John

Metchie

Metchie’s pro career has been derailed by a January 2021 ACL tear and a cancer diagnosis in 2022. In offseason practices, the former Alabama star has worked in a rotational role with Houston’s first-team offense. He had 158 yards on 16 receptions in 2023. Metchie will remain an afterthought in the Texans offense for as long as Tank Dell, Stefon Diggs, and Nico Collins are healthy.

Coming off a career-high 44 yards in the Wild Card Round, Metchie’s doughnut was disappointing with Noah Brown on the shelf. Despite the second-year second-rounder’s overall lack of production, by far Metchie’s biggest 2023 accomplishment was simply getting back on the field and commanding snaps after his 2022 leukemia diagnosis. With Noah Brown, Dalton Schultz and Robert Woods all potentially on the move this offseason, 23-year-old Metchie is worth keeping around in Dynasty leagues in this on-the-rise offense.

Metchie made a spectacular over-the-shoulder grab along the sideline for 27 yards early in the game, with his three targets largely a factor of game environment on a night C.J. Stroud attempted just 21 passes. Metchie could be counted on for additional work in the Divisional Round.

Even with Robert Woods inactive, Metchie played on less than 10 percent of the Texans’ offensive snaps in Week 18, while rookie Xavier Hutchinson played on more than 60 percent of the snaps. Metchie’s 2023 will make for a tough evaluation, as he’s roughly a year removed from his battle with Leukemia. The former second-round pick caught 16 passes for 158 scoreless yards this season but could get additional opportunities in 2024. The emergence of Nico Collins and Tank Dell could leave little room for a third receiver to flourish, but it’s too early to write Metchie off heading into the offseason

Metchie was one of two players that missed practice on Wednesday with an illness, joined by tight end Brevin Jordan. Both returned to practice on Thursday, a good sign that they’ll be able to suit up on Sunday against the Browns.

It was Xavier Hutchinson, not Metchie, who worked in three-wideout sets with Nico Collins (calf) and Tank Dell (leg) sidelined. Metchie ran just five routes on 40 Texans drop backs and saw the one target. Hutchinson, meanwhile, had three targets on35 routes. Metchie is off the fantasy radar.

Brown dropped a C.J. Stroud target on a slant route and saw just one other target the rest of the game. It was his first game back from a knee injury and he operated as the third receiver in the Texans offense. John Metchie competed with Brown for scraps behind Collins, with both seeing a combined five targets. Brown and Metchie will compete to be the WR2 in the Texans offense with Tank Dell hurt, but neither should be started against the Jets in Week 14.

Metchie ran a route on 18 of the team’s 35 drop backs against Atlanta with Robert Woods missing some time while being evaluated for a brain injury. Metchie, who usually lines up as a slot receiver, played on the boundary. He’ll be a fantasy non-factor unless Houston struggles with wideout injuries this season.

Tytus Howard was activated from injured reserve on Saturday and is expected to start at right tackle. Per Rapoport, John Metchie is also expected to play. C.J. Stroud has been lighting the league on fire through four starts, all while dealing with backup linemen blocking for him at multiple spots. The only glaring issue with his game has been a propensity for taking sacks. Getting new bookends to his line should help with that.

Metchie was a DNP with an illness on Thursday but upgraded to full on Friday. Barring a setback we can expect the second-year receiver to suit up on Sunday against the Falcons, but we can’t rely on him for fantasy purposes. Through three games, Metchie has four receptions for 52 yards and is well off the fantasy radar at this time.