Noel never reached a 50% snap share in any game as a rookie, and now the Texans have Tank Dell potentially returning from injury. However, he is only 23 years old and averaged more than 11 FPPG in the four games where he saw at least four targets. He also has appeal in leagues that reward points for return yards, as Noel had 1,134 return yards in 2025. Noel will now have renewed interest in redraft leagues with second-year receiver Jayden Higgins suffering from a torn ACL. Higgins is expected to miss the entirety of the 2026 season and Noel could emerge as the clear-cut No. 2 target for the Texans' passing game. Noel makes for an excellent upside sleeper in the double-digit rounds.Ā
Noel (hamstring/finger) returned to practice this week, and the plan is to get him ramped back up to full speed over the next couple weeks, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Noel missed a couple weeks of action with a pulled hamstring and pinkie finger issue, but he's now suddenly in the spotlight in a big way in Houston after it was reported that Jayden Higgins suffered a season-ending torn ACL this week. A third-round pick out of Iowa State in the 2025 Draft, Noel appeared in all 17 regular-season games as a rookie but was on the field for just 26 percent of the offensive snaps behind Nico Collins, Higgins, Xavier Hutchinson and Christian Kirk. With Higgins now out and Kirk in San Francisco, there's a big opportunity for Noel to carve out a role in two- or three-wide sets. When on the field in 2025, Noel was productive, turning 35 regular-season targets into 26 catches for 292 yards (11.2 yards per catch) and a pair of touchdowns.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Added work following Higgins injury?
Rotowire
With Jayden Higgins having reportedly suffered a torn ACL, Noel (hamstring/finger) is a candidate to see added work in Houston's offense this coming season, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN reports.
Higgins had been slated to serve as the Texans' No. 2 WR behind top option Nico Collins, but in his looming absence, snaps and targets that would have gone his way are up for grabs. Per Bien-Aime, Noel hasn't practiced much throughout training camp as he's dealt with a finger issue and hamstring tightness, while Tank Dell is being eased back in following a knee injury that cost him the entire 2025 campaign. Also in the mix behind Collins is Xavier Hutchinson, but once Noel moves fully past his injury issues, he'll have a chance to claim a role in his team's offense out of the gate this season.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Unexpectedly returns to practice Tuesday
Rotowire
Noel (hamstring) was spotted in full pads and a red no-contact uniform for Tuesday's practice, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Noel's presence on the field comes as a surprise, after Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reported Sunday that the wideout would likely be sidelined "a few weeks" due to a hamstring issue. Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins are locked in as the top two receivers on the depth chart, but Noel could secure the No. 3 role over the likes of Xavier Hutchinson and Tank Dell (knee) if he can quickly get healthy.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Optimism around Week 1 availability
Rotowire
The Texans are optimistic that Noel (hamstring/finger) will be available for the team's regular-season opener against the Bills on Sunday, Sept. 13, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Noel was sidelined by a right pinkie injury that he sustained days before the start of training camp. He is now working through a strained hamstring and is training on the side during practice, though the Texans regard that particular injury as a minor setback and are expecting the 2025 third-rounder to suit up for Week 1. Noel is aiming to build off his rookie campaign, when he caught 26 passes (on 35 targets) for 292 yards and two touchdowns across 17 regular-season games while also contributing as a returner on punts and kickoffs.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Will miss 'a few weeks' with hamstring issue
Rotowire
Noel recently sustained a hamstring injury that will likely keep him from practicing for "a few weeks," Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
The wideout previously had a delayed start to training camp due to a right pinkie finger injury, which caused him to miss some practice time before he was activated from the active/non-football injury list Aug. 7. Just over a week later, Noel is now dealing with a more worrisome hamstring issue, which had relegated him to a side field in the Texans' last few practices. Receivers coach Ben McDaniels expressed confidence that Noel will be "ready to roll" once he's cleared to resume taking part in team drills, but the missed reps during practices and preseason games likely will damage his chances of heading into Week 1 as the Texans' No. 3 receiver. Noel has been competing with Xavier Hutchinson and Tank Dell (knee) for those duties.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Activated from NFI list
Rotowire
The Texans activated Noel (finger) from the active/non-football injury list Friday morning.
