Texans–Colts
Final Score: HOU 17-19 IND
Houston Texans
Quarterback
C.J. Stroud (HOU) vs. IND: 16/27 Passing, 167 Yards, 1 TD, 0 INT | 2 Carries, 10 Yards
Here is how C.J. Stroud’s only touchdown happened. David Montgomery tried to throw a pass. That went badly. The wreckage drew a defensive pass interference flag in the end zone, and Houston woke up holding first and goal at the one. Stroud sold the play action and Foster Moreau was standing there by himself. After 55 throws and nothing to show for it last week, I’ll take a gift. Twenty-seven attempts, 167 yards, longest a 28-yarder to Xavier Hutchinson, three sacks, zero turnovers. Houston even led 17-16 on a Woody Marks run with 1:48 to go. Then Spencer Shrader hit a 53-yarder with 16 seconds left and the Texans went to 0-3.
Running Back
David Montgomery (HOU) vs. IND: 11 Carries, 33 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 15 Yards
Woody Marks (HOU) vs. IND: 5 Carries, 15 Yards, TD | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 6 Yards
A second-straight dud for Montgomery after a supremely impressive performance in Week 1. Despite holding a 34-20 snaps lead over his running back mate Woody Marks, Montgomery wasn’t able to do much with his increased usage and opportunity.
Marks on the other hand… well, he also wasn’t able to do much either, but at least he found the end zone. On the Texans’ touchdown drive, Montgomery started in the backfield and played on all but the final two snaps of the drive, when Marks came in and vultured the goal line carry for a score.
Montgomery still owns a clear majority in this backfield, but it continues to creep much closer to a 60-40 split than fantasy managers were hoping for.
Woody Marks goal line TD. It's just whoever is out there last for the Texans. Nothing is by situation. Will make it hard for Monty to have consistent value as an RB2. More of a FLEX value.
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) September 27, 2026
Wide Receiver
Nico Collins (HOU) vs. IND: DID NOT PLAY
Kayshon Boutte (HOU) vs. IND: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 21 Yards
Xavier Hutchinson (HOU) vs. IND: 6 Targets, 3 Receptions, 51 Yards | 2 Carries, 4 Yards
Jaylin Noel (HOU) vs. IND: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 17 Yards | 1 Carry, 8 Yards
Jared Wayne (HOU) vs. IND: 4 Targets, 1 Reception, 20 Yards
The Texans rotated their wide receivers relatively evenly throughout this game with Boutte (37 snaps), Wayne (33) and Hutchinson (299) each splitting time in 12 personnel.
With Nico Collins missing, the Texans are waiting for someone to pull away from the pack and establish themself as the true WR2 in this offense. So far, Xavier Hutchinson has been the closest one to doing that, but it hasn’t been enough to draw any real conclusions. Boutte’s usage in 11 and 12 personnel increased this week from last, but overall usage did not as the Texans went heavy personnel more often. Until Collins comes back, it doesn’t appear that the Texans have a playable wide receiver for fantasy purposes.
Tight End
Dalton Schultz (HOU) vs. IND: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 30 Yards
Foster Moreau (HOU) vs. IND: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 7 Yards, TD
Blech. Hopefully you didn’t buy too much into the Week 2 Dalton Schultz performance this week. Even with Nico Collins still out, Schultz returned the Globbiest of GLOB stat lines, and he should be treated as little more than a catch-and-fall streamer in future weeks.
Indianapolis Colts
Quarterback
Daniel Jones (IND) vs. HOU: 24/36 Passing, 235 Yards, 1 TD, 1 INT | 3 Carries, 5 Yards, 3 Fumbles (2 Lost)
Daniel Jones fumbled three times, lost two, threw a pick, and won the football game. Will Anderson Jr. caused both of the lost ones. He spent the afternoon somewhere between the guard and the quarterback and Indianapolis never found an answer for him. Tyler Warren dropped one that hit him square in the hands. And the interception was a prayer, deep left, three defenders in the neighborhood and Josh Downs somewhere in there too, and Reed Blankenship came out of the pile with it at the Houston 1 without the ball ever touching grass. Twenty-four of 36 for 235. One touchdown, a 6-yarder to Keenan Allen. Four sacks. Spencer Shrader went 4-for-4, including a 58 and the 53-yard winner with 16 seconds left. The Colts are 2-1 because of their kicker and I don’t think that’s an exaggeration.
Running Back
Jonathan Taylor (IND) vs. HOU: 23 Carries, 68 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 4 Yards
Taylor faced off against a tough rushing defense in Houston, and managed just six yards on his first six carries of the game. The Colts kept giving him the ball though as he smashed away at the Texans front seven for 23 carries. He’s the definition of a bell cow back in today’s NFL and he continues to be an elite option for fantasy managers. This was one of the few weeks that he didn’t live up to fantasy RB1 billing, but he ought to be just fine moving forward.
Seth McGowan (IND) vs. HOU: 4 Carries, 14 Yards
Wide Receiver
Alec Pierce (IND) vs. HOU: DID NOT PLAY
Josh Downs (IND) vs. HOU: 11 Targets, 5 Receptions, 77 Yards
So believe it or not, Downs’ snap share actually decreased from last week when Alec Pierce was dressed. Now with the Colts’ WR1 on IR, Downs saw a ton of targets but was on the field less overall. Suffice to say that the increase in usage is exciting even if the decrease in snap share is slightly concerning. It’s clear when he’s on the field, he’s a focal point of the offense, which is what fantasy managers are more concerned with in the long run.
Keenan Allen (IND) vs. HOU: 9 Targets, 6 Receptions, 63 Yards, TD
The wily veteran found his way to the end zone, pulling in six out of nine targets for 63 yards. Allen played on 52 of 71 offensive snaps, and looked completely healthy after battling an early season injury. He played as the lone wide receiver in 13 personnel on several occasions, which is encouraging for fantasy managers. We’ll see if he maintains that role as the season progresses.
Laquon Treadwell (IND) vs. HOU: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 20 Yards
Treadwell led the team in snap share, but ran just two more routes than Downs despite being on the field for 20% more snaps.
Tight End
Tyler Warren (IND) vs. HOU: 10 Targets, 9 Receptions, 55 Yards
Mo Alie-Cox (IND) vs. HOU: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 16 Yards
It’s absolutely incredible to see Mo Alie-Cox back in the box score, but of course the big story is Tyler Warren earning double-digit targets. While he’s still getting extremely modest yardage totals each game, Warren is clearly a trusted target for Daniel Jones in all areas of the field. It feels like an ugly floor game is coming soon, but as long as he remains a key part of the offense (which should be every week with Alec Pierce out), it feels ill-advised to sit Warren.