Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell has been lighting up the NFL with some incredible performances over the past month. Dell would have been either a late-round flier or likely undrafted in most fantasy football league drafts this summer. However, he is currently the WR11 in fantasy.
Therefore, managers will be sweating over Dell’s status heading into today’s game with the Denver Broncos. Dell is currently dealing with a calf injury.
Will Dell play today against the Broncos, what is the latest news concerning his injury, and, if Dell does play against the Broncos, what is his potential fantasy outlook for today? Let’s find out the answers to each of these questions below.
Is Tank Dell Going To Play Week 13?
Dell has been dealing with a calf injury he sustained in Week 12. As a result of the injury, Dell was unable to practice on Wednesday. However, Dell was able to practice on Thursday and Friday, albeit in a limited capacity.
There appears to be a certain level of optimism that Dell will play today despite the injury. And this was followed by Adam Schefter of ESPN this morning. He wrote on X, “Texans’ WR Tank Dell, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a calf injury, is expected to play vs. the Broncos, per source.”
With Dell likely to play in Week 13, let’s take a look at his matchup against the Broncos. What is Dell’s fantasy outlook for today?
What Is Dell’s Potential Fantasy Outlook for Today?
Dell is coming into Week 13 as the WR11 in fantasy. However, over the past four weeks, Dell has been the WR3 in fantasy in both total points scored and fantasy points per game of receivers playing three games or more in the last four weeks.
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Dell is currently ranked as the WR10 in our PFN Consensus Rankings for Week 13. But this week, he does face the Broncos, who are the sixth-best team in terms of fantasy points allowed to wide receivers (23.7). Only the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, and New Orleans Saints are allowing fewer points to wide receivers.
In addition to this, Dell does have a tough matchup in coverage against Fabian Moreau, who has been excellent so far for the Broncos. Moreau is allowing the ninth-fewest fantasy points per route run (0.17), according to FantasyPoints Data. He is also only being targeted on 11.8% of routes run against him.
However, Dell won’t play against Moreau exclusively. And the way that Dell and the Texans offense have been playing lately, they will not be afraid of anyone. Thus, Dell should be considered a must-start option in all fantasy formats this week.
Dell carries WR1 upside this week and should be around the low-WR1/high-WR2 territory. In PPR formats, the volume of targets could carry Dell to a WR1 performance. Yet, a touchdown is likely to cement his place as a WR1 if he can find the end zone.
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