Houston
Texans

News: Jones (calf) returned to practice Saturday on a limited basis and is listed as questionable for Monday night's game against Tennessee, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: Do yourself a favor and find a healthier WR option this week. If you roll the dice on his status and he winds up inactive, the Monday night kickoff will leave you with no other options to choose from. He'll likely be a game-time decision.

News: Cushing (foot) participated fully in Saturday's practice and is listed as probable for Monday night's game against Tennessee, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: Cushing and his foot injury make a weekly appearance on the injury report, but the ailment hasn't stopped him from being an IDP beast as a rookie. He's safe to start this week.

News: Steve Slaton has regained his starting job for Monday's game against Tennessee, the Houston Chronicle reports. Moats, who started the Texans' last game, will be the top backup.
Impact: Moats will still be a factor in some type of rotation, but this news should relegate him to the bench in most leagues. He could get another chance to be the starter if Slaton's fumbles resurface, but for now he's stuck as the No. 2.

News: After sitting out the past two days, Jacoby Jones (calf) practiced in a limited fashion on Saturday, according to the team. He is questionable for Monday.
Impact: Jones is expected to take on a larger role in the Texans' offense with Owen Daniels out for the season, and if he is deemed ready for Monday night, he could be productive against a very shaky Tennessee secondary.

News: James Casey (knee) practiced in full for the third straight day on Saturday, and will be active when the Texans take on the Titans on Monday night, according to the team.
Impact: Casey is the man most expected to fill the large shoes of Owen Daniels. He's not yet a fantasy option, but a good game Monday night would make him one.

News: Dominique Barber (ankle) did not practice for the third straight day on Saturday, and is officially doubtful for Monday night against the Titans, according to the team.
Impact: It would be the second straight game Barber has missed if he is out. His absence would limit Houston's reserve options at safety, but shouldn't have too large of an effect on their team defense.

News: Andre Johnson has denied a report that said he would force a trade from Houston were the Texans not to quality for the playoffs this season, according to Houston Chronicle.
Impact: The Texans have never reached the playoffs since their 2002 inception, but with a core of Johnson, Matt Schaub and Mario Williams, once would have to imagine they will sooner rather than later.

News: According to Nick Scurfield on Twitter, Steve Slaton has been named the Texans starting running back for Week 11.
Impact: So it appears that Slaton got his job back before he ended up having to prove himself. He'll still likely split carries with Ryan Moats and Chris Brown, but it looks as if he has the most upside this week. Still, Moats isn't a bad handcuff play because if Slaton fumbles again, you can bet he'll be sitting the rest of the game.

News: Casey (knee) is listed as probable for Monday night's game against the Titans after participating in practice all week, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: Casey seems ready to make his return from knee surgery, and could emerge as a replacement for Owen Daniels in the pass-catching tight end role. File his name away in your "might be worth adding" mental folder if you don't own an established tight end.

News: Slaton will start at running back Monday against Tennessee, the Houston Chronicle reports. "I had an assumption that I would start, but nothing was concrete until now," Slaton said. "I'm happy about it. It's an opportunity I have to take full advantage of."
Impact: It looks like Slaton will get a chance to be the primary back, but Ryan Moats could still be in the mix. This still sounds like an unstable situation, but Slaton could become a strong fantasy option again quickly if he has a good game and overcomes his recent fumbling problems.

News: Jacoby Jones missed practice for the second straight day Friday, according to the Texans' official website. He is dealing with a calf injury.
Impact: The swelling in his calf has subsided, but he is uncertain to play in Monday night's game against the Titans. Andre Davis and Glenn Martinez would return kicks if Jones is unable to go.

News: Brian Cushing was limited in Friday's practice after sitting out yesterday, according to the Texans' official website. He is nursing a foot ailment.
Impact: The prized rookie linebacker is yet to miss a game this season, and should be a good bet to play Monday night against Tennessee, assuming his foot does not get worse.

News: Cushing (foot) practiced on a limited basis Friday, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: Cushing has been playing through his foot issues for weeks now and with the Texans coming off a bye, we expect him to be fine for Monday's game against the Titans.

News: Jones (calf) did not practice Friday, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: Jones remains day-to-day, so we'll have to see where he ends up listed on Saturday's injury report.

News: Cushing (foot) sat out Thursday's practice as a precaution, according to coach Gary Kubiak.
Impact: Cushing, who had been at practice the previous two days, will return to the field Friday and should be fine for Monday's game against the Titans.

News: Jones (calf) was limited at Thursday's practice, according to coach Gary Kubiak.
Impact: Jones, who participated only in special teams work at practice Thursday, still has some calf soreness and is considered day-to-day. More on his status Friday.

News: Casey (knee) participated fully in Thursday's practice, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: It looks like Casey will be fine for Monday's game against the Titans. With Owen Daniels out for the year, Casey has a chance to carve out a pass-catching role, but we'd like to see him get a full and productive game in before endorsing him as a fantasy option.

