One of the most significant developments following the Houston Texans’ victory over the Denver Broncos was rookie wide receiver Tank Dell’s season-ending leg injury. This was the one disastrous development in an otherwise successful game, his loss dampening the satisfaction and joy of another victory. Despite being a rookie, Dell has been an important part of every game this season. He is C.J. Stroud’s second-most targeted player (Nico Collins is first), has 709 receiving yards, and continues to lead the team with seven receiving touchdowns. His quickness and separation ability quickly made NFL defenders look foolish, and his connection with Stroud has already resulted in multiple game-winning touchdowns. He truly is irreplaceable.
That is the question we are currently answering! Houston has a fascinating mix of receivers at their disposal, some tall and lanky, some short and quick, and a few more in the middle. Everyone will undoubtedly contribute, but one must stand out! So, let’s take a look at who’s still on the team:
NICO COLLINS – 59 receptions, 991 yards, 6 touchdowns, 69.4% catch rate
He is the most obvious option. Nico Collins has been Houston’s No. 1 wide receiver all season, and he’s been playing like it. He had a career-high 191 yards against the Broncos last Sunday, his fourth game with 100+ yards this season.
Collins’ potential was immediately apparent upon his arrival in the league in 2021, owing to his great height and speed. He became increasingly adept at running through defenders with his large frame, and this season he has combined those abilities with fantastic route-running and an improved ability to track the ball.
He’s quickly developed into a complete package for the Texans, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Dell’s injury leads to Collins absorbing a slew of additional targets until the end of the season, but he still can’t fully replace Dell. Collins and Dell were frequently on the field at the same time with very different route trees, so he won’t be able to simply absorb another starter’s routes.
ROBERT WOODS – 30 receptions, 326 yards, 1 touchdown, 52.6% catch rate
Woods has been a consistent, if infrequent, contributor to the team during the offseason. He was in the starting lineup for nine games, but he quickly faded into the background of the Nico Collins/Tank Dell show.
This isn’t meant to diminish Woods’ abilities. When they were both with the Los Angeles Rams, he was one of Jared Goff’s favorite targets, surpassing the 1,000-yard mark in both 2018 and 2019. He and Cooper Kupp were a formidable pass-catching duo for many years, so there’s no reason to believe he can’t become a star again. But, admittedly, it’s been a few years since we’ve seen Woods take over a game, with his most recent game eclipsing the
However, his time with the Tennessee Titans’ morbid 2022 passing offense did not benefit him statistically. He’s fully recovered from his ACL injury and is back on a team with a good quarterback, so he’s more than capable of resuming his 2018 form. Not only that, but he’s an excellent pass-blocker! Although he is not the most popular option among this group of playmakers, Robert Woods arguably has the most evidence that he can be a big-time receiver.
Then you consider his physical attributes: 6’3″, 4.53 40-yard dash, quick feet, long arms, and enough strength to elude would-be tacklers. I mean, he’s got it all! Hutchinson is still in his early stages and clearly isn’t ready for a full workload based on his snap counts, but his size and production remind me of when Houston used a third-round pick in 2021 on another lesser-known wide receiver: Nico Collins. That pick paid off big time, and it’s only a matter of time before we find out if Hutchinson is on the same page.
NOAH BROWN – 21 receptions, 439 yards, 1 touchdown, 70.0% completion percentage
Here’s a serious contender to take over for Dell for the rest of the season. Noah Brown has already had some standout performances in his first year in Houston, surprising me and many other fans who expected him to be more of a fill-in than a true asset. Noah Brown has been an extremely reliable pass-catcher and chain-mover, seemingly shedding the butter fingers that plagued him while with the Dallas Cowboys. Furthermore, he’s already shown the ability to take over a game, accumulating 153 yards and a touchdown on six catches against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then 172 yards on seven catches against the Cincinnati Bengals the following week!
To summarize, Noah Brown has already demonstrated this season that he can be the ideal complement to C.J. Stroud’s deep ball. 325 receiving yards in two games is not an accident, and while he’s never been a 1,000-yard receiver, I think he’ll get close this year if he gets more targets. Despite the fact that Noah Brown appears to be capable of filling in for Tank Dell, there is another player on the roster who may have what it takes…
JOHN METCHIE III – 12 Receptions, 138 Yards, 75.0% Catch Rate
It might be time to finally unlock John Metchie III. Former Alabama Crimson Tide star receiver John Metchie was drafted by the Texans in the second round, 44th overall, in 2022, but was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia shortly after. A devastating diagnosis that kept him out for his entire rookie season, but it only took him a little more than a year to beat cancer and return to football activities.
Metchie has become a regular contributor behind Tank Dell this year, now that he is fully healthy, occasionally getting a chance to flash the speed that made him famous in Tuscaloosa. Metchie’s comparable route-running and game-breaking speed are certainly enticing the Texans’ coaching staff with Tank Dell now out for the season. If everything goes as planned, he could be a drop-in replacement for Tank Dell, forming a connection with Stroud that could quickly yield multiple long touchdown passes. Metchie had already demonstrated in college that he possesses the hands, speed, and finesse to destroy opposing defenses on a weekly basis, and now he has the opportunity to do so in the NFL. If I had to pick a Texans receiver, I’d go with
But that’s just my opinion. Out of all the receivers still on the roster, I believe Metchie will be the primary replacement for Tank Dell, with Noah Brown receiving additional snaps in each game to back him up. But, what are your thoughts? Will he get more opportunities than Noah Brown and Robert Woods, or will DeMeco Ryans and company put their faith in the veterans? Will Xavier Hutchinson surprise us all? Please let us know in the comments!
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