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5 Houston Texans Land in Latest Ranking of the Top Players in the NFL
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- 5 Houston Texans Land in Latest Ranking of the Top Players in the NFL
The Houston Texans have built a very consistent team over the past few seasons, which has led to three straight Divisional Round appearances. With the consistency the Texans have shown, several players have been able to shine, which has led to recognition around the league.
Speaking of recognition, five Texans players landed in a recent ranking done by ESPN predicting the top 100 players in the NFL for the upcoming season. Having five players in this ranking is a great sign for Houston and likely means that this team has another opportunity for a great season.
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So, let's take a look at the five Texans in this ranking and see who ranked the highest.
No. 91: Kamari Lassiter, CB
The first player on this list to talk about is cornerback Kamari Lassiter who comes in as ESPN's No. 91 player for the upcoming season.
In the secondary, Lassiter provides lockdown coverage and has become a key part of this Houston defense. Last season, Lassiter actually led the Texans in pass breakups with 17 and was tied for the team lead in interceptions with four, while also adding 91 tackles.
Heading into 2026, Lassiter has an opportunity to continue developing and become an even better corner to make this defense even more dominant.
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No. 44: Nico Collins, WR
A bit further down on the list, wide receiver Nico Collins ranked 44th for the Texans and was the only offensive player for Houston on the list.
During the 2025 season, Collins once again served as the number one option for quarterback C.J. Stroud, which resulted in great production. For the entire season, Collins tallied 71 receptions for 1,117 yards, six touchdowns, and 48 first downs.
As the Texans head into next season, if Collins and Stroud continue to get on the same page, Collins could have an opportunity to set career highs, which may give him an opportunity to strengthen his argument as one of the best receivers in the entire NFL.
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No. 39: Danielle Hunter, ED
At defensive end, Danielle Hunter comes in as ESPN's No. 39 player for the Texans on this list which shows the type of impact he can make up front.
In 2025, Hunter was very dominant as he totaled 54 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, three pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Whether it was in the run game or the pass game, Hunter was a dominant force and made it very difficult for opposing offenses to move the ball.
For the upcoming season, as long as Hunter stays healthy, he should be just as dominant and have a great chance to make a case as one of the more well-rounded edge rushers in the entire NFL.
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No. 21: Derek Stingley Jr., CB
As the Texans cornerback to make the list, Derek Stingley Jr. was able to come in as the No. 21 player for the upcoming season which further demonstrates how good the Houston secondary is.
Throughout the 2025 season, Stingley was very productive as he recorded 36 tackles, 15 pass breakups, four interceptions, one forced fumble, and one touchdown. With the production Stingley put on display last year, it is very clear that no matter who he faced he was going to make a major impact.
So, heading into 2026, Stingley should have an opportunity to continue his consistent performance, and if he does play to his potential, he may very well put himself in the conversation as one of the top three corners in the entire NFL if he is not in that discussion already.
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No. 15: Will Anderson Jr., ED
The highest ranked Texans player on this list was defensive end Will Anderson Jr. who landed at No. 15.
Last season, Anderson was very disruptive and has clearly become one of the more dominant edge rushers in the entire NFL. In Anderson's 2025 campaign, he tallied 54 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, three pass deflections, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one touchdown.
When looking at Anderson's game, no matter what down and distance it is, he is sure to make a big play which frightens opposing offenses, especially in the postseason where he has played some of his best football.
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As Anderson prepares for the 2026 season, he could make a strong case to win defensive player of the year after another productive offseason as he aims to help lead this defense to being an elite unit once again.