News: Jesse Nading has been waived by the Texans, according to the Houston Chronicle on twitter. The team promoted running back Arian Foster off their practice squad as the adjoining move.
Impact: Nading held no value for IDP leagues while working as a deep reserve with Houston.

News: The Texans have promoted Arian Foster to their active roster, according to the Houston Chronicle on twitter. The club waived defensive end Jesse Nading as the adjoining move.
Impact: The Texans now have four running backs on their roster, as Foster joins Steve Slaton, Ryan Moats and Chris Brown. Foster is not expected to see much action.

News: Jacoby Jones missed Tuesday's practice while dealing with a calf injury, according to the Houston Chronicle on twitter.
Impact: The club cannot afford to lose Jones, as he has been playing a larger part in the passing attack with star tight end Owen Daniels out for the season. The Texans will host the Titans on Monday Night Football.

News: The Houston Chronicle reports that the Texans added another running back, Arian Foster, to the backfield mix on Tuesday, while Moats' role for the remainder of the season remains unclear.
Impact: Foster joins Moats, Chris Brown, and Steve Slaton as options in the Texans' running game. Moats received most of the work in the Texans' last game during Week 9, with Slaton mostly serving as a third down or change of pace back. Moats didn't help himself by coughing up a fumble, but for now it looks like Moats and Slaton will continue to see the majority of the work, at least heading into Week 11's matchup with the Titans.

News: Foster was signed from the Texans' practice squad to the active roster on Tuesday, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: Foster and Chris Brown look like the two reserve running backs behind Ryan Moats and Steve Slaton, who figure to see the bulk of the carries. However, reports out of Houston this week indicate that the Texans' staff plans to give Foster a hard look as another option. The outlook for distribution of carries in the Texans' backfield for the second half of the season remains very unclear.

News: Slaton continues to work on fumble-prevention during team practices, the Texans' official site reports. After fumbling eight times and losing five of them, Slaton was replaced as the starting running back by Ryan Moats.
Impact: He was still used as a third down back in their last game against Indianapolis, but the team ideally wants him as its lead back. In practices, teammates routinely rip at the ball both during and after the play to make sure Slaton is keeping the ball secure. "For us to play well in the next seven weeks, Steve will have to be a big part of that. I know I'm counting on him, and I know his teammates are, too," said Texans head coach Gary Kubiak. In a related note coming out of Tuesday's practice, the Texans gave a larger share of practice reps to rookie practice-squad back Arian Foster. Clearly, Houston's running back position remains one in flux, and it wouldn't surprise us to see Slaton become the lead back once again.

News: Foster, who is on the Texans' practice squad, saw his workload increase during Tuesday's practice, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: It looks like the rookie from Tennessee will be evaluated during the week as a possible addition to Houston's troubled running game. "We picked up Arian's reps a little bit today," Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said. "We got him a look. We had some questions there of possibly making a move with him and getting him involved."

News: According to the Houston Chronicle, Texans' tight end James Casey returned to practice on Monday for the first time since his arthroscopic knee surgery. Casey is expected to play this week against the Titans.
Impact: If Casey doesn't suffer a setback this week at practice, he should be good to go against the Titans. With Owen Daniels out, Casey's stock could be very much on the rise, as he has a ton of pass-catching ability and is the team's best offensive option at the position right now. Still, he is a rookie and he is coming off an injury, so it would be best to just keep an eye on him for now.

News: Jones did not practice on Monday because of a sore calf, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: Jones injured the calf during Houston's loss to Indianapolis. It was sore for a few days and then swelled up, so the Texans are having it checked out.

News: Casey (knee) returned to practice Monday, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: Casey underwent arthroscopic surgery on the knee and missed the game against the Colts. If he's fine coming out of practice Monday and Tuesday, he should be able to go against Tennessee on Monday night. Casey has the potential to play a legitimate fantasy role going forward for the next seven weeks with the Texans missing Owen Daniels for the rest of the season.

News: Wilson was fined $5,000 by the NFL for a hit he put on Indianapolis tight end Dallas Clark, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: Wilson was penalized 15 yards for unnecessary roughness when he drilled Clark over the middle during the second quarter of Houston's 20-17 loss. The league fined him for hitting a defenseless receiver.

News: Eugene Wilson was dealt a $5,000 fine for his illegal hit on Colts' tight end Dallas Clark in Week 9, according to the Houston Chronicle on twitter.
Impact: The Texans are on their bye, and will return to battle the Titans in Week 11.

News: Johnson had 10 catches for 103 yards in the Texans' 20-17 loss to Indianapolis on Sunday.
Impact: It was the fourth 100-yard game of the season for Johnson, who enters Houston's bye week as the NFL's leading receiver with exactly 800 yards.

News: Slaton only got six carries in a 20-17 loss to Indianapolis, but he did find the end zone.
Impact: Perhaps more important for his fantasy value were the problems Ryan Moats had. Moats was held to 38 yards on 16 carries, and if he continues to struggle, it may be hard for coach Gary Kubiak to keep Slaton on the bench for too long, despite his fumbling issues.

