Texans Activate OT Braden Smith: Survivor Read on Houston

Texans get Braden Smith back on the line

Houston activated offensive tackle Braden Smith from injured reserve, returning him to the active roster. For a line that's been patching holes, that's a meaningful boost to pass protection and the run game heading into a road test.

The survivor-pick impact

Don't let the roster news trick you into reaching for the Texans in Week 6. Houston travels to Jacksonville as a 2.5-point underdog, and underdogs are never a survivor pick — pass regardless of who's healthy up front. The pick to monitor is Week 7, when Houston hosts the Giants as a 5.5-point home favorite. That's a modest line, so Smith's return matters: a steadier offensive line makes that number more trustworthy if you're saving stronger teams for later. File the Texans as a Week 7 possibility, not a Week 6 one, and weigh them against the rest of your NFL survivor pool picks before you commit. If you're still building your bracket, you can start a free survivor pool and keep Houston on the back burner.