Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel has been a breakout player in recent weeks, recording 11 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown on 16 targets over his last three games played. Noel has benefited from the absence of veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk (hamstring), who has missed Houston's last two contests. If there's reason for concern with Noel, it's that he's yet to crack 45% of his team's offensive snaps this season, even in the games that Kirk has missed. He appears to be limited to working from the slot, which limits his playing time ceiling. Noel is a young player with upside, so he's definitely a name to monitor in deeper fantasy leagues. Still, it may be difficult for him to maintain his production in Week 9 against the Denver Broncos, particularly if one or both of Kirk and Nico Collins (concussion) return to the field.
Oct 27, 2025 10:42 AM EST
Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel is coming off his best game of the season and has another great opportunity in Week 8 against the 49ers. With Christian Kirk (hamstring) on the sideline on Monday Night Football, Noel had a season-high four catches for 77 yards against the Seahawks. With Nico Collins (concussion) also out this week, the Texans' pass-catchers are extremely unproven, making the rookie Noel potentially the team's top wide receiver. Noel has shown the ability to make plays, and he's in a good matchup since San Francisco has allowed the fourth-most receiving yards and PPR points per target to slot receivers. The rookie from Iowa State could be set up for a true breakout game if he gets a heavy workload, and he is the WR41 in the RotoBaller rankings, putting him on the radar as a deep league option and a desperation flex play this week.
Oct 25, 2025 9:47 AM EST
Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel stepped in for Christian Kirk (hamstring) on Monday night in Seattle, and the rookie posted four catches for 77 yards. The 77 receiving yards were the highest total of all of Houston's wide receivers in the game and a new personal best for the third-round pick from Iowa State. He has been getting more work each week, and he should continue to be involved at least while Kirk is out. Kirk missed the first two weeks of the season with a hamstring injury, and he suffered another hamstring injury Friday in practice, but there's no word on how long he'll be out. Noel brings good upside out of the slot if he gets another start against the 49ers in Week 8, and there could be even more targets available if top receiver Nico Collins (concussion) is limited or out after suffering a concussion on Monday.
Oct 21, 2025 8:53 AM EST
Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel could be lined up for more work this week when the Texans visit the Seahawks on Monday Night Football. Noel is the most direct replacement for Christian Kirk (hamstring), since both operate primarily out of the slot. Noel played 17 and 15 snaps the first two weeks of the season with Kirk out and worked his way up to 21 snaps in his last game before the Texans' bye. The fact that Kirk was ruled out in the first game after the bye week isn't a good sign for his availability going forward, especially since he also missed the first two games with a hamstring injury. Noel could be a natural replacement, and the third-round pick from Iowa State caught two of three targets for 13 yards and his first NFL touchdown in Week 5 before the bye week against the Ravens. He'll still be a long-shot flex play even with more work available, but he's a rookie to watch going forward if this Texans' offense can build on their 44 points against the Ravens.
Oct 18, 2025 5:53 PM EST
The Houston Texans "would like to find ways to work rookie wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel" into the lineup more, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN. The Texans were happier with their offense in the Week 5 win over the Baltimore Ravens, in which they scored over 40 points, with Higgins and Noel combining for six catches on seven targets for 45 yards. Higgins actually played a season-high 56% of the offensive snaps on Sunday, while Noel was in on 30% of the snaps. It's going to be hard to keep both Higgins and Noel involved in the offense consistently from week to week as long as Nico Collins and Christian Kirk remain healthy. However, it's a good sign for both Higgins and Noel that Houston's offense finally appears to be clicking and that they will continue to find ways to get them involved. It's hard to justify rostering Higgins or Noel in 12-team fantasy leagues at the moment.
Oct 8, 2025 6:13 PM EST
Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel found the end zone for the first time in his NFL career during the team's dominant 44-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5. The rookie caught two of three targets for 13 yards and a touchdown, marking his best performance of the season. Despite the great moment, Noel's fantasy relevance remains minimal. Through five games, he's caught just five passes and played only 26% of the team's offensive snaps, ranking sixth among Texans wide receivers. Both Noel and fellow rookie Jayden Higgins saw season-high snap counts in Week 5, largely due to the blowout nature of the game that allowed Houston to rest their starters. With Christian Kirk's return solidifying the top of the depth chart along with Nico Collins, Noel's playing time and target share are unlikely to increase in the near future. He's a developmental piece for the future, but for now, he remains off the fantasy radar.
Oct 8, 2025 10:59 AM EST
Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel had the best game of his young NFL career in Week 5 against the Baltimore Ravens, recording two catches for 13 yards and a touchdown on three targets. Noel has played a limited role so far this season, logging just five catches for 23 yards and a score on seven targets across five games. Noel has also yet to play more than 31% of the Texans' offensive snaps in any games and currently appears buried on the wide receiver depth chart behind Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, Jayden Higgins, and Christian Kirk. The 23-year-old Noel has some long-term appeal and could be a stash candidate in deep redraft leagues. Still, in the short term, he's a long shot to provide consistent fantasy production.
Oct 7, 2025 9:59 PM EST
Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel has been somewhat of an afterthought this season and should continue to be avoided in fantasy football ahead of his Week 5 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. He has played just 23.6 percent of the offensive snaps so far, taking a backseat to Nico Collins, Christian Kirk, Jayden Higgins, and Xavier Hutchinson. As long as he's buried on the depth chart, Noel, a rookie, is not worth starting in fantasy football. That remains true this weekend despite a matchup against the Ravens, who have allowed the second-most touchdowns and fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2025. That should benefit Collins and Kirk far more than Noel.