News: Moats was held to 38 yards on 16 carries as the Texans lost 20-17 to Indianapolis on Sunday.
Impact: Moats did have a receiving touchdown, but for all the excitement that came after his breakout performance following the benching of Steve Slaton, this should cool off Moats fever for a while - especially since the Texans are on bye this week.

News: Schaub threw for 311 yards and a touchdown, nearly leading the Texans to an upset at Indianapolis before Houston fell 20-17.
Impact: Schaub was intercepted twice, but he continues to orchestrate what has become a pass-heavy offense. He ranks third behind Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in terms of passing yards per game, although he won't have any this week - the Texans finally have their bye.

News: Pollard had nine solo tackles, three assists and two interceptions in Sunday's loss to the Colts.
Impact: The Texans' defense became better the moment Pollard entered the lineup in Week 4. The 12 tackles were a season high.

News: Brown was 1-for-2 in Sunday's loss to the Colts.
Impact: Brown nailed a 56-yard field goal before halftime, then missed the potential game-tying attempt wide left with no time on the clock at the end of the game.

News: Walter had five receptions for 67 yards in Sunday's loss to the Colts.
Impact: This was the most receptions and receiving yards for Walter since his seven-catch, 96-yard performance in a Week 3 loss to Jacksonville. He should get more opportunities without Owen Daniels, but so far this season has been a disappointment for Walter.

News: Johnson had 10 catches for 103 yards in Sunday's loss to the Colts.
Impact: Johnson hasn't scored a touchdown in four weeks, but registered his fourth game of 100-plus receiving yards.

News: Cushing (foot) led the Texans with 10 solo tackles and two assists in Sunday's loss to the Colts.
Impact: The foot injury, which has been with Cushing for over a month now, has not prevented the rookie from playing at a high level.

News: Smith recorded a sack for the second consecutive week in Sunday's loss to the Colts.
Impact: Smith also forced a fumble in the game.

News: Williams (shoulder) had a sack in Sunday's loss to Indianapolis.
Impact: The sack was Williams' fourth of the season, however, his number of tackles has dropped since he developed the shoulder injury over a month ago. Williams has five solo tackles and two assists in the previous five games.

News: Slaton had six carries for 17 yards with a touchdown in Sunday's 20-17 loss at Indianapolis. Slaton also caught three passes for 12 yards.
Impact: While Slaton had only nine touches, he was able to hang on to the ball for a change. On the flip side, Ryan Moats, who started and produced 53 yards on 19 touches, fumbled at the goal line in the second quarter. Slaton was used a bit more in the second half after Moats' fumble, although Moats did score on a one-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. Even though Slaton received 10 fewer touches than Moats, it's hard to gauge how things will play out moving forward between the two runners.

News: Moats had 16 carries for 38 yards and caught three passes for 15 yards with a touchdown in Sunday's 20-17 loss at Indianapolis.
Impact: Moats started and received more touches than Steve Slaton (six carries for 17 yards with a touchdown and three receptions for 12 yards), but lost a costly fumble at the goal line in the second quarter. On that play, Houston didn't do Moats any favors as they could have run a play before the two-minute warning, but elected not to, allowing the Colts' coaching staff to review the replay during the break. Moats' touchdown came on a one-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter while Slaton's score came on a short run in the fourth period, so both players were used around the goal line. The Texans have a bye in Week 10, so it will be interesting to see how things play out in the upcoming weeks.

News: Ryan Moats will start Sunday at Indianapolis in place of Slaton, who was benched last week because of fumbling problems.
Impact: It's likely the talented Slaton will still get some touches, but he's a very shaky fantasy play until it becomes clear how coach Gary Kubiak intends to use him.

News: Moats will start in place of Steve Slaton on Sunday against Indianapolis.
Impact: It's unclear exactly how the carries will be divided, but Moats certainly seems like the correct play if you have both backs on your fantasy roster.

News: Cody (back) is active for Sunday's game against the Colts.
Impact: He needed to receive an injection to ease his back problems during the week, so he may be a bit limited in the defensive line rotation Sunday.

News: Dreessen (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Colts.
Impact: Look for him to start from here on out with Owen Daniels done for the remainder of the season.

News: Ferguson (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Colts.
Impact: It would be a reach to consider him for an IDP slot.

News: Williams (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game against the Colts.
Impact: Feel free to roll with Williams this week if you feel good about playing him against the Colts.

News: Cushing (foot) is active for Sunday's game against the Colts.
Impact: Feel free to go with Cushing this week if you were considering him as an IDP.

News: Slaton, who has lost the starting job to Ryan Moats for this week's game against Indianapolis, is likely to play in passing situations, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: Texans head coach Gary Kubiak insists all three of his running backs will see action. That likely means Slaton as a reciever, Moats as the lead runner and Chris Brown as the short-yardage back. If the Colts shut down Moats, we can expect Slaton to get the ball in running situations.

