The Houston Texans needed to regroup on offense. They will be without three locked and loaded starters from 2024: LT Laremy Tunsil, WR Stefon Diggs, and WR Tank Dell. Unsurprisingly, their first three picks went wide receiver, offensive tackle, and wide receiver. They took five fantasy football-relevant players in all. Let’s take a look at all of their 2025 fantasy football prospects!
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | College |
| 2 | 34 | Jayden Higgins | WR | Iowa State |
| 2 | 48 | Aireontae Ersery | OT | Minnesota |
| 3 | 79 | Jaylin Noel | WR | Iowa State |
| 3 | 97 | Jaylin Smith | CB | USC |
| 4 | 116 | Woody Marks | RB | USC |
| 6 | 187 | Jaylen Reed | S | Penn State |
| 6 | 197 | Graham Mertz | QB | Florida |
| 7 | 224 | Kyonte Hamilton | DT | Rutgers |
| 7 | 255 | Luke Lachey | TE | Iowa |
Round 2, Pick 34: Jayden Higgins, Wide Receiver, Iowa State (6’0″, 224 lbs)
TALENT
Higgins is easily the smoothest route runner in the draft (though his tree is limited), with good footwork setting up defensive backs to get Higgins wide open to catch the ball. Once he catches it, he has an excellent feel for the defenders, allowing him to shed tackles to turn upfield for extra yardage immediately. Should he not get open, Higgins is a pure tough receiver with good hands, who is more than happy to get up and get it if need be, using his massive wingspan to big boy defenders. If you need two words to describe him, they are smooth and strong.
Unfortunately, there are some slight issues in his game. If his first move doesn’t break him free from the defender, he unfortunately will have that DB in his back pocket for the rest of the play. He doesn’t have much in the way of gear shifting, so his one speed and tight hips tend to leave him with one move to get open, and if that doesn’t work, then it’s all over. He has a lot in common with Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona, but what sets Tet apart from Higgins is that Higgins doesn’t work back to the ball as much as I would like, and he doesn’t attack the catch point like McMillan.
NFL Comparison: Tee Higgins
Pre-Draft Grade: Late 1st Round/Early 2nd Round
2025 OPPORTUNITY
Depth Chart:
WR1 Nico Collins
WR2 Christian Kirk
WR3 Jayden Higgins
WR4 Jaylin Noel
WR5 Tank Dell (injured)
WR6 Xavier Hutchinson
WR7 Justin Watson
WR8 Braxton Berrios
Only one of Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins will get significant usage this season, primarily due to the addition of Christian Kirk. However, should both show up, Kirk could easily find himself relegated to fourth fiddle. Tank Dell will miss the entirety of 2025, and the other players won’t find themselves with any relevance.
My money is on Higgins. Noel has a lot of versatility, but he isn’t the type of dominant receiver Higgins potentially has in his profile. Higgins will also slide right into a vertical attack with C.J. Stroud at the helm, with Noel filling in the Tank Dell role for 2025. I find Higgins intriguing in the same way one would have found Terry McLaurin or Tee Higgins intriguing in their rookie years: potentially underdrafted future alphas who have an opportunity to produce their rookie season.
2025 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
We now have some fantasy football draft ADP to work with, and per 4for4.com’s ADP, Jayden Higgins is WR58 off the board, going as a twelfth-round pick in twelve-team leagues. He also finds himself between Marvin Mims and Jalen McMillan, two players who had their role on the depth chart usurped this draft season. I love him as a dart throw at that price.
Round 3, Pick 79: Jaylin Noel, Wide Receiver, Iowa State (5’10”, 194 lbs)
TALENT
If there’s one word to describe Noel, it’s versatility. He played outside and in the slot, taking snaps out of the backfield and returning punts and kicks at Iowa State. He also worked at all three levels of the field as a receiver. He’s a tenacious receiver who is fast and plays with that dog in him, making his 4.39 40-yard dash speed work for him. He can work in and out of traffic with great after-the-catch acceleration, making him an ideal slot receiver in the NFL who will find an instant roster spot thanks to his special-teams prowess.
NFL Comparison: Sterling Shepard/Devin Duvernay
Pre-Draft Grade: 3rd Round
2025 OPPORTUNITY
Depth Chart:
WR1 Nico Collins
WR2 Christian Kirk
WR3 Jayden Higgins
WR4 Jaylin Noel
WR5 Tank Dell (injured)
WR6 Xavier Hutchinson
WR7 Justin Watson
WR8 Braxton Berrios
I talked above about how I prefer Higgins to Noel, but Noel is not without intrigue. Noel is far more adept at filling the Tank Dell role than either Christian Kirk or Jayden Higgins, which has been very fruitful. Unfortunately, Dell was just too small to truly thrive in that role. In steps Noel, who has more in common, size-wise, with Stefon Diggs than Tank Dell.
