The Houston Texans might be the most battle-tested team in football right now. After back-to-back wins over the top two AFC contenders, they now walk into another heavyweight fight with the Kansas City Chiefs. Seriously, who gave the Texans this schedule?
Meanwhile, the Chiefs are wobbling but not broken. Patrick Mahomes showed flashes of vintage form last week, but this matchup will test whether Kansas City’s offensive revival is real or a one-week mirage. Fantasy managers should expect a highly competitive, high-intensity game with plenty of individual fireworks.
Let’s dive into your Start ’Em, Sit ’Em for this AFC showdown.
START ’EM HOU Texans
CJ Stroud — QB, Texans
Stroud didn’t throw a touchdown last week, yet still delivered 270+ yards and steady fantasy value. Against a Chiefs defense that has been bend-but-don’t-break recently, Stroud should have more red-zone chances.
Expect at least one touchdown toss and another strong yardage day.
Nico Collins — WR, Texans
The Texans’ WR1 went for 93 yards last week and remains Stroud’s most dependable downfield weapon. Houston will need him heavily involved if they want to keep pace with Mahomes.
Lock him in as a high-volume, high-ceiling start.
FLEX: Woody Marks & Nick Chubb — RBs, Texans
This backfield split is surprisingly functional for fantasy:
• Chubb handled the dirty work and scored on the ground.
• Marks made plays through the air and offered great PPR upside.
If you’re navigating injuries or multiple flex slots, both backs are viable this week.
FLEX: Jayden Higgins — WR, Texans
Higgins has quietly built a strong season and remains a scoring threat every week. He’s carved out a consistent role and should stay involved in what could be a pass-heavy game plan.
Higgins is gold at the end of Stroud’s 24-yard TD rainbow via HoustonTexans.com
Dalton Schultz — TE, Texans
Schultz saw 8 targets last week and caught 7 of them, a sign Stroud trusts him on key downs. With KC’s linebackers struggling in coverage at times, Schultz is a solid TE1 play again.
Texans Defense
Yes, you’re reading that right.
The Chiefs aren’t the Chiefs right now. Turnovers, stalled drives, and inconsistent WR play have crushed their rhythm. Houston’s defense has been opportunistic and aggressive lately, and they’re absolutely in play, especially if you’ve been streaming.
What impresses NBC’s Cris Collinsworth about Texans? Defense – Greg Rajan via Houston Chronicle
KC Chiefs Starts
Patrick Mahomes — QB, Chiefs
Mahomes fired 4 touchdowns last week and finally looked like the MVP version we expect. The Texans’ defense poses a tougher challenge, but Mahomes should still deliver at least two scores and plenty of fantasy juice. You don’t sit in greatness.
Rashee Rice — WR, Chiefs
Rice draws Derek Stingley Jr. this week, one of the best 1-on-1 matchups of Sunday. Rice’s chemistry with Mahomes keeps him firmly startable even in a challenging draw.
Who wins this duel? Hard to say, but fantasy managers want Rice in lineups.
Travis Kelce — TE, Chiefs
Still elite. Still a red-zone monster. Still good for a touchdown in this spot.
No hesitation, slam him into your lineup.
FLEX: Xavier Worthy — WR, Chiefs
Worthy needs a big game to stay fantasy-relevant, but the opportunity will be there. His speed can pop in any matchup, and the Chiefs will need explosive plays to move the ball on Houston.
SIT ’EM
Kareem Hunt — RB, Chiefs
The Texans’ run defense has been nasty in recent weeks, and Hunt hasn’t shown enough burst to overcome tough matchups.
Expect limited space and limited touches. Bench him this week.
FINAL TAKEAWAY
The Texans are the real deal, and their schedule is absolutely brutal. Still, Houston’s offense remains trustworthy across the board, and even against Kansas City’s defense, its playmakers hold strong fantasy value. The Chiefs will lean on Mahomes, Rice, and Kelce to stay competitive, but this isn’t the automatic shootout it used to be.
Start the stars, play the flex weapons with confidence, and don’t be afraid to roll with the Texans’ defense again.