News: Slaton's teammate Ryan Moats will get the start against the Colts on Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports.
Impact: Texans' head coach Gary Kubiak told ESPN on Saturday that Moats will start but will share carries with Slaton. Both Slaton and Moats are risky fantasy plays this week as it's not clear how the distribution of carries will work out.

News: Moats will start for the Texans against the Colts on Sunday, but will share carries with Steve Slaton, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports.
Impact: Texans head coach Gary Kubiak told ESPN on Saturday that Moats will get the start. Still, both Moats and Slaton remain questionable fantasy plays because of the uncertainty surrounding the distribution of touches.

News: Texans coach Gary Kubiak gave Slaton another vote of confidence Friday, saying that the team needs him to win this week against Indianapolis, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: "I got a lot of confidence in Steve, you all know that," Kubiak said of Slaton, who has lost five fumbles this season. "I'm trying to work him through this the right way. We're going to need him to win this week." Kubiak continues to insist that all three of his running backs -- Slaton, Ryan Moats and Chris Brown -- will get work this week.

News: Cushing (foot) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Colts, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: Feel free to roll with Cushing this week, then whether you keep him or not in Week 10 (with the Texans on bye) depends on how much roster flexibility your league allows.

News: Texans head coach Gary Kubiak has not named a starter for Sunday's game in Indianapolis. Kubiak is indicating that Moats, Steve Slaton and Chris Brown will all see action.
Impact: Moats, who was very effective replacing Slaton after the starter lost his fifth fumble of the season, will definitely get some carries this week. He's earned that. However, with this much uncertainty at the position, it would be wise to seek a more sure thing at this very important fantasy position.

News: Texans head coach Gary Kubiak refuses to name a starter at running back for Sunday's game against the Colts. All week long, Kubiak has been saying that all three of his running backs -- Slaton, Ryan Moats and Chris Brown -- will see action in Indianapolis.
Impact: However this situation plays itself out, you can expect Slaton to be on the field in some capacity. He may not be the top running back at the moment, but he's the most explosive of the three and is dangerous as a receiving threat. Without Owen Daniels (knee), we may see more of Slaton as receiver.

News: Hill is expected to get a lot of playing time in two-tight-end sets in Sunday's game at Indianapolis, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: Hill has been inactive for all but one game and didn't get on the field for the one time he was active. With Owen Daniels (knee) done for the year and James Casey (knee) out, Hill becomes the backup to Joel Dreessen. We know the Texans' passing game has plays designed for the tight end, but neither Hill nor Dreessen will be the target Daniels was.

News: Cody missed practice Thursday because of a sore back, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: Cody is expected to get an injection for the back, which has caused him to miss Wednesday's workout as well.

News: Cushing (foot) was limited at Thursday's practice, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: Cushing has been playing at a high level through the foot injury for about a month now.

News: Walter could see more looks going forward in the wake of Owen Daniels' season-ending injury, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: Daniels was a big part of the team's passing game, but his targets will have to be absorbed and while Joel Dreessen will be the team's new starter at tight end, it's Walter who has the skill set and red zone ability to benefit the most from Daniels' absence.

News: Cushing (foot) was limited at practice Wednesday, Texans' official site reports.
Impact: Cushing should continue to play through his foot issue this week and then he'll have the team's Week 10 bye for additional healing time.

News: Johnson (lung contusion) does not appear on Wednesday's practice participation/injury report.
Impact: Johnson's lung contusion is evidently no longer a concern, but note that the Texans have their bye in Week 10 after meeting the Colts this week.

News: During a post-game press conference, Texans head coach Gary Kubiak implied that Slaton, who lost his fifth fumble of the season on Sunday, will be involved in next week's game.
Impact: "I told Steve in the locker room to get his chin up. This team needs him playing well and making plays and I'm expecting him to come right back next week and help us," Kubiak said. In each of the two games previous to Sunday's win over Buffalo, Slaton had been pulled after laying the ball on the grass, only to come back and contribute in some meaningful way. He was not put back into Sunday's game as Ryan Moats rushed for 126 yards and three scores. While Kubiak isn't letting on about his plans for next week in Indianapolis, it appears Moats has earned a larger share of the rushing load. Slaton can still contribute as a pass-catching threat out of the backfield or split wide -- more so now with tight end Owen Daniels (knee) done for the season.

News: With a season-ending injury to Owen Daniels (knee) and James Casey (knee) expected to miss this week's game against Indianapolis, Hill moves up the Texans' depth chart.
Impact: The question is whether Hill is ready to step in after a season in which he's been inactive most weeks or sidelined by the swine flu. He'll get his chance this week, but we're setting expectations low. "He's a very young player and obviously we haven't had the luxury of suiting four [tight ends each week]. We have been impressed with his work. He's a physical player. Is he ready to go? I don't know. We'll see, but it's time for him to go. This is a tough spot for him to get started, down in Indy, in this football game, this crowd noise, but hey, that's part of the game. That's what we drafted him for. We've got to bring him a long way. (Tight ends coach) Brian (Pariani) has got to do a good job with him, but it's time for him to play," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said during a press conference Monday.

