RADIO
Kayshon Boutte Set for Smaller Role
Houston Texans wide receiver Kayshon Boutte hasn't had a huge game in his time with his new team, but now he won't have the pressure of trying to fill in for Nico Collins, who will be back from his hamstring injury. Boutte has only been marginally involved in the two weeks without Collins, catching three passes for 37 yards against the Bengals and two passes for 21 yards against the Colts. He played about 70% of snaps each week but hasn't yet shown a strong connection with QB C.J. Stroud. Boutte does remain a boom-or-bust deep threat with upside, especially as he grows in the offense, but he is only the WR62 in RotoBaller's Week 4 rankings, making him a very high-risk starting option against the Cowboys.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nico Collins Is a Top-10 Option in His Return
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) is ready to return after a two-week absence, and he should step right back into a big role in his team's offense. The 0-3 Texans will need to go all out to beat the Cowboys in Houston, so look for them to be aggressive and get Collins plenty of chances to make plays. In Week 1, before the injury, Collins caught seven of his 10 targets for 75 yards and a touchdown against the Bills. While other players contributed while he was gone, none stepped up and became the go-to option. Collins should slide right back into that featured role against the Cowboys, who have allowed three WR touchdowns in the last two weeks and over 120 yards to the position in each of their three games this year. They added Joey Porter Jr. to the secondary this week, but it's still a favorable matchup for Collins, who ranks as the WR9 in RotoBaller's Week 4 rankings. You can start with confidence in all formats as he returns from injury.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nico Collins Off the Injury Report, Good to Go for Week 4
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) is off the injury report and will play in his team's Week 4 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, per DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. Collins has missed Houston's last two games with a hamstring injury, but he practiced in full on Friday and is set to return against Dallas. The 27-year-old played well in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills, recording seven catches for 75 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. Collins was also very productive when healthy in 2025, hauling in 71 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns on 120 targets across 15 games. Now that he's active, Collins profiles as the clear number one option in the Houston passing game and should be considered a must-start wide receiver for fantasy managers in a favorable matchup against Dallas.
Source: ESPN - DJ Bien-Aime
Source: ESPN - DJ Bien-Aime
Jaylin Noel Could See Minimal Role with Nico Collins Set to Return
Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel has been quiet to start his second season and could see a reduced role moving forward. In three games, Noel has caught five of nine targets for 101 yards and added 21 rushing yards on two carries. The second-year receiver has played just 38% of snaps and 42% of routes, and ranks fifth among Texans pass catchers in targets. With star wideout Nico Collins (hamstring) set to return, Noel could see a minimal role in Week 4. Also worth noting, Tank Dell (knee) is nearing a return from injured reserve after a significant injury sustained during the 2024 season. Given the crowded Texans receiving corps and Noel's limited role, he should be safely dropped in most fantasy leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nico Collins Practicing Once Again on Friday
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) is in uniform for Friday's practice as the team prepares to face the Dallas Cowboys. After missing the last two games with a hamstring strain, Collins has practiced all three days this week and appears set to return in Week 4. In his only game this season, he caught seven passes for 75 yards and a touchdown against the Bills. With him practicing Friday, his return would help quarterback C.J. Stroud and the running game while hurting wideouts Kayshon Boutte and Xavier Hutchinson, as well as tight end Dalton Schultz. Fantasy managers can confidently start Collins in Week 4 if he's active, as he is a strong WR2 option against a weaker Dallas secondary.
Source: Jonathan Alexander - Houston Chronicle
Source: Jonathan Alexander - Houston Chronicle
Nico Collins Seen Practicing on Thursday
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) was seen practicing Thursday as the team prepares to face the Dallas Cowboys. Collins has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury but has participated in back-to-back sessions and is trending in the right direction for Week 4. In his only game action this season, he had seven receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills. Friday's practice will be key to his ability to play against the Cowboys, and his return would also help quarterback C.J. Stroud and the run game. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable starting Collins if he is active in Week 4, as he is a high-end WR2 against a weaker Dallas secondary.
Source: Cody Stoots
Source: Cody Stoots
Nico Collins Returns to Practice on Wednesday
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) is back at practice on Wednesday, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Collins missed the last two games due to a strained hamstring, but he is back at practice now, and head coach DeMeco Ryans said on Monday that the team is "hopeful" that their WR1 can return this Sunday in Week 4 against the Dallas Cowboys. The 27-year-old will probably end up being limited on Wednesday, but if he can upgrade to a full practice by the end of the week, he could be good to go this weekend, where he would be a must-start in his return to action against the 1-2 Cowboys. In the season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 1, Collins looked great, catching seven passes for 75 yards and his first touchdown of the 2026 season. Quarterback C.J. Stroud will be much more attractive this week as a QB streamer if he gets his top receiver back against a Cowboys defense that has allowed 27.3 points per game through the first three weeks. UPDATE: Collins was officially limited in Wednesday's practice.
