Christian Kirk was on the chopping block and got a last-minute reprieve. Reports started to circulate that the Jacksonville Jaguars were going to cut the veteran wide receiver, but just days before the start of the NFL season, a trade was made. The Houston Texans reached a deal to get Kirk in exchange for a seventh-round pick originally belonging to the Los Angeles Rams. This trade comes just a day after young wide receiver Tank Dell had surgery on his ACL. That surgery and recovery are expected to keep Dell out for all of the 2025 NFL season. While Christian Kirk has not been able to reproduce the type of production that secured him a large contract back in 2022, he now has a new lease on his NFL life. Who else benefits from this inter-divisional trade, and who are the collateral damage that you will want to avoid for fantasy football?
Winner of the Christian Kirk Trade
Travis Etienne: RB- Jacksonville Jaguars
Who doesn’t love a good pass-catching running back? It seems that the new Jaguars head coach, Liam Cohen, does. Not only did they trade Christian Kirk, but they also cut tight end Evan Engram. While it is expected that the Jaguars bring in at least one veteran and use high draft capital on a wide receiver, ETN looks to up his target number. Travis Etienne has seen a significant number of targets already in his short career. 43 in his rookie season, 73 his sophomore year, and 52 last season. In 2023, with the help of his 73 targets, Etienne finished as the fantasy RB3. With how Cohen used both Rachaad White and Bucky Irving in Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year, I expect Etienne to see well over the 50 target mark. He will be a familiar face for Trevor Lawrence, who will be rebuilding chemistry across the pass catchers on the team. Etienne is a sneaky good pick for fantasy this year after a down 2024. The upside is that there is more opportunity to get the ball into his hands.
Christian Kirk: WR- Houston Texans
Christian Kirk has been fortunate to play with good quarterbacks all of his career. Starting with Kyler Murray, then Trevor Lawrence, and now C.J. Stroud. Despite a down year for Stroud in 2024, he is still a better quarterback than Lawrence. This is a huge boost for Kirk. On top of the upgrade at quarterback, Christian Kirk steps into a role that gave Tank Dell 81 targets in 14 games. A pace that would put him just under 100 total if he was able to play a full season. Kirk has been able to handle a lot more than that. In 2023, he was on pace for 120 targets, and in 2022, he saw 133 targets. With only one year left on his contract, he gets a chance to play for another big one next off-season. He should easily see over 100 targets this season and produce solid WR3 numbers for fantasy football.
Losers of the Christian Kirk Trade
Trevor Lawrence: Quarterback- Jacksonville Jaguars
Its never great to lose one of your top receiving weapons. Even if that weapon missed time and was not the player he once was. No matter how good Brian Thomas Jr is there will always be a need for another weapon in the passing game. Kirk was able to provide that over his time in Jacksonville. Now Lawrence will be looking at a receiving room with Gabe Davis and Parker Washington. Unless the Jaguars go out and sign a top free agent or spend significant draft capitol on a player i don’t love TLaw this season. Lawrence only played 10 games last season. He finished averaging only 15 fantasy points per game. Considering Aaron Rodgers averaged 18 points a game and you were highly disappointed in him you cant expect much from Lawrence this season. He will likely finish as a low end QB2 unless something dramatically changes.
Stefon Diggs, Tyler Lockett, & Amari Cooper: WRs
The veteran free agent wide receivers really got hurt by the Christian Kirk trade. First it took away a landing spot. Not just a landing spot but one that was super enticing for a veteran who might be looking to chase a ring. The Texans needed someone after the Tank Dell news and I’m sure players and agents were trying to figure out how to find their way to Houston. It also takes away some of their bargaining power. The Texans were willing to give up a 7th round pick versus waiting just a week to sign one of these guys in the open market. Its an indication that the market for these players may be lower then years past. It will be harder for veterans like Stefon Diggs, Tyler Lockett and Amari Cooper to sign deals after having down years in 2024.
Dalton Schultz: TE- Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have been riddled with injuries over the past few years. From Nico Collins to Tank Dell to John Metchie to Stefon Diggs they no complete seasons with the Texans. One of the only players who has been healthy, at least in 2024 was tight end Dalton Schultz. He finished the year with 85 targets. A number that put him as the 11th most among tight ends. Despite all of that he finished as the fantasy TE20. So even when healthy and plenty of opportunities he failed to be fantasy relevant. With Christian Kirk now on the roster It looks like Schultz will struggle once again. Kirk excels over the middle which is also where the tight end, like Schultz also operates. I’m avoiding Dalton Schultz this season.
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