Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, September 29th, 2024, 1:00 ET
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
Network: CBS
Jacksonville Jaguars
Quarterback
Trevor Lawrence: Sit
Trevor Lawrence gets further and further away from what people expected with each passing game. While I still believe Lawrence is better than what we have seen, Week 3 was about as brutal a game as I can remember for Lawrence. The offensive line has been a sieve, and that does not bode well as the Jaguars face the Texans and their pass-rushing duo of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Lawrence does not belong in lineups right now.
Running Back
Travis Etienne: Start, RB2
Tank Bigsby: Sit
Travis Etienne has had a down start to the season, and the Jaguars as a whole have been unimpressive. He is still seeing 70% of the snaps, which bodes well for his fantasy prospects, but they need to get him more involved on passing downs if he is ever going to return the value you spent drafting him. We saw small glimpses of that in Week 3 as he saw his highest total target for the season (6). Tank Bigsby returned from injury but was used sparingly in Week 3. He still looks like he can hold his own and will continue to be a handcuff for now, but keep him out of your starting lineups.
Wide Receiver
Brian Thomas Jr.: FLEX Option
Christian Kirk: FLEX Option
Gabe Davis: Sit
Brian Thomas Jr. and Christian Kirk are not that far apart in my rankings this week, WR30 and WR35, respectively. The offense as a whole stalled more often than not in Week 3, and it is looking like a trend for the always-down Jaguars. Each of this team’s wide receivers fills a different role, but they have yet to threaten a defense. If you need a FLEX, Brian Thomas Jr. can fill that role with some potential touchdown upside. The rest of the Jags’ pass-catchers belong on your bench until we see any signs of life, as their nonexistent floor can ruin your week.
Tight End
Brenton Strange: Sit
Without Evan Engram, you would not be looking at any tight ends for the Jaguars. Even with Brenton Strange finding the end zone, this offense is in flux, as they looked awful in Week 3.
Houston Texans
Quarterback
CJ Stroud: Start, QB1
CJ Stroud had what was probably his worst game as an NFL Quarterback in Week 3. The Minnesota Vikings defense picked him off twice, a feat only one team accomplished all of last season. I would not be surprised to see Stroud bounce back in a big way against the hapless Jaguars. Currently my QB6 on the week, you can expect Stroud to regain his form at home.
Running Back
Sit All
It is looking increasingly like Joe Mixon will miss the Texans game this week. If he does, we are going to get some combination of Dameon Pierce and Cam Akers. Neither should be in your starting lineups this week in the RB slot, but in a bind, you could throw Akers in your FLEX. The hope would be that he finds his way to the end zone.
Wide Receiver
Nico Collins: Start, WR1
Stefon Diggs: Start, WR3/FLEX
Tank Dell: Sit
The Texans wide receivers have been a difficult trio to evaluate in the early goings of the season. Nico Collins stands apart from both Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell as the bonafide WR1 for this team, though, and that is something that you should not expect to change all season. Collins is the WR2 on the season in full PPR leagues, averaging nine targets per game. His physical frame makes him an immediate mismatch for nearly every DB in the league, and his chemistry with second-year quarterback Stroud keeps improving. Collins should be a top-ten option this week and should remain a WR1 option for the foreseeable future. Diggs and Dell will alternate who leads in targets all season, and while Diggs had the touchdowns in Week 1, he had only 37 receiving yards in Week 2, then of course had 94 scoreless yards in Week 3. He is a touchdown-dependent WR2 going forward, and Dell is in the same boat. The one thing to monitor this week will be Dell’s health, as he is officially day to day with soreness after the Week 3 game.
Tight End
Dalton Schultz: Sit
Dalton Schultz is unable to find enough volume to register on the fantasy radar. That trend will likely continue as long as the Texans’ top three pass catchers are healthy. There are players with a similar floor and much higher upside.
i feel like only the thursday game should be posted on thursday and the rest of the games on friday.. after this is posted there is so much more player news with practice sits etc that a lot of what youre writing is no longer valid and the opinion is void.
for example: damien pierce was limited just today. so akers should be a viable start if he doesnt play.
Hey, thanks for reading and commenting! We try to get all of our recommendations out on Thursday so that you have all that information in case you’re on the fence between a guy that plays on Thursday vs. Sunday. We don’t always have all of the information because of the timing with practice reports, but we try to update things as we get more info. As for the Texans backfield, I’m still a bit hesitant to recommend Akers, but he could have an easier time this week against the Jags than he did last week against the Vikings.
This list used to be a lot more nuanced in the past. Talking about #3 / #4 players and ranking them as such. Now it seems like every player if they’re not a #1 or #2 at their position they are simply a sit. I don’t need to know to start my top players it’s the flex ones in the middle I need a write up on. Wish this list was as thorough as years past.
Thanks for this feedback! We try and do our best to cover as many fantasy-relevant players as possible, and you can check out our list of weekly rankings to see how everyone stacks up. Is there a player or two I can help provide a more detailed breakdown of for you?
Having Anthony Richardson as a Start and Sam Darnold as a Sit is fantasy malpractice.
Hey, thanks for reading. I personally think Richardson has the higher ceiling this week with his rushing upside and Darnold has a hostile environment this week heading into Green Bay. If you personally want to see more out of Richardson before giving him the start again, I completely understand!