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
Xavier Hutchinson Has Short-Term Waiver Appeal
Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson has some short-term waiver appeal heading into Week 4, though his value could change quickly if Nico Collins returns. Hutchinson caught three of six targets for 51 yards in Sunday's loss to Indianapolis and added four yards on two carries. He has now seen 21 targets through three games, turning them into nine catches for 120 yards, with Collins missing the last two contests because of a hamstring injury. Houston is hopeful Collins can return against Dallas, which would likely push Hutchinson back down the target pecking order. Hutchinson also left Sunday's game late after a 28-yard catch and was evaluated in the medical tent, so his own status is worth monitoring. He sits 38th on RotoBaller's Week 4 waiver board at 7% rostered, with a recommendation for 12-team leagues. That makes Hutchinson a reasonable short-term add, but not someone fantasy managers need to chase aggressively if Collins is close to returning.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kayshon Boutte Still Holds Long-Term Value on Waivers
Houston Texans wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has caught only six passes through the first three games of his Texans tenure, but it's reasonable to assume he could soon work his way into a larger role. Boutte was acquired less than a month before the regular season began, and a gradual ramp-up period was always a possibility. With two-time Pro Bowler Nico Collins (hamstring) missing the last two games, much of the Texans' passing offense has run through tight end Dalton Schultz, but even as Collins nears a return, the team could still benefit from another outside presence. Boutte scored a career-high seven touchdowns in his final season with the Patriots while averaging over 17 yards per reception, and if he can keep building chemistry with quarterback C.J. Stroud, he could work his way back into the flex conversation in deeper leagues, making him a worthy stash from this week's waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Texans Hopeful to Get Nico Collins Back This Week
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said he is hopeful to get wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) back for the team's Week 4 contest against the Dallas Cowboys, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Collins suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain in practice several weeks ago and has missed the last two contests. However, if he can get through a good week of practice and return to the field, he could be in play to suit up this Sunday against Dallas. The Texans, who have started 0-3 on the year, really need to get their No. 1 wideout back in the fold to have a shot at turning their season around quickly. The 27-year-old former third-rounder in 2021 from Michigan caught seven of his 10 targets for 75 yards and his first touchdown of the season in the season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. When Collins is back in action for the Texans, he will immediately return to being a must-start in all traditional fantasy football lineups as quarterback C.J. Stroud's top option in the passing game.
Source: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
Source: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
Nico Collins Making Good Progress From Injury
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans noted that wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) is making good progress from his hamstring injury. "Nico has been progressing really well," Ryans said, according to Aaron Wilson, a Texans reporter for KPRC 2 Houston. "We'll see if he can get back out there." Collins has missed the past two games due to injury. He had seven catches for 75 yards and a touchdown in the season-opening loss to the Bills. It's positive news to hear from the head coach after the Texans fell to 0-3 on the year. The team and fantasy managers could use Nico Collins back in the lineup. Collins is a top-tier wide receiver when healthy, and this is a positive sign that he could make a comeback for Week 4 against the Cowboys.
Source: Aaron Wilson
Source: Aaron Wilson
Nico Collins Has a Decent Chance to Return in Week 4
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) has already been ruled out for the second game in a row, but he has a "decent chance" to return for Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Dallas Cowboys, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Collins has been sidelined since the practice week following Houston's season opener. The 27-year-old was impressive during that Week 1 contest, catching seven of 10 targets for 75 yards and one touchdown. Collins and his fantasy managers will be eager to put this injury behind him, especially if it means he's fully healthy and can return to his WR1 form in fantasy football. The Texans' offense has endured its fair share of struggles over the last year-plus, but the unit always seems to be playing at its best when Collins is on the field and showing off his extremely strong rapport with quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Jared Wayne Set for a Larger Role Again in Week 3
Houston Texans wide receiver Jared Wayne had a strong training camp and preseason, earning his way onto the roster after spending last year on the team's practice squad. Wayne had only one catch for 12 yards in Week 1, but in Week 2, he played 50% of the team's snaps with Nico Collins (hamstring) out. He finished with the second-most targets of all the team's wide receivers, hauling in two of his seven targets for 33 yards. With Collins set to miss a second straight week and a favorable matchup against the Colts, Wayne is a deep-league flier play if you are digging deep on the waiver wire. He should have a significant role again, but he remains only the WR100 in RotoBaller's Week 3 rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaylin Noel Is a Deep-League Sleeper vs. Indianapolis
Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel earned some hype this week from QB C.J. Stroud, and the second-year receiver will get another chance to step up in Week 3 against the Colts with Nico Collins (hamstring) unable to return yet. While he didn't go off last week, his targets and snap share increased. He finished with just one catch on five targets for 31 yards and an additional 13-yard rush. He played the third-most snaps at receiver and remains a threat both on deep shots and catch-and-run chances. He has a good matchup against the Colts, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to WR this season and have been especially vulnerable against slot receivers, where Noel did a lot of work last week. He's still a boom-or-bust, high-risk play, which is why he's only RotoBaller's WR83 this week, but he does bring some upside if you're desperate for a plug-and-play option in deep leagues or looking for DFS bargain production.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Xavier Hutchinson Set for Expanded Role in Week 3
Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson will get another chance to step up with Nico Collins (hamstring) ruled out for a second straight week, as the Texans head to Indianapolis for a divisional matchup. Hutchinson led Houston's wide receivers in snaps and targets in Week 2, converting three catches on nine targets into 37 yards. He also had three catches in Week 1, totaling 32 yards in a loss to the Bills. Despite his mediocre returns so far, he'll likely get another heavy target share in Week 3 without Collins, which does give him boom-or-bust upside against the Colts, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to WR this season. Hutchinson is only the WR60 in RotoBaller's Week 3 rankings, though, so he remains a very high-risk start even with more work available.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
