The Houston Texans entered the 2024 NFL season with arguably the best receiving corps in football. And though Houston still has an explosive group of wideouts, the unit will play the rest of the season without Stefon Diggs, who suffered a torn ACL in Week 8.
With that in mind, let’s look at the current state of the Texans’ WR depth chart.
Nico Collins
Since being selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Nico Collins has established himself as one of the best receivers in the NFL.
After posting 446 yards and 481 yards in his first two seasons, respectively, the Michigan product exploded for 80 catches, 1,297 yards, and eight touchdowns in 2023. Collins was rewarded with a three-year, $72.75 million contract extension last offseason, locking him in as C.J. Stroud’s top target for the foreseeable future.
Average Separation Score vs. TPRR
*Adonai Mitchell and Josh Downs become very interesting with Joe Flacco
*Massive gap between Garrett Wilson (top-right) and Davante Adams (far-left)
* George Pickens up in alpha territory with Nico Collins and CeeDee Lamb pic.twitter.com/iZYh49W4Iu
— Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) October 30, 2024
The 25-year-old racked up a league-leading 567 receiving yards before suffering a hamstring injury in Week 5. Collins will sit out Week 9 but is eligible to be activated off injured reserve in Week 10.
Tank Dell
Tank Dell stands to gain the most from Diggs’ absence.
A third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Dell posted 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in the first 11 games of his rookie campaign before suffering a season-ending broken fibula. Prior to the injury, he looked like yet another star receiver in the making.
Dell worked his way back in time for the 2024 season opener but saw disappointing production in the first two months. In seven games, Dell caught just 24 balls for 229 yards and two TDs.
With Diggs sidelined, Dell should see an increased target share throughout the rest of the season.
Xavier Hutchinson
Xavier Hutchinson could rise to the No. 3 spot on the Texans’ WR depth chart.
A sixth-round pick in 2023, Hutchinson posted just eight catches on 19 targets for 90 yards and zero TDs as a rookie. He enjoyed a slight uptick in production early this season, catching five of 10 targets for 64 yards and zero scores.
While not a burner, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Hutchinson has the size and strength to be a solid option on the boundary. His opportunities will likely increase moving forward.
The Texans are confident in all of their receivers, but Xavier Hutchinson was the guy a number of players told me could benefit the most.
He's come up clutch for the Texans in big spots in back to back weeks. Now he'll have even more opportunities moving forward. pic.twitter.com/aUlJhgcach
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) October 30, 2024
John Metchie III
It’s been a tough road for John Metchie III.
Metchie’s stellar junior season at Alabama ended when he suffered a torn ACL in the 2021 SEC Championship Game. Roughly seven months later, after being selected by the Texans in Round 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft, Metchie announced he’d sit out his entire rookie campaign due to a leukemia diagnosis.
Metchie returned for the 2023 campaign and was active in 16 of 17 games but posted just 16 catches for 158 yards and zero touchdowns. Buried on the depth chart, Metchie was a healthy scratch the first three weeks of this season before catching just four balls for 36 yards in the next five games.
Metchie has the athleticism and talent to be a solid slot receiver in the NFL, but to this point, it hasn’t worked out. He could also see an increased role with Diggs out for the season.
Robert Woods
Robert Woods’ days as a viable NFL receiver likely are over.
After spending a combined nine seasons with the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams, Woods joined the Tennessee Titans in 2022 and posted his worst numbers as a pro. His slide continued in 2023 after joining the Texans, and he was even worse in the first half of this season, totaling just five receptions for 46 yards in six games.
At 32 years old, Woods is no longer as explosive as he was early in his career. But he still is a savvy veteran with good hands, so the Texans could increase his role if Hutchinson and/or Metchie fail to capitalize on their opportunities.