News: Johnson had six catches for 63 yards and a two-point conversion in the Texans' 31-10 win over Buffalo on Sunday.
Impact: Not the best of fantasy performances by Johnson, but his owners should simply be pleased that he was out there following last week's lung contusion. The Texans have a tough matchup with Indianapolis on Sunday, but Johnson has put up respectable numbers in his last five games against the Colts, with 364 yards and three touchdowns in that stretch.

News: After Steve Slaton was sent to the bench following his fifth lost fumble of the season, Moats took control on Sunday, becoming the first player in Texans history to score three touchdowns in one game in a 31-10 win over the Buffalo Bills.
Impact: Moats rolled up 126 yards on the ground and will likely be the hottest pick-up of the week in fantasy leagues. It's unclear how the carries will be split up between Moats and Slaton going forward, but the veteran and career backup certainly proved he can handle a heavy load with 23 carries against the Bills.

News: Slaton was sent to the bench after losing his fifth fumble of the season in a 31-10 win over Buffalo on Sunday.
Impact: After Ryan Moats came in and became the first player in franchise history to score three touchdowns in one game, totaling 126 yards on the ground, Slaton's situation became very unclear. Gary Kubiak won't say who the starter is going forward, but this doesn't bode well for Slaton's fantasy value either way. Be sure to scoop up Moats if he's still available in your league.

News: Schaub was 25 for 34 for 268 yards in Sunday's 31-10 win over Buffalo, but it turned into a bad fantasy line with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
Impact: This was surprising after Schaub had thrown 16 touchdowns in the previous six games, but Ryan Moats scored three times on the ground to account for most of the Texans' points. Schaub could be slowed by the loss of tight end Owen Daniels for the season to a knee injury, but he also could be throwing the ball often if Houston falls behind at unbeaten Indianapolis on Sunday.

News: Casey underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Monday and will miss at least one game, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: That's one player you can cross off the short-term pickup list in the wake of Owen Daniels' season-ending injury. Joel Dreesen will replace Daniels in the starting lineup for now, but Casey could factor in as a pass-catcher later on in the season once his knee is sound.

News: As feared, Daniels has a torn ACL in his right knee and will undergo surgery, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: He will be replaced in the Texans' starting lineup by Joel Dreessen, with rookie TE James Casey also in the mix. In terms of targets in general, the likes of wideout Kevin Walter may see some extra looks with Daniels no longer an option.

News: Slaton's fumbling issues caused the Texans to turn to Ryan Moats Sunday, but coach Gary Kubiak has not named a starting running back for Sunday's game against the Colts, the Houston Chronicle reports. "Ryan took advantage of the situation," coach Gary Kubiak said of Sunday's switch. "We'll go to next week. We'll see."
Impact: While it seems unlikely that Slaton will be totally cut off here, Moats rushed for 126 yards and three fourth-quarter touchdowns Sunday, an effort that figures to have earned him an expanded workload going forward. Slaton fumbled just three times in 16 games last year, but thus far, he has fumbled an alarming seven times (five lost) in eight games. He'll need to do better than that to hold on to (or regain) his lead role for the Texans.

News: Casey (knee) caught two passes for 14 yards in Sunday's win over Buffalo.
Impact: The two receptions were the first of Casey's career, but he should be adding to that total in the coming weeks. The Texans appear to have lost starter Owen Daniels to a season-ending knee injury, meaning Casey moves up to second on the depth chart.

News: Dreessen will start at tight end while Owen Daniels misses any time due to a knee injury, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: At this point, we're only waiting to hear whether or not Daniels will miss the rest of the season. He will undergo an MRI on Monday. Dreessen, who gets a lot of work in two-tight-end sets, will get a few more balls thrown his way, but has not been a big target in the past. We expect rookie James Casey to be more of the receiving threat from the position than Dreessen.

News: After taking over for Steve Slaton -- who has had fumble issues this season -- Moats finished Sunday's win over the Bills with 23 carries for 126 yards and three touchdowns.
Impact: It remains to be seen if the change will stick or if Moats has peaked, but if you are in a first-come, first-serve league, pick him up now and sort the rest out later.

News: Daniels suffered what appears to be a torn ACL in his right knee Sunday, the Houston Chronicle reports. Daniels will undergo an MRI on Monday, but "it doesn't look good," coach Gary Kubiak said Sunday.
Impact: Daniels, who has 40 catches for 519 yards with five touchdowns to date, will be replaced in the Texans' starting lineup by Joel Dreessen.

News: Cushing (foot) had a sack and an interception in Sunday's win over Buffalo.
Impact: Cushing seems to make a big play every week, whether it's a forced fumble, a sack, a pick, and even a safety. He added three solo tackles and seven assists in the win.

