Who Should I Start? Xavier Hutchinson or Chris Bell


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
3.1 0.6 0.0 1.1 14.2 0.1

Xavier Hutchinson News

Xavier Hutchinson Rising With More Snaps

Monday, August 24, 8:15 AM

Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson is getting more offensive snaps now that Jayden Higgins (knee) is done for the entire 2026 season due to a torn ACL. Quarterback C.J. Stroud threw a 50-yard bomb to Hutchinson during Monday's training camp practice for a touchdown after he beat cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. In the team's preseason contest on Thursday against the Las Vegas Raiders, Hutchinson caught one of his two targets from Stroud for a loss of one yard. The 26-year-old could see the second-most snaps behind WR1 Nico Collins now that Higgins is out for the year, but second-year wideout Jaylin Noel (hamstring) and Tank Dell (knee) will have something to say about that when it's all said and done. Hutchinson has a real opportunity in 2026, but he doesn't have the pure upside that both Noel and Dell have if they are healthy. The former sixth-rounder in 2023 from Iowa State has 55 catches for 635 yards and three touchdowns (all last year) in his three years in Houston, with his 35-428-3 line in 17 regular-season games being his high-water mark.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
5.8 0.1 0.0 2.1 27.6 0.1

Chris Bell News

Chris Bell Still Needs to Get into Football Shape

Tuesday, September 1, 3:29 PM

Miami Dolphins rookie third-round wide receiver Chris Bell played 14 offensive snaps in the team's preseason finale last Friday and caught two of his five targets for 22 yards as he closes out his rehab from a torn ACL. However, head coach Jeff Hafley said Bell is still working his way back, saying, "I think he would tell you he needs to continue to get in football shape," according to Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post. "If he continues to improve, get in shape, then my expectation is we see him on the field," Hafley added. It sounds as though the 22-year-old has a chance to be active as a part of the offense in Week 1 of the regular season in an offense that has one of the thinnest WR depth charts in the league. Bell is competing primarily with fellow rookie Caleb Douglas for the WR3 role behind Malik Washington and Jalen Tolbert, so he has a prime chance for rookie-year targets from new Dolphins QB Malik Willis. Bell can likely be avoided in 12-team fantasy leagues, but with opportunity and likely positive game script most weeks, he could quickly emerge as a trendy waiver-wire pickup if he continues to ascend and build trust with Willis.


Xavier Hutchinson vs. Chris Bell

Still trying to decide between Hutchinson and Bell? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Xavier Hutchinson is projected to score 3.1 points this week while Chris Bell is projected to score 5.8 points.