After missing the first two weeks of training camp, Noel will hope to join the job battle for the No. 3 WR role in Houston. Noel's main competition is Tank Dell (knee) and Xavier Hutchinson.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Dealing with finger injury
Rotowire
Noel's placement on the active/non-football injury list is due to a finger injury that could cause him to miss a few weeks, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio remarked that Noel could be back in a few weeks, though Wilson has reported that the second-year wideout's injury is short-term. It will be encouraging if Wilson is able to get back on the practice field at training camp sooner rather than later, given the opportunity he faces to secure the No. 3 receiver role behind Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins. As long as Noel remains sidelined, Xavier Hutchinson, Lewis Bond and Justin Watson will benefit from increased reps. The same could be true of Tank Dell (knee), who will begin camp limited to side work but will ramp up to full-team reps.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Lands on non-football injury list
Rotowire
Noel (undisclosed) was placed on the active/non-football injury list by the Texans on Tuesday, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
It's not clear what landed Noel on the list, but the wideout is eligible to be activated at any time once he's deemed ready to practice. The 2025 third-rounder will compete for slotting in a Houston WR corps that includes Xavier Hutchinson, Tank Dell (knee) and Lewis Bond, with Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins as the expected starters.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Impresses at minicamp
Rotowire
Noel was a standout at the Texans' mandatory minicamp, Jared Koch of SI.com reports.
Noel reportedly connected with quarterback C.J. Stroud for multiple touchdowns during team drills at mandatory minicamp, which took place from June 9-11. The 2025 third-rounder displayed impressive versatility as a rookie, suiting up for all 17 regular-season games while compiling a 26-292-2 receiving line (on 35 targets), rushing six times for 12 yards, and racking up 799 kick-return yards and 335 yards on punt returns. He enters Year 2 competing with Tank Dell (knee) and Xavier Hutchinson for receiver reps behind Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins, with Koch reporting that Noel currently appears to be in the lead for the No. 3 role.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: One grab in win
Rotowire
Noel caught his lone target for 13 yards and returned one kickoff for six yards in Sunday's 38-30 win over the Colts in Week 18.
Noel finished with one or fewer receptions for the 11th time in 17 games. He's clearly fifth on the wideout depth chart, but the rookie is set as the team's top punt returner as Houston prepares for the playoffs beginning next Monday in Pittsburgh. Noel finished the 2025 regular season with 26 catches on 35 targets for 292 yards and two touchdowns. He also topped the Texans by averaging 10.8 yards over 31 punt returns.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Makes impact in win
Rotowire
Noel caught three of four targets for 54 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 20-16 win over the Chargers in Week 17. He also had one carry for two yards.
It was a big day for Houston's rookie wideouts, as both Noel and Jayden Higgins scored on the team's first two possessions. With Los Angeles' defense paying extra attention to Nico Collins, Noel was one-on-one and beat Elijah Molden deep on a post route for a 43-yard score. It was the second touchdown of the season for the rookie, whose inconsistent production from week to week makes him a hard start for fantasy managers. Noel has seven receptions on 10 targets for 82 yards over the last seven games.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Sets up two scores in win
Rotowire
Noel returned one punt for 13 yards and two kickoffs for 108 yards in Sunday's 40-20 win over Arizona in Week 15. He was not targeted on offense.
Noel's 39-yard return on the opening kickoff put Houston in good field position on its first possession and set up a 57-yard touchdown pass. He later returned a kick 69 yards to set up a field goal. Noel's mostly been a non-factor on offense unless there are injuries ahead of him the depth chart. Since a three-game spree (11-16-153, one TD) earlier in the season, the 2025 third-round pick has eight receptions on 10 targets for 63 yards over the last seven games.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Targeted once in win
Rotowire
Noel did not catch his lone target and amassed 106 return yards on two punts and three kickoffs in Sunday's 20-16 win over Indianapolis in Week 13.
