Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: In line for elevated role again
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Hutchinson is in line to serve as the Texans' No. 1 receiver for the second consecutive game in Sunday's Week 3 matchup against the Colts due to Nico Collins (hamstring) being ruled inactive for the contest.
Hutchinson was in the same slotting for the Week 2 loss to the Bengals, a game in which he saw nine targets on 51 routes run but only converted three into catches. Hutchinson ostensibly has a more palatable matchup Sunday, as the Colts have surrendered an elevated 72.7 percent catch rate and 17.9 yards per reception to wide receivers, along with three touchdowns, over the first two games.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Sleeper WRs
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Nico Collins (hamstring) is out again in Week 3 at Indianapolis after missing Week 2 against Cincinnati, and that should allow Hutchinson to be a starter in deep, three-receiver leagues. He had nine targets against the Bengals in Week 2 but finished with just three catches for 37 yards. Collins has missed three games over the past two seasons, and Hutchinson has at least six targets in each outing. The Colts are No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and four guys in two games against Baltimore and Kansas City (Zay Flowers, Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton and Rashee Rice scored at least 12.3 PPR points. There's no guarantee Hutchinson is the best Houston receiver in Week 3 -- Kayshon Boutte, Jaylin Noel and Jared Wayne all had at least five targets in Week 2 -- but I trust Hutchinson the most of this group.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Week 3 Waiver Priority List
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Dalton Schultz was a star without Nico Collins (hamstring) in Week 2 against Cincinnati, but none of the receivers stepped up. We'll see if Collins is out again in Week 3 at Indianapolis, and maybe the receivers will fare better against the Colts. I'd look at Hutchinson first, and he had nine targets against the Bengals for three catches and 37 yards. Collins has missed three games over the past two seasons, and Hutchinson has at least six targets in each outing. Kayshon Boutte (29 percent rostered) would be next, and he had three catches for 37 yards on five targets against Cincinnati. I still have interest in Jaylin Noel (6 percent rostered) in deeper leagues, but he only had one catch for 31 yards on five targets against the Bengals. And then a wild-card for this group is Jared Wayne (1 percent rostered), who had two catches for 33 yards on seven targets in Week 2. Hutchinson and Boutte are worth 1 percent of your remaining FAAB in all leagues, and Noel and Wayne are worth 1 percent in deeper formats. But all of them will be irrelevant if Collins plays in Week 3.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Only three catches on nine looks Week 2
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Hutchinson caught three passes on nine targets for 37 yards during the Texans' 20-6 loss to the Bengals on Sunday.
Hutchinson operated in an elevated role on offense Sunday due to the absence of Nico Collins (hamstring). Hutchinson's 65 offensive snaps and nine targets were most among all Texans wide receivers, though he ended up catching only three passes from C.J. Stroud, with tight end Dalton Schultz leading Houston's pass catchers with a 12-140-0 line (on 14 targets). Hutchinson has six catches for on 15 targets for 69 yards through two regular-season games, and he would be the WR1 against the Colts in Week 3 if Collins is not cleared to return.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Stepping up in Collins' absence
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Hutchinson will have a key role for the Texans in the absence of Nico Collins (hamstring) this Sunday against Cincinnati, Aaron Wilson of SportsTalk790AM reports.
In the season opener, Hutchinson finished second among the team's wide receivers in route share (69 percent) and target share (16.2 percent), catching three of six targets for 32 yards. He's struggled to draw targets over the years even when he gets considerable playing time, but this could be somewhat different because the team's WR depth looks thinner than in past years. Kayshon Boutte, Jaylin Noel and Jared Wayne also figure to have roles against the Bengals on Sunday.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Hauls in three passes Week 1
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Hutchinson caught three passes (on six targets) for 32 yards during the Texans' 36-31 loss to the Bills on Sunday.
Hutchinson finished third among Texans pass catchers in both targets and receptions, including a 20-yard catch late in the fourth quarter. His 44 snaps on offense were second-most among wide receivers behind Nico Collins (57), suggesting that Hutchinson is the Texans' WR2 ahead of Kayshoun Boutte (36 snaps) and Jaylin Noel (24 snaps) in the absence of Jayden Higgins (knee, IR). The Texans will stay at home for Week 2 against the Bengals on Sept. 20.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Two targets from Stroud on Thursday
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Hutchinson caught one of two targets for minus-1 yard in Thursday's 22-20 preseason loss to the Raiders.
Both of Hutchinson's targets came from starting QB C.J. Stroud on the opening drive. Hutchinson is probably the favorite to get the second-most snaps among Houston's wide receivers in the regular season behind Nico Collins following Jayden Higgins' season-ending ACL tear, but Jaylin Noel (hamstring) and Tank Dell (knee) both have more upside as pass catchers. Houston's coaching staff values Hutchinson's blocking and dependability, but he has exceeded 42 receiving yards only twice in 49 regular-season games.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Could fill expanded role
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With Jayden Higgins having reportedly suffered a season-ending torn ACL, Hutchinson is a candidate to see added work this season behind top WR Nico Collins, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Higgins has been projected to work as the team's No. 2 WR option, but in the wake of his injury, Hutchinson as well as Jaylin Noel, (who has been managing a hamstring issue) and Tank Dell -- who is being eased back from in his return from a serious knee injury -- are candidates to absorb Higgins' vacated snaps and targets. It's also possible the Texans could bring in added wide receiver depth ahead of Week 1, but as things stand, Hutchinson has a chance to be a factor in the team's offense out of the gate this season.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Back for Year 4 with Houston
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Ahead of training camp, Jared Koch of SI.com projects that Hutchinson slots in as the No. 4 option in a WR corps that also includes Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, Tank Dell (knee) and Lewis Bond.
