John

Metchie III

The Texans’ emergency No. 2 wideout since Tank Dell’s gruesome Week 16 knee injury, 24-year-old Metchie heads into the offseason having cleared 50 yards receiving only one time all year. That was before Dell’s ailment but during Nico Collins’ absence in Week 10. Heading into the final year of his rookie deal, Metchie has caught at least 30 balls each of the past two seasons after missing 2022 with illness. Not a bad floor, but Metchie has not hinted at ceiling, while the Texans have given zero indication they expect Metchie to further ascend the depth chart. He’s a role player who might not be guaranteed to crack the 53-man roster in 2025. Missing out would admittedly be unlikely.

Running a pass route on 29 of C.J. Stroud’s 43 drop backs, Metchie tied Nico Collins for the team lead in targets and worked as the No. 2 receiver against LA. Playing through a lingering shoulder issue, Metchie could be useful in postseason fantasy contests next week against whoever the Texans play in the Divisional Round.

Metchie was able to get in a full practice Thursday, so it seems likely that the 24-year-old will be able to play against Los Angeles on Saturday. Considering the injuries to the Houston receiving corps and the possibility they’ll need to throw a lot in this game, Metchie is worth consideration for the playoff tilt.

Metchie dealt with the shoulder issue earlier this season but wasn’t on the injury report last week. It’s possible the issue flared up in Week 18, or the Texans may simply be giving him some extra rest with a Wild Card Round matchup versus the Chargers on the horizon. Either way, he should be good to go for Saturday’s game, putting him on the radar as a flyer in DFS tournaments.

It’s a new listing for the lanky third-year receiver who left Week 18’s game against the Titans for a concussion check at one point. Xavier Hutchinson would move up the pecking order for the Texans at wideout if Metchie can’t go, but it’s likely that Nico Collins is the only name you actually want to play in DFS or best ball playoff leagues for the Texans. Between Diontae Johnson just joining the team, Metchie’s injury, and Robert Woods’ lack of burst, it’s tough to find an obvious No. 2 here.

He was checked for a concussion after a rough hit over the middle by Daryl Worley, but returned to action late. Metchie simply hasn’t developed into more than a lower-tier receiver on the wideout depth chart. He’d be an unlikely source of fantasy value in the playoffs if he finds any.

Metchie operated as the team’s No. 2 receiver with Tank Dell done for the year. He parlayed the role into a team-high in targets and only fell 11 yards short of Nico Collins. While Metchie will have to play a prominent role in the offense in Week 18 and beyond, Diontae Johnson is expected to suit up next week, throwing a wrench in the Metchie streaming plans. He is, at best, a WR5 heading into Week 18 against the Titans.

As expected, the Texans will not have Johnson make his debut against his former team after just claiming the wideout from Baltimore on Monday. Houston will get John Metchie III (shoulder) for the Wednesday contest, and he could see a chunk of targets due to the depleted injury room. The rest of the Texans inactives are LB Devin White, G Shaq Mason, C/G Juice Scruggs, DT Folorunso Fatukasi, and DE Jerry Hughes.

Metchie could see a role increase with Tank Dell out, but he will be hard to trust in fantasy football until we see a big game out of him. Baltimore’s defense has been stellar of late. We’d classify him as a deep-league only play for the moment.

Metchie missed the team’s Week 16 loss to the Chiefs with a shoulder injury but got in a full session in the team’s first true practice of the week in preparation for a Week 17 meeting with the Ravens. We’ll get further confirmation from the team on Tuesday, but it certainly appears as if Metchie will return from his one-game absence.