The notion that no matter how good a wide receiver is, they won’t succeed without a solid quarterback arose during an engaging chat with a new friend yesterday. Not only is that thought intrinsic to the sport of football, it’s a great predictor of future success. Flip it around and you’ll quickly understand that Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud can put in all.the.work, but if he has no one to play catch with, it’s wasted effort.
Thankfully, the Texans have a fairly stacked receiver corps rolling
into the 2026 season. Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, Tank Dell, Jaylin Noel and Xavier Hutchinson are likely the heart of this group. But, guys like Justin Watson may sneak in if someone in the current top 5 lets their game slip.
Nico Collins – WR1
Since head coach Demeco Ryans arrived on the scene, Collins (the 27 year old Birmingham Alabama native) has nailed 3-straight 1000-yard seasons. Those include 2 years in the NFL’s Top 10 receiver list, a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2025 and his supplanting of Texans great, Kevin Walter as the 3rd best receiver in Texans history. Nico still has a long way to go to catch the GOAT that is Andre Johnson, but his base stats are actually ahead of ‘Dre. His 15.0 yards per catch average is second only to Corey Bradford (15.3) in Texans history.
Rolling into 2026, Collins is healthy, focused, and ready to continue his climb up the charts. Not only is he an every down threat, but his presence alone draws attention away from the other receivers on the field.
Jayden Higgins – WR2
Since Houston drafted Higgins in the 2nd round of the 2025 NFL Draft, he’s done nothing but work hard and cement his place across from Collins. The former Iowa State Cyclone caught 41 passes, gained 525 yards for a 12.8 yard/catch average and hit pay dirt 6 times last season. Stories out of OTAs and minicamp tell of a young man trying to emulate the focus and work ethic of Collins, and carry on the tradition started by Johnson.
Higgins and Collins alone should provide Stroud with ample pitch and catch opportunities in 2026. But, as the saying goes, wait! There’s more!
Jaylin Noel – WR3
Former college teammate of Higgins, turned pro teammate, Noel is well-suited for the WR3 spot. Smaller, faster, more elusive, the sophomore speedster should have plenty of opportunities to supplant the oft-injured Tank Dell. As a rookie last season, Noel made the most of his 3 starts by catching 26 passes for 292 yards, compiling an 11.2 yard per catch average, 2 touchdowns and 13 first downs. While these numbers are far from Hall of Fame material, stepping into a support role last season, with all the struggles the Houston offense exhibited, didn’t exactly set him up for success. Anticipation is high that Noel’s sophomore campaign will be a rousing success.
Tank Dell – WR4
If you’ve not payed attention to the Demeco years in H-Town, Tank Dell and Stroud bonded in a pre-draft training group. The chemistry was, as they say, instant and electric. So much so that once Houston draft Stroud with their first overall selection, the young quarterback immediately lobbied Texans general manager, Nick Caserio, to draft Dell. The results were the sort of pulse-pounding excitement NFL fans love on game day. In his rookie campaign, Dell amassed 709 air yards, on 47 catches for a 15.1 yard per catch average. Along with that, he scored 7 touchdowns including a 68-yard catch he made look easy after blasting past the defenders like they were standing still.
Unfortunately, Dell has seen more than his share of adversity since entering the NFL, including multiple significant injuries and a gunshot wound. His recent appearances at the Texans off-season programs have lit up the imagination of Texans fans hoping to see the Stroud-Dell fire reignited in 2026. Questions around his ability to get, and remain, healthy will unfortunately plague the young man over the foreseeable future.
Xavier Hutchinson – WR5
I’ve made no effort to hide my fondness for Xavier Hutchinson over the years. When this young man is on, he’s ON. Unfortunately, he’s not always turned it on when given the opportunity to do so. In his 3 seasons, Hutch has started only 9 games, caught 55 passes for 635 yards at an 11.5 yards per catch average. He’s moved the chains for 30 first downs and finished drives in the end zone 3 times.
If there’s a player on this list who currently lists “On the bubble” as his address, it’s Hutch. In crucial moments, he might make the catch and win the play, or drop the ball and illicit a 100db groan from the collective Texans fan base. Based on how the NFL works, 2026 is a “now or never” season for him. Hopefully, it’s “now”.
Behind Hutch, the name Justin Watson keeps coming up. Is he the “camp/preseason star” Houston always seems to find? You know, the one who shines all the way up to Week One, then fades from sight immediately? Or will 2026 see Watson force his way into the legends of Texans history with a highlight reel we watch and rewatch for years to come? What do you think?
