Welcome to week 18’s edition of the Cyclone tracker! (The last one, shockingly, week one feels like yesterday.)
This is where we have followed 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. Colts
Jayden Higgins
Position: WR
Projected Week 18 storm path: 4.0 targets, 2.5 receptions, 35.5 yards, 1.1 TD, 12.5 fantasy points
Actual
Week 18 path: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 23 yards (11.5 avg.), 1 TD, 10.3 fantasy pts
Total stats through Week 18: 68 targets, 41 receptions, 525 yards (12.8 avg.), 6 TDs, 129.5 fantasy pts
Analysis: In the second quarter of Sunday’s season finale matchup vs. the Indianapolis Colts, Higgins caught his sixth touchdown pass of the season in the corner of the end zone to give the Texans a 13-10 lead.
On 1st and 10, around the 12-yard line of the Indianapolis Colts, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud took the snap and rolled to his left on a play-action play design to find Higgins for the toe-drag reception for the score.
With his six scores, Higgins is now second to only wide receiver Tank Dell (7) for most receiving touchdowns for a rookie in Texans history.
Even though Higgins’ use has been volatile throughout the course of the season, he has still found ways to be impactful in the limited opportunities afforded to him.
On the team, he currently ranks:
- 3rd in receiving yards – 525
- 2nd in yards per reception average – 12.8
- T-1st in receiving touchdowns – 6
- Longest catch of the year – 75 yards
- 3rd in yards per game – 30.9
- 3rd in receiving 1st downs – 28
Higgins is a big-play waiting to happen, and that bodes well for the Texans’ chances as they head into their AFC Wildcard matchup vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers on MNF.
AFC Wildcard statistical projection: 5.0 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 18 storm path: 3 targets, 2.0 receptions, 12.5 yards, 0.1 TD, 9.7 fantasy points
Actual week 18 path: 1 target, 1 reception, 13 yards, 0 TDs, 7 ret, 181 return yards (26.0 yd avg.), 2.3 fantasy pts
Total stats through week 18: 35 targets, 26 receptions, 292 yards (11.2 yd avg.), 1,134 return yards, 2 TDs, 53.3 fantasy pts
Analysis: Similar to Higgins, Noel has struggled to receive a healthy volume of receiving reps throughout the 2025 season. Regardless of why, Noel was limited in his usage in the passing attack. However, Noel’s impact on special teams was felt almost every week. Specifically, it was in his kick and punt return proficiency.
He finished 13th in the NFL in kick return yards (799) and seventh in punt return yards (335, most for a rookie in franchise history).
Noel has shown himself to be a field-flipper in open space, which has contributed to Houston’s special teams unit being such a weapon throughout the regular season.
When he has been on the field for offense, Noel has caught passes for chunk yardage against various defenses, such as the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, and now the Los Angeles Chargers.
It would be advantageous for the Texans to try and bottle up the flashes that Noel has shown in small sample sizes and attempt to take it on the road with them to Pittsburgh for the AFC Wildcard round.
AFC Wildcard Statistical Projection: 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.
