Houston Texans wide receiver Cecil Shorts III is expected to return after the team's Week 9 bye, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
Shorts has missed the past two games due to a hamstring injury, but appears on track to return from what tends to be a nagging injury in three weeks' time. He will draw an imposing Cincinnati Bengals defense and man slot duties while DeAndre Hopkins and Nate Washington line up outside.
Fantasy impact: Shorts will likely get his fair share of targets upon insertion into the lineup, but not enough to make a consistent impact in standard-formatted fantasy leagues. As a tertiary option in a middling offense, there isn't enough room for upside, especially with Hopkins' monopolization of targets each week.
If anything, Shorts' presence will likely have a negative impact on Washington's production, as he has 201 receiving yards and three touchdowns over the past two games Shorts has missed. As a result, Washington can be considered a low-end flex as long as Shorts remains in the lineup.