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Jaylin Noel Jaylin Noel One grab in win
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 9:12 AM
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.
Analysis: 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. |
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Christian Kirk Christian Kirk One catch in win
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 9:03 AM
Kirk caught one of two targets for minus-3 yards in Sunday's 38-30 win over Indianapolis in Week 18.
Analysis: Kirk had the third-most snaps (39) among Houston's wideouts, finishing behind Jayden Higgins (55) and Xavier Hutchinson (54) while Nico Collins was a healthy inactive. A charitable view of that usage might be that a playoff-bound Houston team was protecting a veteran they'll need in the postseason, but Kirk's marginalization began several weeks ago. He had the fourth-highest snap share at WR (44.7 percent) during the regular season but just 14 receptions on 28 targets over the final nine games, as he found himself competing with rookie Jaylin Noel for work in the slot. |
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Davis Mills Davis Mills Finishes out regular-season finale
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 8:54 AM
Mills completed three of nine pass attempts for 36 yards and rushed for 12 yards on one carry in Sunday's 38-30 win over the Colts in Week 18.
Analysis: The playoff-bound Texans protected starter C.J. Stroud and let Mills close out the second half of the regular-season finale, once it became clear that an AFC South title wasn't in the cards. A healthy Stroud will helm Houston's playoff game next Monday at Pittsburgh. Mills, who filled in earlier this season when Stroud was hurt, finished the 2025 regular season having completing 91 of 159 attempts (57 percent) with five touchdowns and one interception. |
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British Brooks British Brooks Rushing leader in win
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 8:44 AM
Brooks had 13 carries for 63 yards in Sunday's 38-30 win over Indianapolis in Week 18.
Analysis: A number of events led to Brooks leading Houston's backfield in both attempts and yardage. In addition to Nick Chubb being a healthy inactive and Jawhar Jordan getting ruled out after an ankle injury, the Texans accepted their fate at halftime that they were not going to vault over Jacksonville for the AFC South title. Once that reality set in, lead back Woody Marks was put on the shelf for the second half, during which Brooks amassed all of his carries. |
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Jayden Higgins Jayden Higgins Catches two passes in Week 18 win
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 8:35 PM
Higgins caught two of five targets for 23 yards in Sunday's 38-30 win over the Colts.
Analysis: Higgins caught both of his passes in the first half and had another long catch down the sideline called back on a penalty. The Texans then took a handful of starters out of the game in the second half after Nico Collins (rest) wasn't even active for the Week 18 contest. Higgins figures to operate as the Texans' WR2 in next weekend's wild-card date with the Steelers or Ravens. |
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Dalton Schultz Dalton Schultz Four grabs in Week 18 win
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 6:21 PM
Schultz caught all four of his targets for 73 yards in Sunday's 38-30 win over the Colts.
Analysis: The veteran tight end wrapped up the regular season on a high note, catching at least three passes for a sixth straight game. Schultz set new career highs with 82 receptions on 106 targets over 17 games, turning that volume into 777 yards and three TDs. He'll remain a reliable chain-mover for C.J. Stroud heading into the playoffs, beginning with a wild-card round clash with the winner of Sunday night's AFC North battle between the Ravens and Steelers. |
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Xavier Hutchinson Xavier Hutchinson Leading receiver Sunday
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 6:18 PM
Hutchinson caught five of nine targets for 84 yards in Sunday's 38-30 win over the Colts.
Analysis: With Nico Collins getting held out of the game ahead of the playoffs, Hutchinson stepped up to lead the Texans in catches and receiving yards, tying his season high in receptions while setting new high-water marks for 2025 in yardage and targets. The third-year wideout finished the regular season with a career-best 35-428-3 line on 57 targets over 17 games, but he'll likely be a secondary option for C.J. Stroud in the wild-card round against the winner of Sunday night's AFC North clash between the Ravens and Steelers. |
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Woody Marks Woody Marks Limited workload in Week 18
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 6:12 PM
Marks carried the ball 10 times for 48 yards and caught two of three targets for zero yards in Sunday's 38-30 win over the Colts.
Analysis: The Texans wound up sitting many of their starters, including Marks, in the second half as their chances of winning the AFC South slipped away in Jacksonville. As a result, British Brooks led the team with 63 rushing yards. Marks didn't take on a significant role in the Houston offense until Week 4, but the 2025 fourth-round pick still wrapped up his first NFL season with 911 scrimmage yards and five total TDs (two rushing, three receiving) over 16 games. He'll lead the Texans backfield into a wild-card clash with the winner of Sunday's night's AFC North battle between the Ravens and Steelers. |
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C.J. Stroud C.J. Stroud Delivers two TDs in Week 18 win
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 6:06 PM
Stroud completed 14 of 23 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 38-30 win over the Colts. He added five rushing yards and a TD on two carries.
