Noel caught two of three targets for 13 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 44-10 win over Baltimore in Week 5. He also had one carry for five yards, one kickoff return for 31 yards and one punt return for 12 yards.
Noel was on the receiving end of a four-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud early in the fourth quarter that upped Houston's advantage to 41-10. It was the first NFL touchdown for the rookie wideout, who then engendered some ill on the road by mimicking the dance of legendary Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis. Noel, who has five catches (on seven targets) for 22 yards through five games, has mostly contributed on special teams as a returner.
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Texans' Jaylin Noel: Targeted once in win
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Noel caught his lone target for minus-2 yards and returned three punts for 15 yards in Sunday's 26-0 win over Tennessee in Week 4.
Noel, who continued to play a limited role on offense, has caught three of four targets for nine yards through the first quarter of the season. He does have a more significant role on special teams as a punt returner and sometimes kickoff returner, although he was replaced on kickoffs Sunday by Tremon Smith.
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Texans' Jaylin Noel: Sleeper WRs
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Christian Kirk (hamstring) is out for Week 1 at the Rams, which should allow Noel to be the slot receiver for the Texans. I consider Jayden Higgins a sleeper as well, but you might be able to add Noel (5 percent rostered on CBS Sports on Friday afternoon) a little easier than Higgins (49 percent). That said, both are worth a look since the runway is clear for someone to emerge as the No. 2 option in the passing game behind Nico Collins. Higgins has more upside given his big-play ability, but Noel might get more targets. In deeper leagues, both Higgins and Noel are worth using as No. 3 Fantasy receivers or flex options.
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Texans' Jaylin Noel: Could play more early with WRs hurt
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Noel could see an expanded opportunity Sunday against the Rams, as both Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios are dealing with hamstring injuries, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Noel could work in the slot if Kirk sits out, while fellow Iowa State rookie Jayden Higgins starts on the outside opposite Nico Collins. If Berrios doesn't play, Noel could also add punt return responsibilities to his ledger. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Kirk is expected to miss 1-2 weeks as a result of his hamstring injury.
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Texans' Jaylin Noel: Snags two passes Saturday
Rotowire
Noel caught both his targets for 16 yards in Saturday's 20-10 preseason loss to the Vikings.
The 2025 third-round pick slightly out-performed fellow rookie Jayden Higgins, although both young wideouts were overshadowed by veterans John Metchie (5-45-0 on eight targets) and Braxton Berrios (3-33-1 on three targets). Nico Collins and Christian Kirk should be C.J. Stroud's top two options when the regular season begins, but Higgins and Noel could be locked in a battle for the No. 3 spot straight through training camp and the preseason. Tank Dell (knee) currently has no timetable for a return.
The Texans selected Noel in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 79th overall.
The Texans already took Noel's Iowa State teammate Jayden Higgins in the second round, so the dominant Cyclone duo reunites in Houston. Nico Collins and Christian Kirk might be too good to lose that many targets to the rookie duo in 2025, and Noel in particular might get the short end of the stick as the smallest of the four, but Noel's athletic testing and collegiate production indicate that he should seize whatever opportunity he's given. At 5-foot-10 with short arms Noel does not have the conventional build to line up on the boundary, though Noel's 4.39-second 40-yard dash showed he absolutely has the wheels to burn a defense deep if they aren't careful. Collins and Kirk both have had their share of durability troubles and Tank Dell isn't expected to be available anytime soon, so there's a chance Noel plays meaningful snaps in 2025 even though the Texans would prefer to keep him in a reserve role. Regardless of his short-term situation, Noel projects as a starting NFL wideout eventually.
