HOU · TE
Projected Points (PPR)
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Dalton Schultz sits atop the Houston depth chart at tight end, and the volume backs it up. Across 17 games in 2025 he played 72.3% of Houston's offensive snaps, a workload that reflects an every-down role rather than a situational one. He drew 106 targets on the year, turning those into 82 receptions for a catch rate of 77.4%, one of the more efficient marks among tight ends who see that kind of target volume. He started only six of his 17 games, but the snap share tells the real story: Houston uses him regardless of who is technically listed as the starter. Through the first game of 2026, that role has continued largely intact, with a 65.8% snap share and eight targets in a single outing, four of which were caught. The early catch rate of 50% is a dip from his 2025 mark, but one game is a thin sample against a full season of 77.4%. Red zone usage last year was modest — 11 targets inside the red zone across the whole season — which caps his touchdown equity even when the underlying volume is strong. This is a possession-based role built on quarterback trust and target security rather than one leaning on explosive plays or short-area scoring. His 9.5 yards per reception in 2025 confirms that profile: he is a chain-mover, not a downfield weapon, and his fantasy value is a function of target count more than big plays.
The case for Dalton Schultz starts with quarterback C.J. Stroud, who needs a reliable underneath option to lean on as Houston's passing game develops. A tight end who played 72.3% of the snaps and drew 106 targets in 2025 is not a marginal piece of that offense — he is a security blanket, and Stroud has already shown a willingness to feed him early and often, evidenced by the eight targets in the 2026 opener. Nico Collins occupies the outside receiver role and commands attention from opposing secondaries, which in theory should open space underneath for exactly the kind of intermediate and short-area work Schultz specializes in. Meanwhile, David Montgomery anchors the run game, and a competent ground attack can keep defenses honest, indirectly benefiting a possession tight end who thrives when defenses are not selling out against the pass on every down. The case against him is built on the numbers themselves. A finish of TE10 in PPR scoring for 2025, with 177.7 total points and 10.5 points per game, is a solid but unspectacular return for a tight end taking on 72.3% of the offensive snaps. Only three receiving touchdowns across a full season is a thin margin, and with just 11 red zone targets on the year, he is not being featured as a scoring threat near the goal line. That combination — heavy target volume but low touchdown production — is a familiar profile for tight ends who provide floor without much ceiling. The early finish of TE22 through the 2026 opener, alongside a catch rate that dropped to 50% from 77.4%, raises the honest question of whether the efficiency Schultz displayed last season was closer to his ceiling than his baseline. If Stroud's completion troubles or Houston's overall passing rhythm remain inconsistent, an underneath option like Schultz can see plenty of targets without translating them into meaningful fantasy points, especially in a red-zone-starved role. Weighing both sides, the more persuasive argument favors treating him as a steady, if unspectacular, contributor. The 72.3% snap share and 106 targets from a full season are not the profile of a replaceable role player; they reflect genuine offensive integration. The early-season dip in catch rate is far more likely a one-game blip than a new baseline, particularly given how substantial the target volume already is. The touchdown shortage is the real long-term risk to monitor, since a tight end who cannot turn red zone opportunities into scores will always finish below his target share suggests he should.
Dalton Schultz belongs in lineups as a streaming or flex-caliber tight end rather than someone to bench outright. His 2025 finish of TE10 with 10.5 points per game reflects a role sturdy enough to trust in most matchups, especially in PPR formats where his catch rate of 77.4% on 106 targets provides a dependable floor. He is not a difference-maker at the position, and managers should not expect the kind of touchdown spikes that come from tight ends with heavier red zone shares — only 11 red zone targets in 2025 signals a low ceiling on scoring weeks. Use him as a lineup fixture if your alternatives are unproven or offense-dependent bench options, and treat any given week's box score as noise rather than signal unless a broader pattern emerges. The early 2026 finish of TE22 through one game is not a reason to panic or to drop him; a single game with a 50% catch rate does not erase a full season of 82 receptions on 106 targets. What would change the calculus is a sustained drop in snap share below the 65.8% mark posted in the opener, or a continued absence of red zone opportunities paired with declining target totals. If Stroud's overall passing volume rises significantly as the season progresses, Schultz's target competition and touchdown outlook both stand to improve, which would push him toward more clear-cut weekly starts rather than matchup-dependent use.
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