Oct 4, 2025 10:02 AM EST
Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel had only two catches (three targets) for 11 yards in the first three games of the 2025 campaign. Christian Kirk missed two contests to begin the year, so there was an opportunity for others to step up. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, Kirk's absence didn't do anything to benefit Noel, who logged a season-low nine offensive snaps in Week 3. With that in mind, it appears the rookie will see most of his action on special teams, making him nearly irrelevant for managers in any fantasy format heading into the Week 4 matchup with the Tennessee Titans.
Sep 27, 2025 8:43 PM EST
Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel was on the field for only 15 offensive snaps in Monday night's loss to the Buccaneers, and he was held without a target. Through two weeks, he's seen only two looks, resulting in one catch for seven yards. With the Texans' receiving core currently depleted due to injury, Noel had a prime opportunity to carve out a role. Unfortunately, he has been used primarily as a returner on punts and kickoffs. With Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios expected to return to practice this week, any hope Noel had of making an early impact seems to have vanished. He can be dropped for a better option in all redraft leagues.
Sep 16, 2025 2:41 PM EST
Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel will make his NFL debut on Sunday against the Rams, and there could be work available since Christian Kirk (hamstring) is out, moving him up the depth chart. While Jayden Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson will likely rotate across from Nico Collins, Noel is a more natural fit in the slot, where Kirk is expected to spend most of his time when healthy. If the Texans choose to keep Collins out wide, Noel could slide into Kirk's spot in the slot. The third-round pick is coming off a 1,000-yard season for the Iowa State Cyclones and will be a very important sleeper to watch in Week 1 to see how ready he is to contribute to Houston's offense if Kirk misses more time. Noel is ranked as just the WR91 in RotoBaller's rankings in Week 1, so he is still a long-shot starter, but definitely a sleeper to monitor.
Sep 5, 2025 11:04 PM EST
With Houston Texans wide receivers Christian Kirk (hamstring) and Braxton Berrios (hamstring) currently sidelined with injuries, KPRC 2 Sports' Aaron Wilson suggests that rookie Jaylin Noel "figures heavily into the replacement plan" heading into Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams. Wilson goes on to write that Noel is a "classic slot receiver with 4.39 speed and good hands." The third-rounder, not fellow rookie Jayden Higgins, could be the better DFS sleeper on Sunday against the Rams if Kirk is ruled out. The Iowa State product is coming off a 1,000-yard season in college and could be thrown into the fire right away, although Nico Collins, Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson could all see bigger roles on Sunday, as well, if Kirk is unable to suit up. Kirk is going to get the first shot at WR2 duties behind Collins, but he needs to be healthy in order to do so.
Sep 4, 2025 1:51 PM EST
Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel finished his preseason with a quiet stat line of three catches for 18 yards and no touchdowns. Despite the limited production, the rookie third-round pick from Iowa State has garnered significant praise from quarterback C.J. Stroud, who told beat writer Jared Koch that the young wideout "looks great" and is "making plays out here every day." While Noel currently sits behind veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk on the depth chart, Kirk is entering his eighth season and is coming off an injury. Given that his Iowa State teammate, Jayden Higgins, appears to have earned a starting role, Noel could also see the field a fair amount this season. Noel is a solid late-round fantasy flier, especially for managers who believe Kirk may be on the downslope of his career.
Aug 24, 2025 3:49 PM EST
Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel was a standout performer in the team's joint practice with the Detroit Lions on Thursday, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Alexander writes that Noel will "find some time on the field this season and should make an impact." Houston drafted Noel in the third round out of Iowa State this past April. The 22-year-old projects as veteran Christian Kirk's backup in the slot to start the season, but Noel could easily work his way into a larger role over the course of the year. He would likely need an injury to one of the wide receivers ahead of him to be fantasy-relevant in 2025. Still, Noel is a player to target in dynasty leagues and a name to monitor in redraft formats.
Aug 22, 2025 2:30 PM EST
Houston Texans rookie third-round wide receiver Jaylin Noel (hamstring) missed time during minicamp in the spring with a minor strained hamstring, but KPRC's Aaron Wilson reports that Noel has made a full recovery and is ready for training camp this week. The Texans also drafted another receiver in the second round in Jayden Higgins back in April. Nico Collins is the team's unquestioned WR1, while they also have Christian Kirk in the fold in 2025, so it might be difficult for Noel to see notable targets in his first year in the NFL. The 22-year-old stands at only 5-foot-10, but he makes up for his small size with excellent athleticism. The Iowa State product could work as both a slot receiver and on the outside for Houston, but in terms of his fantasy value, Noel will be much more attractive to those in dynasty/keeper formats this year.
Jul 22, 2025 3:22 PM EST
Per the team's transaction logs, the Houston Texans have signed third-round wide receiver Jaylin Noel to a four-year, $6.46 million deal. Noel was the No. 79 overall pick and the second of two Iowa State wideouts selected by the Texans, joining second-rounder and fellow Cyclone Jayden Higgins. With the news that WR Tank Dell (knee) will likely miss the 2025 season, the door is open for both pass catchers to compete for snaps and impact the field. Veteran wideout Christian Kirk does pose a threat and significant target competition. Particularly for Noel, who profiles more like Kirk, considering he operated out of the slot in college. However, the rookie bolsters much more juice than the veteran (4.39 40-yard dash) and should eventually make his way to the starting roster. He caught 80 balls for 1,194 yards last season (eight TDs) and is also a seasoned returner.
May 9, 2025 3:52 PM EST
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