This has been the pattern for three consecutive games, as Noel barely makes a dent on offense but is heavily involved on special teams. The silver lining for his role on offense is that Sunday's target came in the red zone with C.J. Stroud back under center. Noel has caught 20 of 28 targets (including four in the red zone) for 213 yards and one touchdown this season.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Minimal role on offense
Rotowire
Noel caught one of two targets for four yards, logged one carry for five yards and returned four kickoffs for 96 yards in Thursday's 23-16 win over the Bills in Week 12.
One of Noel's two targets came in the red zone, and the rookie recorded his fourth carry of the season. After a mid-season spike in activity, he's had two or fewer targets in three of the last four contests. Noel's greatest weekly contributions have come on special teams, where he's settled in as the Texans' primary returner of both punts and kickoffs.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Up-and-down season continues
Rotowire
Noel hauled in his lone target for 12 yards while adding 89 total return yards on five punts and two kickoffs in Sunday's 16-13 win over the Titans in Week 11.
Noel's production has been a roller coaster since Houston's Week 5 bye. In three of the last five contests, the rookie third-round pick has a combined 13 catches on 17 targets for 175 yards. In the two other games, Noel has one catch on one target for 12 yards. Noel's greatest contribution has been as a returner; he leads the team with a combined 457 returns yards (eight kickoffs, 23 punts).
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Bounces back in win
Rotowire
Noel caught all four of his targets for 35 yards and returned one punt for eight yards in Sunday's 36-29 win over the Jaguars in Week 10.
Noel was more involved Sunday than in Week 9, when he played just 11 offensive snaps and went untargeted, but that performance looks like a outlier. Other than last week's shutout, Noel has at least four catches and four targets in three of the last four games.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Personnel packages affected role
Rotowire
Noel said Wednesday that his diminished role in Week 9's loss to Denver was the result of personnel packages used by the offense, Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Following two productive weeks, when Noel caught nine of 13 targets for 140 yards, the rookie's upward trajectory reversed course against the Broncos last week. He was limited to 11 snaps on offense, zero targets and just four routes run. Part of that was due to the returns of Nico Collins and Christian Kirk from injury, but Noel also cited matchup reasons. He noted the team's abundant use of two-wide receiver sets, which meant more running backs or tight ends on the field. Noel, who primarily plays in the slot, is typically not on the field in such packages. Losing quarterback C.J. Stroud to a concussion also played a role, as Houston shifted to a conservative rush-focused attack that required its best blocking personnel on the field. Stroud has been ruled out against the Jaguars in Week 10, which should limit Noel's role on offense again.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Sleeper WRs
Rotowire
Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring) are not expected to play in Week 8 against San Francisco, which gives Noel and Jayden Higgins the chance to be low-end No. 3 Fantasy receivers in deeper leagues. I like Noel better than Higgins, and Noel just stepped up in Week 7 at Seattle in the game Collins was injured, while Kirk was out. Noel had four catches for 77 yards on seven targets against the Seahawks, and he should remain a go-to option for C.J. Stroud. Higgins has yet to get more than four targets in any game, but that should change in this outing. The 49ers are a tough matchup, but four receivers have scored at least 11.5 PPR points against San Francisco in the past three games. Noel and Higgins could be surprise Fantasy options with their opportunity with Collins and Kirk injured.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Gains 77 yards on MNF
Rotowire
Noel hauled in four of seven targets for 77 yards in Monday's 27-19 loss to the Seahawks.
Fresh off his first career touchdown reception in Week 6, Noel followed that up with a season-high 77 receiving yards on Monday Night Football. The absence of Christian Kirk (hamstring) helped elevate the rookie's role, and it is currently unclear how much time the veteran slot receiver will miss. No. 1 wideout Nico Collins (concussion) also left Monday's loss late in the fourth quarter, so the Texans may ask Noel to continue serving an elevated role if either starter is forced to miss Sunday's contest against the 49ers.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylin Noel: Targeted once in win
Rotowire
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.
