#86 overall · HOU · 142.3 projected half-PPR pts · -3.5 Draft Value
Houston Texans — 2026 Fantasy Outlook
The case for drafting him
The Houston Texans defense has been one of the more consistent pass-rush units in the league over the past three seasons. Their three-year averages tell the story plainly: 46.7 sacks, 17.3 interceptions, and 13.3 forced fumbles per season. The sack total has actually climbed each year, from 44 in 2023 to 49 in 2024 to 47 in 2025. The interception number held at 19 in both 2024 and 2025 after sitting at 14 in 2023. That is a defense that generates turnovers at a reliable rate. The 2025 season also showed meaningful improvement in points allowed, dropping to 295 after back-to-back seasons of 353 and 372. That included one shutout game and nine games allowing between 14 and 20 points, the most in any single category across all three seasons. DST4 is a real rank, and the underlying production supports it.
What the model projects
The projection is 142.3 half-PPR fantasy points for the 2026 season. The draft value sits at -3.5, meaning the projection lands just below replacement level at the DST position in a 12-team half-PPR format. The Texans come in at #85 overall and DST4. Tier 9 is where this unit lands in the overall clustering. The bye week falls on Week 8, which is worth noting for roster planning purposes.
| Sacks | INT | FF | FR | TD | Saf | PA | PA 0 | PA 1-6 | PA 7-13 | PA 14-20 | PA 21-27 | PA 28-34 | PA 35+ | Half-PPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 44 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 2 | — | 353 | — | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 133.0 |
| 2024 | 49 | 19 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 372 | — | — | 3 | 5 | 6 | 3 | — | 140.0 |
| 2025 | 47 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 1 | — | 295 | 1 | — | 3 | 9 | 2 | 2 | — | 154.0 |
| 3-yr avg | 46.7 | 17.3 | 13.3 | 9.7 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 340 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 123.2 |
The range of outcomes
The three-year history gives a reasonable frame for what this defense can produce. At its best recent stretch, 2025, the unit held opponents to 295 points across the season, posted 47 sacks, 19 interceptions, 14 forced fumbles, and 10 fumble recoveries. At its softer end, 2024 saw 372 points allowed despite a career-high 49 sacks and 19 interceptions, with six games surrendering 21 to 27 points. The touchdowns scored by the defense have been modest across all three seasons: 2, 1, and 1. That category is the most volatile and the hardest to count on. The floor here is a unit that still generates pressure and turnovers even in down years. The ceiling is a top-tier fantasy DST week, driven by a sack total that has not dipped below 44 in three years.
How to draft him
Market ADP is unavailable for the Texans DST, meaning there is no consistent draft-position signal across platforms to report. What the rankings do say is DST4 and #85 overall. In most 12-team snake drafts, DST is a late-round position, and the Texans fit that general drafting posture. The Week 8 bye is the one scheduling note to build around when setting your roster depth at the position. Draft him when the DST run starts and this tier is on the clock.
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Questions drafters ask
The model projects 142.3 half-PPR points and ranks the unit DST4 and #85 overall. The draft value of -3.5 puts the projection just below replacement level, but DST4 is a legitimate position rank backed by three years of 44-plus sacks and 14-plus interceptions per season.
Very consistent. Over the 2023-2025 span, the unit averaged 17.3 interceptions and 13.3 forced fumbles per season. Interceptions held at 19 in both 2024 and 2025, and forced fumbles were 15, 11, and 14 across those three years.
There is no market ADP available across platforms, so there is no consensus draft slot to cite. The rankings place them at DST4 and #85 overall. Plan around their Week 8 bye when deciding how much depth to carry at the position.
It improved sharply in 2025. After allowing 353 points in 2023 and 372 in 2024, the unit held opponents to 295 in 2025, including one shutout and nine games in the 14-to-20-point range. The three-year average sits at 340 points allowed per season.
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Beyond the rankings
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