to compete with M.J. Stewart and Jaylen Reed for depth opportunities behind Reed Blankenship and Calen Bullock.
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  • Texans' Will Anderson: Signs three-year, $150M extension

    Rotowire
    Anderson agreed to a three-year, $150 million extension with the Texans on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Anderson's extension includes $134 million in guaranteed money and gives him the highest salary in NFL history for a non-quarterback. This contract also includes a no-trade clause. The 2023 first-round pick has been among the most dominant defenders in the NFL since entering the league, generating 30.0 sacks through three regular seasons.
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