Dalton Schultz

TE, HOU

Dalton Schultz is Houston's safety-valve tight end whose fantasy value has been entirely dictated by Nico Collins' availability over the last two weeks — a league-winning volume play when Collins sits, a borderline streamer when Collins plays. He posted a stretch of 22 targets and a 12-catch, 140-yard explosion against Cincinnati that made him the top waiver add in the league, but shows uniformly flag that ceiling as Collins-contingent.

The arc is simple: Collins goes down, Schultz becomes the engine of the Texans' passing game, with Fantasy Life Show, The Ringer, Establish The Run and nearly every major pod naming him a must-roster TE1/top-5 play off his 12-target Bengals outburst and strong follow-up versus Indianapolis. The one dissent comes once Collins' return nears — Yahoo's Matt Harmon and Fantasy Football Today both warn he reverts to streamer-only TE2 territory, while Late-Round Football and FantasyPros note his revenge-game matchup vs. Dallas is soft enough that some volume could still carry over even with Collins back. Fantasy Focus and The Audible have been consistent through both weeks in cautioning that the elevated route/target share won't fully repeat once Collins is healthy.

The line: Start him as a high-floor TE1 only while Collins sits; once Collins returns, treat Schultz as a streaming TE2, not a lock. · updated Oct 01

Thursday, October 1

Matchup is soft and his target share actually climbs with Nico Collins active, but the Yahoo crew sees Collins' return capping him as streamer-only rather than a true TE1 — treat him as a matchup-based play, not a lock.

▶ The Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast: Revenge game vs. Dallas, which has allowed the 4th-most adjusted points to TEs; his target rate rises when Nico Collins plays. listen ↗

▼ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: With Nico Collins expected back, hosts say Schultz reverts to a streamer-only tight end, not a TE1. listen ↗

Monday, September 28

▼ Fantasy Football Today: Barely involved, outtargeted by Foster Moreau; moves back into high-end TE2 range, though gets a good matchup next week. listen ↗

Saturday, September 26

▶ The Audible: Coming off a huge target game with Stroud, but hosts question if Houston's run struggles (Montgomery, Woody Marks) push volume back to him again. listen ↗

Friday, September 25

▶ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Referenced for torching the Bengals defense (12 catches, 140 yards) as evidence of Cincinnati's vulnerability to tight ends, supporting the Freiermuth case. listen ↗

▶ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Hosts suggest selling him too, noting his production fades once Nico Collins returns, but he could still get more volume than Ferguson week to week. listen ↗

▲ RotoWire Fantasy Football With Theo Gremminger: Projected as a top-5 tight end again this week, drawing advantageous matchups against Colts linebackers in play-action, with a safe floor as Houston's clear No. 2 target for the season. listen ↗

▲ The Audible: Could be in line for another top-three tight end game with Collins out; ranked TE3 behind McBride and Kincaid. listen ↗

Thursday, September 24

All three shows agree: Schultz is a strong start against a soft Colts TE matchup, especially with volume set to spike if Nico Collins is out, having already flashed a 28% target share.

▲ Fantasy Focus Football: Would jump into top-10 TE range if Collins sits, but hosts caution his elevated route/target share the last two weeks may not fully repeat. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast: Praised as tight end start of the week caliber after a 12-catch, 140-yard game, with Indianapolis's defense flagged as a season-long target for tight ends. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry: Ranked TE9 in a good matchup vs. Indianapolis; viewed as second-best pass catcher on Texans even if Nico Collins returns. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Football Today: Coming off a huge game and viewed as a strong start again vs a Colts defense he's produced against before. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Life Show: Dominated last week as the top pass catcher with Nico Collins out (14 targets, 140 yards); must-start low-end TE1 if Collins remains out. listen ↗

▲ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Mentioned as having torched the Bengals' tight-end-vulnerable defense last week under new DC Al Golden. listen ↗

▲ Harris Fantasy Football Podcast: Priced cheap again at $4,200 after a big game with 7 catches in garbage time last week; Harris used him again in DFS. listen ↗

▲ RotoWire Fantasy Football With Theo Gremminger: Expected to remain a top-five fantasy TE again versus Indianapolis, attacking the middle against strong outside corners. listen ↗

▲ The Audible: Expected to have another strong outing against a Colts defense that has been generous to tight ends, especially if Nico Collins sits. listen ↗

▲ The Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast: Coming off a 28% target share game and facing a top-10 matchup for tight ends vs. Indianapolis, especially valuable if Nico Collins remains out. listen ↗

▲ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Schultz is viewed as a viable flex if Nico Collins sits, benefiting from underneath/slot-type targets in an encouraging Texans passing game led by C.J. Stroud. listen ↗

Wednesday, September 23

▲ The Audible: High-ceiling streaming TE1 given Indy's poor pass defense, especially if Nico Collins sits. listen ↗

Tuesday, September 22

Both shows are fully on board after his career-high, 12-target outing with Nico Collins out, calling him the top waiver-wire TE add and a must-roster piece as long as Collins is sidelined and Stroud keeps leaning on him.

▶ Fantasy Focus Football: Posted 14 targets/12 catches while Nico Collins was out, compared to Jake Ferguson's 2024 role without CeeDee Lamb, but expected to regress once Collins returns. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Football Today: Coming off a monster game with 22 targets in two weeks, though hosts questioned whether his production is inflated by unexpected trailing game scripts; still viewed as a top-10 TE especially if Nico Collins remains out. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Life Show: Became engine of Texans passing game with Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins out; posted career-high stat line and should be rostered everywhere. listen ↗

▲ The Ringer Fantasy Football Show: Named the top TE add after a 12-target, 140-yard game with Nico Collins out; CJ Stroud trusts him and he could keep seeing volume with Collins sidelined. listen ↗

Monday, September 21

Both shows are on board after a two-week stretch of 22 targets and 16 catches, with Collins sidelined making Schultz Houston's clear top pass-catching option; treat him as a solid weekly TE1 start, top-12 range, and a strong streaming pickup while the target share holds.

▲ Establish The Run Fantasy Football: Went off for 12 catches, 140 yards and 29 DraftKings points against the Bengals despite Nico Collins being out, a 97th-99th percentile cash-game outcome. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Focus Football: Stepped up with Nico Collins out, drawing 14 targets for 12 catches, 140 yards and 26 fantasy points; hosts call him a top-5 tight end play in Collins' absence. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry: Had a big game for the Texans while Montgomery struggled. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Football Today: Racked up 22 targets/16 catches/175 yards over two weeks and is viewed as a top-12 tight end managers can start confidently, though not top-6. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Football Today: 60% rostered and considered the top tight end target coming off a strong game. listen ↗

▲ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Best pass-catching option for Houston with Nico Collins out; a viable short-term pivot/waiver streamer. listen ↗

▲ RotoWire Fantasy Football With Theo Gremminger: Dominant target share for Houston; hosts note he was underrated after finishing third in targets last year and should be rostered everywhere. listen ↗

Sunday, September 20

▲ The Audible: Top cash TE target at $3,200 if Nico Collins sits, expected to absorb redistributed targets against a tight-end-friendly Cincinnati defense. listen ↗

Saturday, September 19

▲ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: With Nico Collins out, Schultz could see 10-12 targets and is viewed as a top-10 tight end play this week. listen ↗

▲ RotoWire Fantasy Football With Theo Gremminger: Had second-most routes and 8 targets last week; with Nico Collins out, he should lead the team in targets and is a solid TE1 play if available. listen ↗

Follow Dalton Schultz

Get every take on him — and the rest of your roster — before waivers on Tuesday and before lineups lock on Sunday. Free through the season.