Last week I wrote about Tyreek Hill as the ultimate dart throw for the end of your bench. This week I’ve got another one, and he’s a player a lot of fantasy managers have simply forgotten about.
His name is Tank Dell.
Tank Dell Fantasy Outlook: The Short Version
Dell is a roll of the dice. I’m not saying he will amount to anything this season. But like Hill, he costs you nothing. I just checked, and Dell is available for free in 47% of our Masters leagues.
If you have a spot at the end of your bench, he’s a worthwhile add. And if he doesn’t work out, you just drop him. No harm done.
Remember Tank Dell’s Rookie Run?
If you’ve forgotten how good Dell was, here’s a reminder. As a rookie in 2023, with C.J. Stroud at quarterback and Nico Collins lining up opposite him, Dell went on an epic hot stretch from Week 9 to Week 12:
- Week 9 vs. Tampa Bay: 6 catches, 114 yards, 2 TDs, including the game-winner from Stroud with 10 seconds left
- Week 10 at Cincinnati: 6 catches, 56 yards, 1 TD on 14 targets
- Week 11 vs. Arizona: 8 catches, 149 yards, 1 TD
- Week 12 vs. Jacksonville: 5 catches, 50 yards, 1 TD
That’s 25 catches, 369 yards and 5 touchdowns in four games, or about 92 yards per game with a score in every one of them. He was a weekly fantasy starter, and as a rookie that season he set Texans rookie records for touchdown catches and receiving yards in a game.
Tank Dell’s Injury History
Here’s the hard part. Dell’s rookie season ended early too. In Week 13 against Denver, right after that hot stretch, he broke his leg (a fractured fibula) and his season was over.
Then came the one nobody who saw it will forget. On December 21, 2024, in Kansas City, Dell made a great 30-yard touchdown catch from Stroud in the back of the end zone and collided with his own teammate. The result was horrific: a dislocated left knee, a torn ACL, torn MCL and LCL, and meniscus damage. He was carted off and spent the night in the hospital. He needed multiple surgeries and missed the entire 2025 season.
An injury like that has been called career threatening. Honestly, he may never come back as the same player, and he may never come back at all.
Tank Dell Injury Update: Where Things Stand
Here’s why I’m writing this now. Dell is on injured reserve, but the Texans opened his 21-day practice window this week. He was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday, then did not practice Friday and was ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Titans. His next chance to play is Week 6 against the Jaguars on October 18.
So he’s close, but not there yet. A missed practice after a couple of limited days is a reminder that his body still has to prove it can handle the work.
Why Tank Dell Is Worth the Risk
If Dell is even close to his rookie self, he’s playing in an offense with Stroud and Collins, the same setup that made him a weekly fantasy starter in 2023. There’s room for another receiver in Houston, and a player who is free on your waiver wire could turn into a starter by November. That’s the kind of profile that wins fantasy playoffs.
The Case Against Adding Tank Dell
- The knee: This was not a normal ACL tear. Nobody knows how much speed and burst he’ll have.
- Two seasons cut short, then a lost year: His rookie year and 2024 both ended early, then he missed all of 2025.
- Ramp-up time: Even when he’s activated, expect a limited role at first.
- Not ready yet: He was just ruled out for Week 5.
That’s why this is a bench stash only. Don’t drop a starter or a useful bench piece for him.
How to Play Tank Dell in Fantasy Football
Add him if you have a truly open spot at the end of your bench. Then watch for him to be activated off injured reserve. If he gets activated and starts seeing targets, you’ve got a real asset. If his practice window closes without a return, drop him without guilt.
Tyreek Hill or Tank Dell?
If I had to choose between the two, I would take Hill. But I wouldn’t be shocked if Dell turned out to be the better pick. Hill still doesn’t have a team. Dell already has a team, an offense he knows, and a quarterback he’s had big games with. If you have room, there’s nothing wrong with holding both.
The Bottom Line on Tank Dell
Dell might be nothing. After an injury like his, that’s a real possibility. But he’s free, he’s back at practice, and four games in his rookie year showed what he can do. Dart throws are fun for exactly that reason.
Tank Dell Fantasy FAQ
Should I pick up Tank Dell in fantasy football?
Only if you have an open spot at the end of your bench. Dell is a free dart throw who is back at practice, but he is coming off a career-threatening knee injury, so don’t drop a starter or useful bench player for him.
When will Tank Dell return from injury?
The Texans opened Dell’s 21-day practice window, but he was ruled out for Week 5 against the Titans. His next chance to play is Week 6 against the Jaguars on October 18.
What was Tank Dell’s injury?
On December 21, 2024, Dell suffered a dislocated left knee, a torn ACL, torn MCL and LCL, and meniscus damage after colliding with a teammate on a touchdown catch in Kansas City. He needed multiple surgeries and missed the entire 2025 season.
Is Tank Dell or Tyreek Hill the better stash?
Hill gets the slight edge, but Dell has an advantage Hill doesn’t: he already has a team, an offense he knows, and a quarterback in C.J. Stroud he’s had big games with. If you have the roster room, holding both is fine.
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