News: Walter caught four passes for 29 yards and had one rush for 13 yards in Sunday's 31-10 win at Buffalo.
Impact: Walter has had a strange season so far. He missed the first two games with a hamstring injury, but was able to come back in the third game and play well, catching seven passes for 96 yards with a touchdown. Since Week 3, he hasn't had more than 41 yards receiving and hasn't scored a touchdown, even though Matt Schaub has been one of the best fantasy quarterbacks in the league. Owen Daniels suffered a knee injury in Sunday's win and did not return, so Walter could benefit with more looks if Daniels misses any time.

News: Johnson (lung contusion) caught six passes for 63 yards in Sunday's 31-10 win at Buffalo.
Impact: The Bills' pass defense has been really tough this year and they held Johnson and Matt Schaub in check (Schaub threw for 268 yards with no touchdowns and a pair of interceptions). The good news is that Johnson was able to play and produce, so he should be fine moving forward.

News: Daniels will have an MRI on Monday, but it is likely that he is done for the season with a torn ligament in his right knee, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: Wait for the MRI results to confirm the report before cutting him loose, but Daniels' owners can go ahead and start their search for a replacement.

News: Daniels has a torn knee ligament and will have season-ending surgery to repair the injury. Daniels, who injured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, was hurt on Houston's second possession in Sunday's win at Buffalo when he caught his foot in the turf.
Impact: The injury derails an outstanding season for the fourth-year player, who will finish with 40 receptions for 519 yards and five touchdowns.

News: Daniels will not return Sunday after suffering a right knee injury in the first quarter, according to the CBS broadcast.
Impact: Just the worst of all worlds for Daniels owners, as he saw only enough action to catch one pass for 22 yards, and now will likely have to await tests on his knee.

News: Slaton appears to have been benched after losing yet another fumble in the first half of Sunday's game against Buffalo.
Impact: Slaton's fumble was his seventh of the season, five of which have been recovered by the defense. With Slaton on the sideline, Houston has been turning to Ryan Moats, who rushed for 126 yards (26 carries) and three touchdowns.

News: Daniels sprained his right knee in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Bills, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: Daniels, who was on the field for several minutes, was unable to put much weight on his right leg after suffering the injury, so a return looks iffy.

News: Daniels limped off the field in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Bills with a right knee injury. His return is questionable.
Impact: He hasn't returned yet, which could turn out to be a big blow for his owners who may only get two series worth of action out of the stud tight end Sunday afternoon.

News: Cushing (foot) is active for Sunday's game against the Bills.
Impact: Cushing is averaging about eight tackles per game, so feel free to deploy him if you're looking for help in that category.

News: Ryans (groin) is active for Sunday's game against the Bills.
Impact: If you're looking for a good source of tackles, place Ryans in your lineup Sunday.

News: Williams (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game against the Bills.
Impact: Williams looks to be a safe IDP play Sunday against the Bills, a team that has a shaky offensive line and has given up 21 sacks through seven games.

News: Robinson (hamstring) is active for Sunday's game against the Bills.
Impact: Feel free to deploy him if you're in an extremely deep IDP league.

News: Johnson (lung contusion) is active for Sunday's game against the Bills.
Impact: The Texans gradually ramped up Johnson's practice workload this week, and he was looking fine by Friday's walk through. The Bills have had a stout pass defense this season, but Johnson remains a must-start.

News: Schaub's opponent this week, the Bills, have held four of their last five opponents under 200 passing yards, and three of those teams were held under 100.
Impact: Three of those teams have weak passing attacks, but if you want a good comparison for a strong passer like Schaub, note that Buffalo held Drew Brees to 156 passing yards. Part of that is because the Bills are so easy to run against. Now, Houston has a very strong passing attack and Andre Johnson is expected to play, so we're not advocating sitting Schaub. But you may need to curtail those expectations a bit for a week.

News: Robinson (hamstring) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Bills, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: He practiced fully Friday, so he should be good to go Sunday, but his IDP stats (24 tackles, no interceptions) through seven games have been marginal.

News: Ryans (groin) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Bills, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: Ryans (51 tackles and a forced fumble) remains one of the more reliable LB options around from an IDP standpoint.

News: Johnson (lung contusion) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Bills, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: Johnson has been looking fine at practice, but he will wear a padded extension to his shoulder pads Sunday to protect his chest, as an added precaution.

News: Williams (shoulder, probable) was a full participant in Friday's practice.
Impact: Williams was a full participant on both Thursday and Friday and should be available against the Bills on Sunday.

News: Cushing (foot) practiced Friday and is expected to start Sunday against the Bills, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: Cushing, who continues to play through his foot issue, is no doubt looking forward to the extra healing time that he'll get during the Texans' Week 10 bye. He's been able to rack up an IDP-worthy 56 tackles and two forced fumbles in seven games to date.

