The Texans have put together an offense that looks solid on the surface, and the broad numbers back that up. Houston is scoring 26.1 points per game, good for ninth in the league, while also sitting 11th in total yards at 356.5 per game. The unit is eighth in yards per play at 5.8, has turned the ball over only four times, and has allowed 16 sacks, which ranks 10th.
But the deeper the look goes, the more the picture shifts. The run game remains the obvious weak spot, and the bye week brought another reminder that self-scouting matters. When Nick Caley spoke to reporters, he was asked about tendencies and it became clear he was not aware of them.
That’s where the pass-catcher numbers get interesting. Catches, yards, and touchdowns only tell part of the story. Snaps, targets, catch percentage, yards per target, and success rate help show who is actually producing when they’re on the field and who is simply getting the opportunities.
Here’s how the Texans’ pass catchers have stacked up on passing plays only:
Nico Collins: 203 snaps, 39 targets, 28 catches, 384 yards, 71.8 catch%, 9.8 yards per target, 59.0 success rate
Xavier Hutchinson: 207 snaps, 45 targets, 24 catches, 287 yards, 53.3 catch%, 6.4 yards per target, 46.7 success rate
Tank Dell: 33 snaps, 10 targets, 5 catches, 148 yards, 50.0 catch%, 14.8 yards per target, 40.0 success rate
Marvin Harrison Jr.: 34 snaps, 11 targets, 6 catches, 60 yards, 54.5 catch%, 5.5 yards per target, 54.5 success rate
Kayshon Boutte: 200 snaps, 28 targets, 19 catches, 319 yards, 67.9 catch%, 11.4 yards per target, 64.3 success rate
Dalton Schultz: 219 snaps, 47 targets, 35 catches, 364 yards, 74.5 catch%, 7.7 yards per target, 57.4 success rate
Foster Moreau: 70 snaps, 14 targets, 11 catches, 72 yards, 78.6 catch%, 5.1 yards per target, 57.1 success rate
Woody Marks: 160 snaps, 21 targets, 15 catches, 98 yards, 71.4 catch%, 4.7 yards per target, 38.1 success rate
Not every number points in the same direction, and that’s the point. Tank Dell’s catch percentage and success rate are lower, but his 14.8 yards per target stands out. That kind of downfield production changes the math, even if the raw completion numbers aren’t pretty.
Xavier Hutchinson is the player who raises the biggest question. He leads the wide receiver group in passing-down snaps and targets, which would suggest a major role.
But the efficiency numbers don’t support that level of usage. Among the wideouts, he is fourth in catch percentage, fourth in yards per target, and fourth in success rate.
He is on pace for 51 catches and more than 600 receiving yards, with a chance to finish with four or five touchdown catches. On paper, that sounds like a useful season for a second or third receiver.
It even puts him in line to finish second on the team in catches. But the production still doesn’t line up with the workload.
Boutte has been more effective as a downfield threat, and Marvin Harrison Jr. could grow into a better possession option once he settles in. Hutchinson was also getting more snaps than Jaylin Noel, who had numbers similar to Tank Dell before he went down.
The larger issue is simple: the Texans should be trying to keep their best 11 on the field as much as possible. Right now, that makes Hutchinson look more like WR4 at best. Harrison can be viewed as WR5 for now, though there’s also room to expect improvement as he becomes more comfortable in the offense.
Dalton Schultz belongs in the mix as well. If Houston is leaning on Boutte and Dell at wide receiver, Schultz should be on the field often as an underneath or intermediate option.
The challenge is not just identifying who can play. It’s figuring out who has actually earned the most snaps.
In Other News...
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Week 10 could be the first real chance for that plan to show up in a meaningful way against the Browns. Kleins path gets a little cleaner if Brevin Jordan is still out with an injury, and for a Texans offense that has been searching for reliable contributions at tight end, the timing gives the rookie a chance to turn a small uptick into something more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
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