Unfortunately, the Tank Dell Role isn’t extremely fruitful. While he had a big three-game stretch in 2023, Tank Dell has mostly been okay. In his career, Dell averages four catches for 55 yards per game, scoring 10 touchdowns in 25 games. Those are decent WR3 numbers, but nothing to write home about. Still, he could grow into that role, which gives him top-30 upside, but not much higher.
2025 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
Noel likely doesn’t make his way onto my roster if I look for massive upside. However, he is currently WR71 by ADP, and he is a nice depth piece to add to find yourself a cheap designated injury and bye week replacement.
Round 4, Pick 116: Woody Marks, Running Back, USC (5’10”, 207 lbs)
TALENT
Woody Marks is a fun little power back who is faster than you would expect and has reliable hands that make it all work. Marks is an incredibly patient and decisive runner who wastes very little energy with the ball in his hands. He’s a willing blocker and might find immediate success in the league as a third-down back. Unfortunately, he will turn 25 during the 2025 season, meaning that the day three pick the Texans invested in him was likely his draft ceiling. That said, he is fun to watch, as he is very agile and reads blocks well. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have great long speed. He’s a versatile back who could make an immediate fantasy impact as a PPR back in a thunder and lightning combination.
NFL Comparison: Devin Singletary
Pre-Draft Grade: 6th Rounder
2025 OPPORTUNITY
Depth Chart:
RB1 Joe Mixon
RB2 Woody Marks
RB3 Dare Ogunbowale
RB4 Dameon Pierce
2025 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
Marks isn’t an otherworldly talent, but we’ve seen the Texans thrive at running back with less than stellar talent (see 2023 Dameon Pierce). I wouldn’t draft him, but he is a mid-tier handcuff, as the depth chart is a mess behind him, and Joe Mixon’s age could catch up to him, thrusting Marks into the spotlight.
Round 6, Pick 197: Graham Mertz, Quarterback, Florida (6’3″, 212 lbs)
TALENT
This is the last quarterback I will watch in this godforsaken class because every quarterback in this class has the same group of traits. They are quick, efficient passers, with relatively high floors but somewhat low ceilings. Mertz is the top of the heap among those quarterbacks. He is coming off an ACL tear, so it’s hard to say how much of his (limited) athleticism will continue in the NFL. But before he tore his ACL, he wasn’t a super-intriguing prospect.
Mertz is mostly a quick-strike merchant, taking what the defense gives him, provided that it doesn’t require his third read. He rarely uncorked one at Florida, but he had a nice fastball on intermediate passes and has the wherewithal and touch to feather the necessary passes. He completed over 70% of his passes, at just 8.1 yards per attempt. That isn’t a super-impressive set of statistics when taken together. Mertz also struggles with pressure, as his internal clock is non-existent, and he tips over into panic at times when things break down. He could run an offense, know how to get the ball to his weapons, and (mostly) know when to bail out of there.
NFL Comparison: Rams, Jared Goff
Pre-Draft Grade: 7th Round
2025 OPPORTUNITY
Depth Chart:
QB1 C.J. Stroud
QB2 Davis Mills
QB3 Graham Mertz
QB4 Kedon Slovis
He has no chance of playing meaningful snaps outside of a catastrophic season under center for the Texans.
2025 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
If the Texans turn to Mertz, then they’re in big trouble. You’re in the same boat if you end up with him on your fantasy football squad. If you use him, you’ll likely have a Mertz Donut.
Round 7, Pick 255: Luke Lachey, Tight End, Iowa (6’6″, 251 lbs)
TALENT
Lachey is a blocker and pass catcher who isn’t above-average at either. He is of nice size and is a willing blocker, but he doesn’t pop off the tape at all. He isn’t overwhelmingly athletic or strong and doesn’t take full advantage of his size. Lachey is also not super fast. Unfortunately, he is nothing to write home about.
NFL Comparison: Garrett Celek
Pre-Draft Grade: UDFA
2025 OPPORTUNITY
Depth Chart:
TE1 Dalton Schultz
TE2 Brevin Jordan
TE3 Cade Stover
TE4 Luke Lachey
TE5 Irv Smith, Jr
Lachey’s path to relevance is mostly via blocking. He’ll get a target here and there, but he’s more likely to end the season as an honorary offensive lineman than a member of the receiver room.
2025 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
I’d probably draft Nick Lachey first.