Collins remains Houston's clear-cut top wideout, with Koch having noted last month that Higgins and Noel both logged frequent reps in the first-team offense on the outside and in the slot, respectively. Hutchinson's role in 2026 is thus TDB, with Dell's ongoing recovery from a knee injury a notable moving part in that regard. In 17 regular-season games in 2025, Hutchinson compiled a 35-428-3 line on 57 targets, but steady volume may not be in the cards for the 2023 sixth-rounder out of the gate this season unless injuries hit the Texans' WR corps.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Four grabs against Pats
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Hutchinson caught four of 13 targets for 44 yards in the Texans' 28-16 loss to the Patriots in the divisional round Sunday.
With Nico Collins (concussion) sidelined, Hutchinson wound up leading the Texans in targets, although he didn't do much with that volume. The third-year wideout hadn't seen more than nine targets in a game during the regular season, and that only came in Week 18, as he compiled a 35-428-3 line on 57 targets over 17 games. Hutchinson will head into next season behind Collins, Jayden Higgins and potentially Jaylin Noel on the depth chart, even before accounting for any offseason additions to the WR room.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Leading receiver Sunday
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Hutchinson caught five of nine targets for 84 yards in Sunday's 38-30 win over the Colts.
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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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Two grabs in win
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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.
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.
Hutchinson caught one of two targets for four yards in Sunday's 23-21 win over Las Vegas in Week 16.
The reemergence of Christian Kirk (40 snaps, five targets) had an impact on Hutchinson's output, and he was limited to two targets for the third consecutive week. Hutchinson has maintained a high snap share regardless of opponent or game plan, but any significant fantasy-level production is dependent on injuries to fellow wideouts. He's had two or fewer catches in five consecutive games.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Another quiet day
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Hutchinson caught one of two targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 40-20 win over the Cardinals in Week 15.
The Texans often deployed multiple tight ends, which limited opportunities for Hutchinson and other depth wideouts. Houston's wide receivers were targeted just seven times in the win with Nico Collins (3-85-2) getting four of them. Hutchinson has seen his volume take a hit during the team's six-game win streak, recording six catches on 14 targets for 97 yards. Sunday was the fourth time during the win streak in which Hutchinson had two or fewer targets.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Gets one touch in win
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Hutchinson did not record a target and had one carry for nine yards in Thursday's 23-16 win over Buffalo in Week 12.
Hutchinson was on the field for a season-low 21 snaps with his only contribution being a red-zone carry. The play started as an end-around on which it looked like he was going to throw the ball but ended up being a nine-yard scramble. This was the second time in three weeks that Hutchinson did not generate a target, but things could change Week 13 if starting quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) returns.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Posts 42 yards in Week 11 win
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Hutchinson caught three of five targets for 42 yards in the Texans' 16-13 win over the Titans on Sunday.
Hutchinson finished fourth on the team with his five targets, trailing Nico Collins (10), Dalton Schultz (nine) and rookie Jayden Higgins (seven). The third-year receiver now has 24 catches for 264 yards and three touchdowns across 10 games this season. With Collins and Christian Kirk healthy and rookie Jayden Higgins' role growing, Hutchinson doesn't carry much fantasy value headed into Thursday night's Week 12 game against Buffalo.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Untargeted in win
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Hutchinson was not targeted over 40 snaps in Sunday's 36-29 win over Jacksonville in Week 10.
Houston's passing game remains in flux with quarterback Davis Mills stepping in for C.J. Stroud (concussion). That limited Hutchinson to zero targets for the first time in nine games. Hutchinson's third season in the NFL has been his most productive, but the team's passing attack has been inconsistent in 2025.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Targeted five times in loss
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Hutchinson caught three of five targets for 30 yards in Sunday's 18-15 loss to Denver in Week 9.
The returns of Nico Collins and Christian Kirk were expected to impact Hutchinson's relevance, but his targets remained high by his standards. The third-year wideout is averaging five targets per game over the last three weeks after opening the season with three per game prior to Houston's Week 6 bye. He continued to hold off rookies Jayden Higgins (one target) and Jaylin Noel (zero) for the WR3 role. Starting quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) was removed in the second quarter of Sunday's loss and replaced by backup Davis Mills, who led the offense for 11 possessions but led the Texans to just 15.6 yards per drive on average. If Stroud misses further time, it would impact the ceiling of all the team's skill players.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Will have competition Week 9
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Hutchinson could see a reduction in targets Week 9 against Denver, as both Nico Collins and Christian Kirk shed their injury designations Friday.
Hutchinson experienced an uptick in targets the last two weeks when both Collins and Kirk were impacted by injuries, but their returns should suppress Hutchinson's production. He typically sees a high snap volume whether or not the team is dealing with injuries to other receivers, so Hutchinson will be on the field often and still in a position to make some kind of impact.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Career-best performance in win
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Hutchinson secured five of six targets for 69 yards and a touchdown in the Texans' 26-15 win over the 49ers on Sunday.
Hutchinson tied for the team lead in both receptions and for second in targets while also setting the pace in receiving yards. All three components of Hutchinson's stat line were also career-best figures, making it quite the banner day for the third-year pro while making up for the absence of Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring). Hutchinson's third touchdown reception of the season came on a 30-yard grab just before the halfway point of the third quarter, and if at least one of Collins or Kirk happens to remain sidelined for a Week 9 home matchup against the Broncos, the former could see an expanded role again.
