Tight end Dalton Schultz thought enough of the direction the Houston Texans are heading in to sign a three-year extension this offseason.
But could the Texans’ upgrade on offense turn out to be a curse for Schultz in terms of his fantasy value?
A decent, but not spectacular, performer in fantasy football last season, Schultz may find trouble getting the ball with the Texans’ plethora of wide receivers and the addition of Joe Mixon at running back.
Here’s a look at Dalton Schultz’s fantasy outlook for the upcoming season.
Dalton Schultz’s Fantasy Profile for the 2024 NFL Season
Schultz’s numbers in his first season with the Texans in 2023 looked eerily similar to his final season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2022.
His targets last season (88) were almost identical to 2022 (89), as were his receptions (59 last season, 57 in 2022). He also caught five touchdown passes last season, the same as he had the previous season with Dallas.
He did finish with more receiving yards last season (635) than in 2022 (577), but over the course of 15 games played each season, that difference turned out to be less than four yards a game (3.9).
While his numbers suggest that Schultz is a decent but average player, there was a seven-game stretch in the middle of the season that must have fantasy football managers thinking hard when it comes to drafting the six-year veteran.
From Week 4 through Week 10, Schultz caught 32 passes for 406 yards and five touchdowns. He caught 71% of the passes thrown to him, and in four of those seven games, he had 60 or more receiving yards, including a Week 8 performance against the Buccaneers in which he caught 10 passes for 130 yards — both career highs — and a touchdown.
Shultz was also a solid performer in the postseason for the Texans last season. He had a 37-yard touchdown reception in the Wild Card win over the Cleveland Browns, and against the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round, he caught five passes for 43 yards.
Is Dalton Schultz a Good Fantasy Pick?
Schultz enters this season as the No. 14 tight end in Pro Football Network’s Fantasy Tight End Rankings, and his numbers suggest he is a middle-of-the-road tight end.
While he should be playing in an upper-level offense with the Texans this season, their upgrades may turn out to hinder Schultz’s ability to produce quality fantasy numbers.
Houston added wide receiver Stefon Diggs and running back Joe Mixon in the offseason. That, combined with the return of 1,200-yard receiver Nico Collins and a healthy Tank Dell, give the Texans some serious weapons at the skill positions.
That will make the Texans serious contenders in the AFC, but may not provide a lot of opportunities for Schultz to pick up fantasy points. If this offensive unit stays healthy, there just doesn’t figure to be a lot of passes coming Schultz’s way in 2024.
While Schultz’s numbers suggest a late-round pick in fantasy drafts, it’s worth looking elsewhere for fantasy production from the tight end position.