News: Coach Gary Kubiak announced Friday that Johnson (lung contusion) is "ready to go" against the Bills on Sunday, barring any setbacks, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: We'll see if Johnson ends up listed as "questionable" or "probable," but it looks like we'll see him out there Sunday against a Bills defense that has had better luck against the pass than the run.

News: The Texans continue to work with Slaton's "technique," trying to stop his fumbling, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: Slaton has lost four fumbles and had a few more that the Texans recovered. It's at the point now where opponents are smelling blood every time he carries the ball, but the Texans need his playmaking ability. "Everybody's trying to help him — coaches and players," Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said. "We did some extra things with him yesterday, trying to change his technique a little bit with the ball. Like I said, we're all here to help him (and) we're all here to support him, but he's got a job to do and that's to protect the ball."

News: Cushing (foot) did not participate in full team drills at Thursday's practice, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: This is the third consecutive week that Cushing has missed or been limited for practices on Wednesday and Thursday, but it hasn't prevented him from playing, and playing well, the last two games.

News: The Texans are sending Johnson (lung contusion) back to the doctor for a thorough examination as a precaution, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: The Texans are being extra careful with Johnson's injury, so don't worry about the examination. He was back at practice Thursday and fully expects to play in Sunday's game against Buffalo. "I feel good," Johnson said. "Like I said, I wasn't in any pain, and I'm still not in any pain. My breathing is fine when I'm out there running. I'm ready to go get this scan to see if they see stuff. Hopefully, there's nothing bad when they look at the scan." Johnson will be wearing a padded extension to his shoulder pads to protect his chest.

News: Ryans (groin) practiced fully Thursday, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: He'll likely be listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Bills, but barring a setback, he'll be out there as usual this weekend.

News: Johnson (lung contusion) practiced on Thursday, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: Johnson got back to running on Wednesday and now is participating in practice. This looks like a slow ramp up to him being available this weekend. "(I'm) very encouraged," Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said. "He took probably pretty close to almost all the reps he normally takes and didn't seem to have any problems. We'll see how he feels."

News: Robinson was limited at Wednesday's practice because of a sore hamstring, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: Despite the injury, Robinson is expected to play Sunday against Buffalo.

News: Davis worked with the first team offense on Wednesday as starter Andre Johnson was limited due to a lung contusion, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: The Texans are optimistic that Johnson will be able to play Sunday against Buffalo, but Davis is getting ready and may see more action than normal this week.

News: Williams (shoulder) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: There shouldn't be any reason to worry about Williams' status for Week 8 at this point, but we'll keep an eye on the Texans' practice report throughout the week in case he suffers a setback.

News: Johnson (lung contusion) did not practice on Wednesday, but did some running on the side, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: "Andre ran on the side some today," coach Gary Kubiak said. "I'm encouraged by what I saw today. If he doesn't have any setbacks, I feel good about him being able to play." We'll continue to track Johnson's practice participation throughout the week, but the early indications about his availability against the Bills on Sunday are encouraging.

News: Ryans (groin) was limited at Wednesday's practice, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: Ryans has racked up a fantasy-friendly 51 tackles and a forced fumble thus far, so we'll track his status in the coming days.

News: Cushing (foot) missed Wednesday's practice, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: Cushing has been playing through his foot injury, so barring a setback, we expect that to remain the case this weekend against the Bills.

News: The Texans expect Johnson (chest contusion) to be ready to play this week against Buffalo, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: While the prognosis looks good for Johnson, it's not clear if he'll be able to practice this week. That's okay, because he doesn't need to practice to play, but it's a situation to stay on top of leading up to the weekend.

News: Johnson suffered a lung contusion Sunday and is listed as day-to-day for Week 8's game against Buffalo, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: "We're fortunate here," coach Gary Kubiak said Monday, which implies that the team was concerned that Johnson had suffered a more severe injury. Johnson will undergo tests throughout the week, so at this point he looks iffy for Sunday's game, but it's early enough for that outlook to change in the coming days.

News: Slaton carried 18 times for 67 yards Sunday in a 24-21 win over the 49ers. He also had four catches for 22 yards.
Impact: Slaton has averaged 3.1 yards per carry and the Texans have not run the ball well despite their 4-3 start.

News: Daniels had seven catches for a season-high 123 yards and one TD Sunday in a 24-21 win over the 49ers.
Impact: Daniels has three touchdowns in his last two games and has emerged as a reliable target for Matt Schaub for Gary Kubiak's Texans.

News: Schaub was 20 of 30 for 264 yards and two touchdowns Sunday in a 24-21 win over the 49ers.
Impact: Schaub looks like a lock for the Pro Bowl with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions on the season.

News: Schaub completed 20-of-34 attempts for 264 yards and two touchdowns in Houston's win over San Francisco on Sunday.
Impact: Schaub leads all NFL quarterbacks in touchdown passes (16) and passing yards (2,074).

News: Johnson left Sunday's game against the Niners with a chest injury in the fourth quarter.
Impact: Johnson has gone back to the locker room, and the team's medical staff has taken his helmet away. It's very unlikely that Johnson will return.

