For the Houston Texans offense to really pop this season, it was likely going to take one of the rookies they selected in the 2025 NFL Draft emerging in a pretty significant way at some point during the year. At various points, Woody Marks and Jayden Higgins have looked like they were going to be that guy, but over the last two games, that guy has been Jaylin Noel, the other rookie wide receiver the Texans drafted and the third former Iowa State Cyclone in Houston's wide receiver room.
Jaylin Noel was used sparingly over the first month of the season, but over his last two games, the former Cyclone has surprisingly become one of CJ Stroud's preferred targets.