The Texans snagged a big W over in London, and if you weren’t watching C.J. Stroud out there, you missed a masterclass. Week 6 fantasy football action might not have given us a ton of monster star performances, but what it *did* give us was a serious look at what Houston’s cooking up with some key mid-round picks and waiver wire gems. We’re talking repeat results, folks, and that means it’s time to adjust how we see this Texans offense going forward.
Stroud’s Got the Keys, and He’s Flooring It
Stroud’s command of that Texans offense in London was absolutely at an all-time high. Think about it: Jacksonville came into the game with the 12th-highest pressure rate in the league. How did Houston respond? Smart. They used an extra lineman on a season-high 35.6% of their plays, and Stroud himself was getting rid of the football in a season-low 2.31 seconds. The result? Not only did he post his lowest pressure rate of the season at 8.6%, but his EPA per dropback shot up to a blistering 0.35, his highest yet. And get this: the Jaguars tried to blitz Stroud on 31.4% of his dropbacks, and it barely fazed him. This dude is seeing the field, getting the ball out fast, and making big plays.
A New Offensive Identity Is Forcing the Ball Downfield
Remember that trade for Marvin Harrison Jr.? That was a huge signal that Houston was ready for a new offensive identity. And ever since Nico Collins returned in Week 4, we’ve seen a steady increase in the team’s PROE. What’s even wilder is that this increased volume hasn’t meant shorter passes. Stroud’s deep-ball rate ranked inside the top 12 in both Week 4 and Week 5. Over the last three weeks, he’s been the most efficient passer on early downs. And a big reason for all that? Look no further than Jaylin Noel.
Noel is quickly becoming the Texans’ version of a true flex option. He’s been buried on the depth chart, not even on the field for more than 75% of Stroud’s dropbacks in any single game since he joined the team. But when he touches the ball, good things happen. In Week 4, he put up 3.54 YPRR, 5.0 YAC per Rec, and 3 first downs or touchdowns. Week 5 saw him at 2.05 YPRR, 4.6 YAC, and 1 first down/TD. Then Week 6 blew up: 4.86 YPRR, 11.8 YAC per Rec, and 4 first downs or touchdowns! Since Collins came back, he’s the only pass-catcher with more first downs created than Noel. Meanwhile, guys like Kayshon Boutte and Xavier Hutchinson have seen their routes and targets on a three-week slide. Houston is adapting, using extra linemen and TEs to make this pass-heavy approach work, and Noel is capitalizing big time.
So what’s next for the Texans? Keep your eyes glued to how Houston keeps adjusting their playbook around Stroud’s incredible command and this emerging talent. Will Noel continue to carve out an even bigger role? You gotta believe he will if he keeps putting up numbers like that. This team is finding its groove, and it’s exciting to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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