Jaylin Noel: Houston's Best Short-Term Fix?
Nico Collins is concussed entering a short week, and Christian Kirk will be out. Dallas Schultz notwithstanding, it leaves the Texans with a trio of young receivers to lead the passing game in Week 8.
The most established options through seven weeks have been Jayden Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson. For most of those weeks, Jaylin Noel has been on the outside looking in.
Higgins has had moments that show why he could develop into a Tee Higgins/Mike Williams complement to Collins, but the production has been spotty.
Jayden Higgins #Texans Targets from 4 of past 5 games
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) October 22, 2025
- Versatile alignments
- Not targeted from as many different looks at Noel
- Excellent attack of the ball with most targets
- Chunk plays from doing work inside (aligned or breaking) pic.twitter.com/BGUfrJbs94
Hutchinson has worked his way up the depth chart. He's a sneaky-good route runner with skill at the catch point. The Texans should feature Hutchinson even more in the red zone.
Xavier Hutchinson Targets vs. Seattle and Baltimore
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) October 22, 2025
- Significant red zone usage
- Missed opportunity deep by Stroud. Hutchinson ran a fade and Stroud threw too far inside
- Physical at the the catch point pic.twitter.com/0in0jE1yy6
Jaylin Noel has earned roughly one-third to half the snaps of Higgins or Hutchinson because he's backing up the versatile Christian Kirk, while Higgins and Hutchinson are splitting a role. When Kirk missed Monday's game after tweaking a hamstring injury against the Ravens, Jaylin Noel stepped in and looked like one of C.J. Stroud's favored targets.
#Texans WR Jaylin Noel's Targets vs. Seattle
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) October 22, 2025
- Used outside and inside
- Targeted in every range
- Two contested catches -- one clear trust-throw
- Red zone targets pic.twitter.com/xgHLdhMBOO
While Jaylin Noel's snap share still trailed Collins, Higgins, and Hutchinson against the Seahawks, he was the most impactful receiver in the game. The details in the clip above show you what you need to know.
Jaylin Noel is versatile, and the Texans targeted him everywhere. In contrast, Higgins and Hutchinson haven't earned targets from as wide a range of alignments as Noel.
Jaylin Noel is winning on timing routes and match-up plays. Hutchinson and Higgins were getting schemed open more often with plays designed to target one, and only one option.
Jaylin Noel is also earning tight-window targets in zones and man-to-man coverage more often per target than the Hutchinson-Higgins duo. Some of them came in the fourth quarter of Monday night's game.
C.J. Stroud and the Texans appear to trust Jaylin Noel with big-time targets. While the target share data may not encourage you to add and start Jaylin Noel ahead of Higgins or Hutchinson, I think Noel is the best option of the three.
The 49ers defense gives up the most production to receivers with YAC skills and who can work inside and outside. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, Chris Olave, Travis Hunter, Tutu Atwell, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Sterling Shepard, Kameron Johnson, Tez Johnson, and Darnell Mooney are all receivers that fit this description.
Not all of them were viable fantasy producers against the 49ers, but those who weren't had high-efficiency outings -- big plays on minimal targets. Jaylin Noel fits his player archetype best among the Texans' receiving corps.