Houston Texans WR Tank Dell suffered a multifaceted knee injury in 2024 and has missed the last 22 months as a result. With him making sufficient progress in his recovery, however, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryan announced that Dell will finally return to the field.
The Texans are slated to host the New York Giants at 1 p.m. ET on FOX on Sunday, October 25.
Below, we’ll analyze the latest Tank Dell injury update and how it impacts fantasy football and Giants vs. Texans picks for PrizePicks.
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Tank Dell Injury Update: Will Dell Play This Week vs. Giants?
Dell hasn’t played in an NFL game since December 21, 2024, when he sustained multiple torn ligaments and a dislocated kneecap against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Dell began this season on injured reserve. He wasn’t placed on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) in training camp but only competed in individual drills.
Two weeks ago, Dell’s 21-day practice window was opened by the Texans, and he hasn’t had any setbacks since he began working with the team again.
Speaking to the media this week, Ryans addressed his wideout's imminent 2026 debut.
"No huge expectations from what he needs to do," Ryans said on Monday. "I'm just going to be excited to see him just out there for the first time in over two years, just getting some game action. So, I'm just thankful and grateful for him to have this opportunity to return. I don't have any expectations. I'm just happy to see him out there, and that's the only thing that matters."
Texans Fantasy Football Outlook With Tank Dell Returning
The Texans originally selected Dell in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Since entering the league, he's caught 98 passes for 1,376 yards and 10 TDs.
Dell had a spectacular rookie campaign in which he recorded 47 receptions for 709 yards and 7 TDs. He also topped 100 receiving yards in three of his contests.
As a rookie, Dell recorded a 20.4% target share (37th among NFL WRs), per PlayerProfiler. His average target distance was 14.3 yards, which sat 13th among NFL wideouts that season.
It’s likely that Dell won’t receive a large number of snaps in Week 7 since it’ll be his first game in almost two years. With that said, he could benefit from getting a few targets to get comfortable again.
The Texans do have some depth at the WR position after acquiring Marvin Harrison Jr. in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals. Star WR Nico Collins is the pass catcher QB C.J. Stroud looks for most, as shown by his 26.0% target share (14th).
Week 7 will be a tough matchup against a Giants secondary that has at times excelled at defending the pass. New York has surrendered 23.3 PPG but just 190.2 passing yards per game (fifth).
According to RBSDM, the Giants’ defense has recorded a 0.096 dropback EPA/play mark (22nd) and a 46.3% passing success rate (20th).
Meanwhile, the Texans have tallied 0.045 EPA/play (10th) and a 0.157 dropback EPA/play (11th). With Houston’s high-powered passing attack finding its groove, keep an eye on how involved Dell is in the operation.
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Tank Dell has been out of action for nearly two years after suffering a scary knee injury. With him set to return to the gridiron in Week 7, he's thrown right into a difficult matchup vs. the Giants.
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