Analysis: With the Texans coming into Sunday with a chance to win the AFC South, Stroud got the start and connected with Jayden Higgins on an 11-yard score before running in a two-yard TD himself, both in the second quarter. With the out-of-town scoreboard not cooperating and the Jaguars winning big, however, Stroud gave way to Davis Mills in the second half. Stroud wraps up the regular season with a career-high 64.5 percent completion rate, along with 3,041 passing yards and a 19:8 TD:INT in 14 games, and he'll be under center in the wild-card round when Houston hits the road to take on the winner of Sunday night's Baltimore-Pittsburgh clash to decide the AFC North. |
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Jawhar Jordan Jawhar Jordan Won't return Sunday
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 2:04 PM
Jordan (ankle) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Colts.
Analysis: Jordan injured his ankle during the first half of Sunday's game. The injury has been deemed severe enough for the second-year pro to not return and could impact his availability for the wild-card round of the AFC playoffs. Dare Ogunbowale and British Brooks are poised to see more snaps out of the backfield behind Woody Marks in Jordan's absence. |
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Jawhar Jordan Jawhar Jordan Hurts ankle Sunday
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 1:22 PM
Jordan exited Sunday's game against the Colts after sustaining an ankle injury.
Analysis: Prior to that, Jordan carried five times for three yards. In his absence, Dare Ogunbowale and British Brooks are available to handle backfield touches behind Woody Marks. |
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Nick Chubb Nick Chubb Inactive Sunday
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 10:40 AM
Chubb (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Colts.
Analysis: With Chubb being rested Sunday, the Texans' Week 18 backfield will be led by Woody Marks, Jawhar Jordan and Dare Ogunbowale. Chubb's next game action is in line to occur in the Texans' playoff opener. |
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Nico Collins Nico Collins Inactive Sunday
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 10:37 AM
Collins (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Colts.
Analysis: With Houston opting to rest Collins, Jayden Higgins, Christian Kirk, Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel and Justin Watson are available to handle the team's Week 18 WR duties. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Higgins and Noel are expected to have "solid" roles versus Indianapolis, while the Texans elect to preserve the health of their top WR ahead of the postseason. Collins' next game action is thus slated to happen in the wild-card round of the playoffs. |
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Nico Collins Nico Collins Expected to rest in Week 18
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 8:29 AM
The Texans are planning on resting Collins ahead of the postseason and are expected to make him a healthy scratch for Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Colts, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Though they can still clinch the AFC South on Sunday with a win over the Colts and a loss by the heavily favored Jaguars to the 3-13 Titans, the Texans will instead prioritize their top wideout's health in Week 18 rather than potentially exposing him to an injury in the pursuit of an unlikely bid for a division title. Even if Houston ends up making Collins active for the contest, he still wouldn't appear likely to play any snaps. Expect the Texans to proceed with Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, Christian Kirk and Xavier Hutchinson as their main options at receiver against Indianapolis. |
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Justin Watson Justin Watson Activated from IR
Mon, Dec 29, 2025, 3:32 PM
The Texans activated Watson (calf) from injured reserve Monday.
Analysis: Watson's 21-day window to return from injured reserve was set to close Wednesday, and with the Texans activating him from injured reserve, he'll be available for Houston's regular-season finale against Indianapolis on Sunday. Watson landed on IR in mid-September, and in the two games prior to his injury he logged three catches (on four targets) for 30 yards while also contributing on special teams. |
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Tank Dell Tank Dell Preparing for return in 2026
Mon, Dec 29, 2025, 12:33 PM
Dell (knee) is making progress and preparing for the 2026 season, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: There haven't been any notable updates on Dell during the regular season, but this confirms he won't be activated from the reserve/PUP list at any point during the playoffs. Dell is working his way back from a torn ACL, MCL and LCL suffered last Week 16 in Kansas City. He underwent multiple surgeries to repair the knee. Dell is signed through the 2026 season. |
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Joe Mixon Joe Mixon Will not return this season
Mon, Dec 29, 2025, 12:29 PM
Mixon (foot/ankle) will not return this season, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: It was reported last month by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that Mixon wasn't expected to play this season, but the veteran running back somewhat refuted the report, implying that had yet to be determined. Mixon remains on the reserve/non-football injury list. Houston will continue to roll with Woody Marks, Jawhar Jordan and Nick Chubb out of the backfield in Week 18 and the postseason. |
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Xavier Hutchinson Xavier Hutchinson Two grabs in win
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 7:21 AM
Hutchinson caught two of three targets for 21 yards in Saturday's 20-16 win over the Chargers in Week 17. He also had one carry for eight yards.
Analysis: Hutchinson continued in a minor offensive role over the second half of the season. During Houston's eight-game win streak, he has nine receptions on 19 targets for 122 yards. |
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Jaylin Noel Jaylin Noel Makes impact in win
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 6:52 AM
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.
Analysis: 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. |
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Christian Kirk Christian Kirk Target leader in win
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 6:37 AM
Kirk caught two of five targets for one yard in Saturday's 20-16 win over the Chargers in Week 17.
Analysis: Kirk led the Texans in targets, but it didn't translate to meaningful production, and his 29 snaps the fourth most among the team's wideouts. His profile in the offense was minimized weeks ago, as rookie Jayden Higgins moved ahead of Kirk, who has been dogged by injuries in 2025. Houston's shift to a ball-control attack also played a role in minimizing Kirk's output. He has just 44 receiving yards over the last five games. |
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