The Facts: Fuller's next route could be a fly pattern out of Houston. The Texans are interested in retaining Fuller, league sources tell Chronicle staffer Aaron Wilson. But for multiple reasons, especially Deshaun Watson's extreme disgruntlement with the team, Fuller is considered unlikely to remain with the Texans unless they make him their franchise player.

Diehards Line: Although Fuller won't play in the 2021 season opener to complete his six-game suspension for a violation of the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy, he's still regarded as one of the most dangerous deep threats in the game. It's a complicated and expensive situation, though, as the Texans contemplate whether to use the franchise tag on Fuller. The first day they could have utilized the $16.54 million franchise tender was Tuesday. Multiple league sources told Wilson they would be surprised if Fuller wound up being assigned the franchise tag. Meanwhile, because Watson and Fuller have a close relationship and have built a strong chemistry over the past four years, their respective situations are interconnected. If Watson and the Texans never reconcile, which many league sources predict is the most likely scenario, then Fuller is considered unlikely to want to return.