Who Should I Start? Xavier Hutchinson or Troy Franklin


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
5.6 0.4 0.0 2.1 25.9 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
4.0 0.6 0.0 1.5 17.0 0.1

Troy Franklin News

Troy Franklin Could Be Facing a Reduced Role in Crowded Broncos Wide Receiver Room

Thursday, September 3, 12:58 PM

Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin put together a pretty productive season in 2025, recording 65 catches for 709 yards and six touchdowns on 106 targets across 17 games (seven starts). However, the 23-year-old's production faded a bit down the stretch, as he averaged fewer than three catches and 30 receiving yards over his final seven games of the year (including the postseason). Franklin's place in the Broncos' wide receiver room is in question entering 2026. The team acquired star wideout Jaylen Waddle, who now looks like the clear WR1 in Denver. Veteran Courtland Sutton should be the team's WR2, and 2025 third-round pick Pat Bryant has drawn rave reviews for his work in Broncos camp this summer. As a result, Franklin may be facing a significantly reduced workload in Denver in 2026.


Xavier Hutchinson vs. Troy Franklin

Still trying to decide between Hutchinson and Franklin? 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 5.6 points this week while Troy Franklin is projected to score 4.0 points.