E.J. Speed

E.J. Speed

30-Year-Old LinebackerLB
Houston Texans
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Speed, coming off consecutive seasons with 100-plus tackles, had a few suitors during free agency. Ultimately, the lure of playing in his home state and for a well-respected former linebacker, DeMeco Ryans, brought him to Houston. Speed recorded 142 tackles, five passes defensed and one interception in 15 starts for the Colts last season. The second level of Houston's defense is teeming with talent, as Speed joins Azeez Al-Shaair, Henry To'oTo'o and Christian Harris. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#340
ADP
#Subscriber-Only
IDP
$Signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Texans in March of 2025.
Reduced role in Houston
LBHouston Texans
January 9, 2026
Speed recorded 62 tackles (33 solo) and one pass defensed over 16 regular-season games in 2025.
ANALYSIS
Speed's first season in Houston looked nothing like the trend he established in his final two years with Indianapolis, for whom he posted 102 and 142 tackles in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Houston's top-ranked defense operated mostly out of the nickel, which naturally limits at least one linebacker. Defensive back Jalen Pitre, who brings the physicality of a linebacker, gave the Texans more flexibility at the expense of Speed's playing time. The linebacker played 50 percent or fewer of the defensive snaps in 10 of 16 games. He'll become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.
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2020
2019
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Houston TexansTexans 2024 LB Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

89877%
9072%
82371%
4032%
64756%
2419%
33529%
5746%
17015%
4334%
16915%
4838%
13011%
1814%
252%
1714%
141%
00%
0%
00%
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2024 E.J. Speed Split Stats
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring E.J. Speed See More
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109 days ago
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IDP Analysis: Week 18
IDP Analysis: Week 18
January 1, 2025
January 1, 2025
In the IDP Fallers category, E.J. Speed tallied only five tackles against the Giants Week 18 after a one-game absence.
Gameday Injuries: Week 17
Gameday Injuries: Week 17
December 29, 2024
December 29, 2024
With fantasy championships unfolding in many leagues, RotoWire breaks down the latest on a star-laden Week 17 injury report as of Sunday morning.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
2021
Speed took over as the Colts' starting weakside linebacker after the team waived Shaquille Leonard in midseason and the former backup established himself as a starter heading into 2024. Speed recorded 102 tackles (78 solo) including a sack and three forced fumbles. It was a career-best year for him in essentially every category. He'll return as the starting weak-side linebacker.
Speed played in all 17 games for the Colts during the 2022 season and started five of them. He is expected to enter the 2023 campaign as the team's starting weakside linebacker.
Speed improved in his third season and could be set for a larger role as a key reserve linebacker, especially if Darius Leonard is sidelined after offseason back surgery.
The 2019 fifth-round draft pick will compete for the starting strong-side linebacker role, but more likely will be a valuable reserve at all three linebacker spots.
More Fantasy News
Clears injury designation
LBHouston Texans
December 19, 2025
Speed (knee) has no injury designation heading into Sunday's matchup against the Raiders.
ANALYSIS
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Upgrades to limited practice
LBHouston Texans
Knee
December 18, 2025
Speed (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
ANALYSIS
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Doesn't practice Wednesday
LBHouston Texans
Knee
December 17, 2025
Speed (knee) did not participate at practice Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
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Not playing Week 15
LBHouston Texans
Knee
December 14, 2025
Speed (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
ANALYSIS
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Questionable for Sunday
LBHouston Texans
Knee
December 12, 2025
Speed (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
ANALYSIS
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