Jared Koch· Aug 22, 2026
Koch projects the Texans' wide receiver depth chart after Jayden Higgins' season-ending injury, naming Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson and Jaylin Noel as starters, listing backups and roster locks, and predicting Collins tops his 2025 receiving marks.
“There's a good chance he surpasses all three of those marks in 2026, so long as he's able to remain healthy.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
18 checkable claims — 11 roster spot calls, 3 depth chart calls, 3 player season numbers and 1 sleeper call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 12 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 18 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 6 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Nico Collins · 2026 season6 calls from 6 pundits between 1 and 1. Jared Koch said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
18 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Roster Spot CallsSterling ShepardHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Sterling Shepard to make the roster
“I think of the two newest signings, Sterling Shepard has a better chance to make it to Week 1.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- HOU
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 44bf1569-c37f-46dd-b0c1-4b509af39620
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Roster Spot CallsDaniel SobkowiczHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Daniel Sobkowicz to make the roster
“Daniel Sobkowicz has been someone many have liked when he was picked up as a UDFA in April, so maybe he finds his way in there.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsTank DellHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Tank Dell to make the roster
“Four of those––Collins, Hutchinson, Noel, and Dell––are virtual locks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Player Season NumbersNico CollinsHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Nico Collins to record 71 receptions
“Collins had over 1,100 yards and 71 receptions with six touchdowns in 15 games. There's a good chance he surpasses all three of those marks in 2026”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Player Season NumbersNico CollinsHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Nico Collins to record 6 receiving tds
“six touchdowns in 15 games. There's a good chance he surpasses all three of those marks in 2026”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJaylin NoelHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Jaylin Noel to be 1st on the depth chart
“Starting Slot WR: Jaylin Noel ... he's the clear favorite within this wide receiver room to take the most reps in the slot”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsNico CollinsHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Nico Collins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Starting X WR: Nico Collins”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsXavier HutchinsonHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Xavier Hutchinson to be 1st on the depth chart
“Starting Z WR: Xavier Hutchinson”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Player Season NumbersNico CollinsHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Nico Collins to record 1,100 receiving yards
“Last season, Collins had over 1,100 yards and 71 receptions with six touchdowns in 15 games. There's a good chance he surpasses all three of those marks in 2026”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsJha'Quan JacksonHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Jha'Quan Jackson to make the roster
“Likely Cuts: Jha'Quan Jackson, Josh Kelly, Treyvhon Saunders, Daniel Sobkowicz, Juwann Winfree”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsXavier HutchinsonHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Xavier Hutchinson to make the roster
“Four of those––Collins, Hutchinson, Noel, and Dell––are virtual locks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsLewis BondHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Lewis Bond to make the roster
“Lewis Bond has been a camp star worthy of a 53-man spot”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsJosh KellyHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Josh Kelly to make the roster
“Likely Cuts: Jha'Quan Jackson, Josh Kelly, Treyvhon Saunders, Daniel Sobkowicz, Juwann Winfree”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsTreyvhon SaundersHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Treyvhon Saunders to make the roster
“Likely Cuts: Jha'Quan Jackson, Josh Kelly, Treyvhon Saunders, Daniel Sobkowicz, Juwann Winfree”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJaylin NoelHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Jaylin Noel to outplay his draft cost
“The second-year wideout could have a case to be one of the Texans' biggest breakout candidates since Higgins' injury.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsNico CollinsHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Nico Collins to make the roster
“Four of those––Collins, Hutchinson, Noel, and Dell––are virtual locks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsJuwann WinfreeHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Juwann Winfree to make the roster
“Likely Cuts: Jha'Quan Jackson, Josh Kelly, Treyvhon Saunders, Daniel Sobkowicz, Juwann Winfree”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsJaylin NoelHouston TexansAug 22, 2026
Jaylin Noel to make the roster
“Four of those––Collins, Hutchinson, Noel, and Dell––are virtual locks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- John BreechGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0Breech picks the Texans to upset the Bills in Houston, trusting Houston's defense to smother Josh Allen, and takes the Raiders to beat the Dolphins by at least a touchdown.
- Judah FortgangGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0PFF's divisional-round same-game parlay picks: Tampa Bay beats Cincinnati with Cade Otton exploiting the Bengals' linebackers, Las Vegas beats Miami behind Kirk Cousins attacking a depleted Dolphins secondary, and Houston beats Buffalo with C.J. Stroud throwing effectively and Jaylin Noel benefiting from the slot matchup.
- Judah FortgangGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0An unsigned PFF betting piece argues Cooper Rush will struggle against Pittsburgh's disruption pressure in Week 1, and that Buffalo's rebuilt secondary without Sean McDermott will be exploitable by C.J. Stroud, leading them to back Houston winning through the air.
- Simon HunterGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0Hunter picked Houston and the Giants as underdog money line plays, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Detroit as favorites, and used Pittsburgh plus the Chargers as his survivor picks for week one.
- Chad MillmanGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0Millman backed several week one sides outright: Miami to beat the Raiders straight up, the Jets over the Titans, an underdog money line parlay of Houston and the Giants, and a favorites money line parlay of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Detroit. He also stands by his preseason take that Drake Maye is a top-five NFL quarterback.
- Kevin WildesGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0Wildes parlayed two upsets: Houston beating Buffalo and Indianapolis beating Baltimore, and had picked Dak Prescott as league MVP.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- John ShipleyRoster Spot Calls · Jack KiserMiss · 0Shipley projects a full 16-player (plus one international/exemption spot) Jaguars practice squad for 2026, naming specific players at each position he expects to land there.
- Cody RourkeRoster Spot Calls · Mitchell FraboniMiss · 0Rourke names the Ravens as the bounce-back team most likely to be dangerous in the AFC again, and says Houston's defense alone should carry the Texans into the postseason. He also expects long snapper Mitchell Fraboni to be one of Denver's practice-squad elevations for the Chiefs game, and slots Pat Bryant as Denver's third receiver behind Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle.
- Sayre BedingerRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeMiss · 0Benninger expects Houston's elite defense to make them either a division winner or a wild card team, thinks Marvin Mims was trending toward being Denver's fourth receiver rather than just the return man, and figures Adam Prentice will be the Broncos' other practice-squad call-up.
- Bob MorrisRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeHit · 100Morris predicts Jarrett Stidham holds the backup QB job behind Bo Nix, Adam Prentice makes the 53-man roster as the fullback/fourth back, and Lucas Krull gets cut.
- Erick TrickelRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeHit · 100After the Broncos' preseason opener, Trickel argued fullback Adam Prentice has shown enough value to earn a spot on the 53-man roster ahead of the team's fourth running back options (Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, Cody Schrader).
- Nick ShookRoster Spot Calls · Aaron DonaldHit · 100Shook unveiled his first NFL power rankings of the year, putting the Rams first, the Broncos second and the defending champion Seahawks only third, with the Dolphins last.