Fantasy Football News

Noel caught his first TD of the season in the fourth quarter of the Texans' 26-3 blowout win over the Titans. He hauled in all five of his targets for 41 yards while adding an extra yard as a rusher for a career-high 15.2 PPR points. Noel finished Week 5 ranked as a WR2.

Texans WR Nico Collins (hamstring) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Bengals. He suffered what’s been reported as a Grade 1 hamstring strain in Wednesday’s practice that will cost him at least 1 game. We’ll see if he can make it back for Week 3. Collins’ absence figures to leave Kayshon Boutte and Xavier Hutchinson as Houston’s primary outside WR, with Jaylin Noel in the slot. We wouldn’t trust any of them in fantasy lineups. TE Dalton Schultz could get a target boost with Collins out.

Texans WR Nico Collins is getting tests on his injured hamstring, according to insider Aaron Wilson. "Severity of injury still being determined," Wilson adds. ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime has video of Collins looking fine in individual drills at the start of Wednesday's practice. Add it up and it seems like Collins injured the hamstring later on in practice today, putting his Week 2 availability in serious doubt.

Texans WR Tank Dell is "nowhere near ready to play," according to insider John McClain. Dell was cleared to practice in early August but has remained limited by all accounts as he works back from his December 2024 knee injury.

The Patriots traded WR Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans for S Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round pick, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. The Texans were in need of a shot in the arm at the position after WR Jayden Higgins suffered a torn ACL last week. Other WRs Jaylin Noel and Tank Dell have also missed most of training camp. Boutte had been rumored to be on the trade block since before training camp and was expendable after the Patriots brought in AJ Brown and Romeo Doubs.

Texans WR Jayden Higgins will miss the 2026 season after suffering an ACL tear in Tuesday's practice, according to multiple reports. (It's not yet clear which leg he injured.)

After returning from a pinky injury, Jaylin Noel is now out with a hamstring injury, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. The injury is expected to keep him sidelined for a few weeks.

Texans WR Jaylin Noel is expected to miss "a few weeks" with a finger injury, GM Nick Caserio said Wednesday. Noel is battling Jayden Higgins, Tank Dell, and Xavier Hutchinson for snaps behind Nico Collins. Dell avoided the PUP list to open training camp, but Caserio said he still isn't ready for full-team work.

The Texans will take a “measured approach” with WR Tank Dell at the start of training camp, per team insider Aaron Wilson. That includes limited practices as he’s gradually introduced to drills with contact. He's working back from ACL, MCL, and LCL tears, along with meniscus damage, suffered in December 2024.

Texans GM Nick Caserio chose his words carefully when responding to a question about WR Tank Dell's availability for the start of training camp. Dell is working his way back from ACL, MCL, LCL, and meniscus injuries suffered in December 2024. "With Tank, honestly, it’s probably a day to day, and we’ll kinda see where he is," Caserio said. "Probably have a better idea as we get through the spring, of what his availability is gonna be in training camp. He’s been here pretty religiously since he’s been able to do more, as he’s kinda gotten out of the rehab stage."

NFL Network's Jane Slater reports that the Texans don't plan to play WR Nico Collins in today's finale against the Colts.

Texans WRs Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring) are off the final Week 9 injury report. Neither guy should be limited in Sunday’s game vs. the Broncos. Collins catches a break with All-Pro CB Pat Surtain out with a pectoral injury, although Denver’s secondary still boasts plenty of talent. Kirk has operated as Houston’s primary slot receiver when healthy this season but could lose some snaps to rookie WR Jaylin Noel going forward. Try to keep Kirk out of Week 9 fantasy lineups.

Texans WRs Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring) got in limited practices on Wednesday. Collins should clear protocol in time for this weekend's game vs. the Broncos, and Kirk seemingly has a chance to return for that one too. Kirk has operated as Houston's primary slot receiver in his three games this season, totaling 16 targets, 10 catches, and 109 yards. Rookie WR Jaylin Noel flashed in Kirk's absence, though, and could steal some snaps. Collins is the only Texans WR that should be in Week 9 fantasy lineups.

Texans rookie WR Jaylin Noel enjoyed a second straight positive outing Sunday, snagging 5 receptions for 63 yards in the win over the 49ers. Noel tied for the team lead in catches, trailed Xavier Hutchinson's yardage lead by just 6, and tied for second on the team in targets (six). But he also continued to share a frustrating amount of work with veteran WR Braxton Berrios.

Texans WRs Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring) are out for Sunday’s game vs. the 49ers. Neither guy practiced all week. Collins should have a good chance to make it back for Week 9, but Kirk could miss more time. Their absences this week leave Houston with WRs Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson, and Braxtos Berrios. Higgins and Noel land in WR4 territory in the Week 8 rankings.

Texans WR Nico Collins (concussion) did not practice on Wednesday. He was concussed just two days ago and remains a long shot to be cleared in time for Sunday's game vs. the 49ers. WR Christian Kirk (hamstring) was also sidelined on Wednesday and looks unlikely to play this weekend. That'll leave Houston with Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson, and Braxton Berrios atop the WR depth chart. Rookies Higgins and Noel are worth stashing in fantasy leagues of 12+ teams but would be tough to trust in Week 8 lineups.

The Texans opened Monday night's game at Seattle without No. 2 WR Christian Kirk (hamstring injury). They lost WR Nico Collins to a fourth-quarter concussion. And they completed just six passes for the game to WRs not named Collins ... among 49 total pass attempts. TE Dalton Schultz took advantage of the situation, matching Collins' team lead in targets (10) and easily leading all Texans with 9 receptions and 98 yards in the loss.

Texans WR Nico Collins sustained a concussion in the fourth quarter of Monday night's game vs. the Seahawks. It's his first documented concussion. But with just six days to clear protocol, Collins is unlikely to play vs. the 49ers on Sunday. His absence would leave Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, and Xavier Hutchinson as Houston's top three WRs, assuming Christian Kirk doesn't make it back from his latest hamstring injury. Higgins and Noel are worth speculative stashes, but they'd be tough to trust in Week 8 fantasy lineups with Houston's offense continuing to struggle.