Welcome to week 17 of the Cyclone tracker!
This is where we follow our resident weather-themed duo in rookie receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, both out of Iowa State (hence, the “Cyclone” twins).
As always, there will be analysis, projections, commentary, and relevant updates that happen in real time.
Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel statistics vs. Chargers
Jayden Higgins
Position: WR
Projected Week 17 storm path: 3.0 targets, 2.5 receptions, 25.5 yards, 0.1 TD, 4.5 fantasy points
Actual Week 17 path: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 88 yards (44.0 avg.), 1 TD, 16.8 fantasy pts
Total stats through Week 17: 63 targets, 39 receptions, 502 yards (12.9 avg.), 5 TDs, 119.2 fantasy pts
Analysis: The reception heard around the NFL world happened in the 1st Quarter of the Texans vs. Chargers contest this past Saturday afternoon.
With only about 1:30 of game clock having passed, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud launched a rainbow ball 75 yards downfield to a streaking Higgins on 3rd and 1 for an opening drive touchdown and 7-0 lead.
It was the highlight of Higgins’ season thus far, as the opportunity finally presented itself for the former Iowa State Cyclone to demonstrate more thoroughly why he was Houston’s 1st selection in the 2025 Draft.
His 88 yards in a game were the most of his career thus far, and his touchdown reception gave him five on the season and the second-most on the team (behind wide receiver Nico Collins).
If offensive coordinator Nick Caley is now more willing to feature Higgins in a larger capacity in the passing attack, opposing defenses in the postseason should be on high alert. This makes the Texans’ offense a higher-level threat on a down-by-down basis, which bodes well for their Super Bowl chances.
Week 18 statistical projections: 4.0 targets, 2.5 receptions, 35.5 yards, 1.1 TD, 12.5 fantasy points
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Jaylin Noel
Position: WR/PR & KR
Projected week 17 storm path: 2 targets, 1.0 receptions, 9.5 yards, 0.1 TD, 2.5 fantasy points
Actual week 17 path: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 54 yards, 1 TD, 3 ret, 45 return yards (15.0 yd avg.), 14.6 fantasy pts
Total stats through week 17: 34 targets, 25 receptions, 279 yards (11.2 yd avg.), 952 return yards, 1 TD, 51.0 fantasy pts
Analysis: Higgins wasn’t the only former Cyclone who had a big game on Saturday afternoon, as Noel joined the bomb brigade only one offensive possession later.
On 1st and 10 from Los Angeles’ 43-yard line, with 9:24 left in the 1st quarter, Stroud again launched a deep shot to a curling Noel for 43 yards and a 14-0 lead against the Chargers.
It was the most impactful reception in Noel’s young career, as his other contributions have been in either losing efforts (Seattle Seahawks) or in games already secured (Baltimore Ravens).
This time, he followed the example of his teammate and took the top off a Charger’s defense that didn’t know what hit them the first time.
His 54 yards were the third-most in a game of his career, and the 43 yards on the touchdown reception was the longest for a score of his career.
Similar to Higgins, if this means that Noel has now positioned himself to be called upon come postseason time, opposing defenses beware. Noel has game-breaking abilities akin to fellow diminutive dynamo Tank Dell. With that secret weapon in tow, things may finally be looking up for Houston’s offense.
Week 18 Projections: 3 targets, 2.0 receptions, 12.5 yards, 0.1 TD, 9.7 fantasy points
All stats and projections provided courtesy of ESPN, RotoBaller, FantasyPros, Fantasy Data and PFF.
