Veteran wide receiver Tank Dell is finally coming back for the Houston Texans.
Entering 2026, he'll be a part of a crowded receiver room that includes Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson and Jayden Higgins. And coming off a severe injury that sidelined him for nearly two years, it could be risky to add him into the immediate plans regarding fantasy rosters.
However, one fantasy football expert thinks Dell could be a sleeper option this season.
NFL.com's fantasy expert Matt Okada believes Dell should be taken in the final round of fantasy drafts. He also thinks there is an upside to drafting Dell given his flashes at points during his career:
“It's been a long road back since Dell suffered a catastrophic knee injury in December 2024. Dell returned to a full-pads practice for the first time on Aug. 5. He could be back at the forefront of the Houston offense in 2026, alongside Nico Collins and the Iowa State duo of Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. But what can he offer after a full season away from the game?
Over his last four healthy games as a rookie in 2023, Dell tallied 25 catches on 43 targets for 369 yards and five touchdowns -- good for 23 fantasy points per game over that span. And while he was extremely inconsistent during C.J. Stroud’s sophomore struggles in 2024, he did flash at times. When healthy, he’s a big-play threat with superb yards-after-catch skills and somewhat surprising touchdown acumen given his size. He could bring a much-needed spark back to the Texans offense. In shallower leagues, Dell is such a deep sleeper you can just flag him for a waiver pickup. But don’t be surprised if he’s a must-add by mid-September.”
Dell had a better year as a rookie in 2023 when he recorded 709 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games. In the 14 games he played in before his injury in the 2024 season, he had 667 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
#Texans receiver Tank Dell, who is scheduled to talk to media today.
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 7, 2026
'I’m ready,” Dell said during a one-on-one interview this summer. “I can’t wait. It’s been a roller coaster ride. You know, I have my good days, I have my bad days. Just me keeping my trust in God, being… pic.twitter.com/VFa5iernNL
He also has four games in his NFL career with at least 100 receiving yards, including three that saw him score at least one touchdown. His fantasy stock was volatile before his injury and could be more volatile post-injury.
Given his upside, why not draft him in the final round of your fantasy draft?
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: NFL fantasy analyst says Texans WR could be a sleeper in fantasy this year