Battle Red Blog
Welcome to week 15 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.
Position: WR
Projected Week 15 storm path: 5.0 targets, 3.0 receptions, 25.5 yards, 0.1 TD, 5.5 fantasy points
Actual Week 15 path: 1 target, 1 reception, 4 yards (4.0 avg.), 0 TDs, 1.4 fantasy pts
Total stats through Week 15: 56 targets, 36 receptions, 397 yards (11.0 avg.), 4 TDs, 99.7 fantasy pts
Analysis: It was a relatively quiet Sunday afternoon for the former Iowa State Cyclone, as Jayden Higgins found himself with only one target for four yards in the Texans’ 40-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Higgins had been on a five-game streak of at least 3+ catches, dating back to week 10’s 36-29 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Yet, it is a positive development for the team that they can blow out teams in a myriad of ways that don’t involve putting too much pressure on their rookies to perform.
He has a chance to bounce back against the Las Vegas Raiders and their 29th-ranked pass defense (173.4 yards/game).
Week 16 statistical projections: 4.0 targets, 2.5 receptions, 25.5 yards, 0.1 TD, 3.9 fantasy points
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Position: WR/PR & KR
Projected week 15 storm path: 2 targets, 1.0 receptions, 9.5 yards, 0.1 TD, 2.5 fantasy points
Actual week 15 path: 0 targets, 0 receptions, 0 yards, 0 TD’s, 3 ret, 121 return yards (40.3 yd avg.), 0.0 fantasy pts
Total stats through week 15: 30 targets, 22 receptions, 225 yards (10.2 yd avg.), 801 return yards, 1 TD, 36.4 fantasy pts
Analysis: Jaylin Noel continues to add to his historic rookie season on special teams.
After his 21 return yards against the Kansas City Chiefs set the franchise record for most punt return yards (293) for a Texans rookie, he added 13 more against the Arizona Cardinals to bring his record up to 306.
He did this in the midst of his most explosive day as a returner, when he exploded for a 69-yard return and eclipsed 120+ return yards for the game.
Beggars can’t be choosers. While Noel was yet again not featured in the Texans’ passing offense, his being unleashed in the return game completely changes the dynamic of how Houston schemes up their offense.
Noel has elite field flipping ability in the return game, and the Texans are all the better for his continued contributions to the team’s dramatic season turnaround.
Week 16 Projections: 2 targets, 1.0 receptions, 9.5 yards, 0.1 TD, 2.5 fantasy points
All stats and projections provided courtesy of ESPN, RotoBaller, FantasyPros, Fantasy Data and PFF.