News: Brown (ankle) booted a 50-yard field goal in Houston's win over San Francisco on Sunday.
Impact: The Texans' offense has become pretty efficient under quarterback Matt Schaub, leaving Brown with just eight field goal attempts through seven games.

News: Texans head coach Gary Kubiak reaffirmed his confidence in Slaton despite the running back losing his fourth fumble of the season, the Texans' official site reports.
Impact: "He makes big plays for us; he touches it and good things happen," Kubiak said. "But at the same time, you can make five big plays and one turnover can get you beat. Steve understands that. I told him after the game, ‘We're going to go as far as you take us, and you've got to figure out a way to protect the football.' But Steve's our guy and I have a lot of confidence in him..." Slaton's turnovers haven't cost a game for the team yet, so Kubiak can ride it out for a bit. The second-year back did have two scores in the game and has found the end zone in each of the last four weeks. Despite disappointing rushing numbers, the Texans are finding ways to involve Slaton in the passing offense where he can make plays in the open field.

News: Coach Gary Kubiak will have an update on Johnson's chest injury Monday, the Houston Chronicle reports. "They're telling me it's a chest contusion," Kubiak said Sunday.
Impact: Johnson was taken to the hospital for X-rays, but the initial feeling is that he should be ready to play next week at Buffalo. He has been released from the hospital. We'll let you know if that changes.

News: Williams (shoulder) had a sack in Houston's win over San Francisco on Sunday.
Impact: Williams has been dealing with the shoulder for the last three weeks.

News: Zgonina had a sack in Houston's win over San Francisco on Sunday.
Impact: One of the defensive tackle spots has seen a rotation of guys, starting with DeJuan Robinson and Frank Odom. Lately, Shaun Cody has been the starter, but it was Zgonina, the oldest defensive player in the NFL, getting more time Sunday.

News: Cushing (foot) had five solo tackles and three assists in Sunday's win over San Francisco.
Impact: Cushing has been dealing and playing with a sore foot the last two weeks.

News: Davis had one catch for 14 yards in Houston's win over San Francisco on Sunday.
Impact: Jacoby Jones had been getting a lot of reps on offense lately, but it was Davis getting more work Sunday when Andre Johnson left with a chest injury. Johnson was taken to a hospital after the game.

News: Daniels led all Texans' receivers with seven catches and 123 yards with a touchdown in Houston's victory over San Francisco on Sunday.
Impact: Daniels hasn't had a bad week yet, and is averaging 71 yards per game. His five touchdowns match his career-high set during his rookie season in 2006. Pending the outcome of Andre Johnson's chest injury (taken to a hospital after game), Daniels could assume a higher profile in the offense.

News: Brown rushed for 14 yards on four carries in Houston's win over San Francisco on Sunday.
Impact: For the second straight week, Brown got a bulk of his work after starter Steve Slaton lost a fumble - his fourth of the season. The Texans aren't making any changes yet, but Brown is getting more carries as a result of Slaton's drops.

News: Johnson went to a Houston hospital for further examination of the chest contusion he suffered Sunday, NFL.com reports.
Impact: More on Johnson's status as it become available, but the trip to the hospital raises some concern.

News: Despite suffering a bruised lung last week, Johnson was active for this week's game against the Buffalo Bills. He leads the league with 634 yards receiving.
Impact: Coach Gary Kubiak says Johnson will undergo several blood tests this week to make sure he is recovering properly and doctors believe he will be fine. He was injured when he took a hit in the lower back in the second quarter of Houston's 24-21 win over the 49ers. He remained in the game, but began coughing up blood after landing on the ball following a 44-yard catch early in the fourth quarter.

News: Slaton scored a pair of touchdowns and finished with 89 yards from scrimmage (67 yards rushing, 22 yards receiving) in Sunday's 24-21 win over San Francisco.
Impact: While Slaton had a productive fantasy game, he lost yet another fumble. Slaton also appeared to have fumbled at the end of the first half, trying to run out the clock, but the play was reversed. Slaton is obviously an elite talent, but the fumbles are becoming a major problem. Backup tailback Chris Brown only had four rushes for 14 yards, though he might start seeing more work if Slaton can't hold on to the ball.

News: Pollard (illness) is active for Sunday's game against the 49ers.
Impact: Pollard had been suffering from flu-like symptoms, but he should be good to go for this one.

News: Cushing (foot) is active for Sunday's game against the 49ers.
Impact: Feel free to use Cushing as you normally would since the foot doesn't seem to be bothering him right now.

News: Brown (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the 49ers.
Impact: Feel free to deploy Brown this week if he is your normal kicker.

News: Williams (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game against the 49ers.
Impact: Williams has not had a big season statistically speaking, but he is healthy enough to play in this game if you would normally use him as one of your starters.

News: Williams (shoulder) was limited at practice Friday but will play Sunday, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: Feel free to start Williams if you normally would, though he hasn't produced a sack since injuring his shoulder.