Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III has had a slow start to his NFL career, but there have been plenty of factors to cause the quiet start. The Alabama product missed his entire 2022 rookie season coming off an ACL tear and being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. He appeared in 16 games in 2023 but caught just 16 passes for 158 yards. However, ESPN Texans reporter DJ Bien-Aime suggests Metchie could be back to form in 2024. "Metchie is flashing signs of what made him a second-round pick in the 2022 draft." Bien-Aime wrote. His explosiveness appears back. He has also been in the rotation with the first-team offense." While Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, and Tank Dell are locked into the starting lineup, Metchie has plenty of fantasy football intrigue if he secures the WR4 role. He'd be one injury away from entering the starting lineup in C.J. Stroud's offense, meaning he should be on the fantasy radar in deep leagues.
Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III earned a shoutout from head coach DeMeco Ryans for making a "significant leap" over the last year, according to Mike Jones of The Athletic. Metchie sat out 2022 due to a cancer diagnosis but returned to catch 16 passes for 158 yards last year. While it's not wise to invest much stock into coachspeak, it's still worth noting that Ryans has a particularly favorable view of Metchie as he enters his third pro campaign. The presence of Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell will likely keep Metchie off the redraft radar, but he could be an appealing target in deeper dynasty leagues as the 2024 season approaches.
Houston Texans wide receivers Robert Woods (hip) and John Metchie III (foot) were both listed as limited in practice on Wednesday for the second straight day this week. Woods and Metchie should both be able to play this weekend in the Divisional Round of the postseason in Baltimore against the Ravens, but they'll likely need to practice in full on Friday to avoid questionable tags. Noah Brown (shoulder) is now on Injured Reserve, but it probably won't matter all that much for Woods' limited fantasy ceiling on the road in a tough environment in Baltimore against the best defense in the NFL. The 31-year-old is most certainly going to need to find the end zone to be worth it in DFS lineups this weekend. He caught just one pass on two targets for 11 yards in the 45-14 win over the Cleveland Browns in the wild-card round.
Houston Texans wide receivers Robert Woods (hip) and John Metchie III (foot) were both listed as limited participants for Tuesday's practice session. Woods has been rested early during the week for most of the year and is expected to be available to play this Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round. He missed the Week 18 regular season finale and returned in the wild-card win over the Cleveland Browns, only to catch one of his two targets for 11 yards. The 31-year-old could have a bigger role in a tough matchup against Baltimore this weekend now that Noah Brown (shoulder) is on Injured Reserve. Still, both Woods and Metchie will be low-cost dart throws in DFS against the Ravens, with most of quarterback C.J. Stroud's targets going to Nico Collins and tight end Dalton Schultz. Woods had only 40 catches for 426 yards and one score in 2023.
Brevin Jordan, John Metchie III Return To Practice
Houston Texans tight end Brevin Jordan (illness) and wide receiver John Metchie III (illness) were both able to return to a limited practice session on Thursday after they did not practice with the team on Wednesday while being sick. Both players are well on their way to being available for the Week 16 contest versus the visiting Cleveland Browns. Neither Jordan nor Metchie should be on fantasy rosters in standard-sized leagues, though. Jordan has only 13 receptions on the season for 173 yards with one touchdown in 11 games. Metchie, meanwhile, had 14 receptions for 145 yards and no touchdowns in 13 games played. Houston's offense could struggle mightily without Stroud for a second straight week while turning to veteran Case Keenum, who will be making just his second start of 2023.
Brevin Jordan, John Metchie III Both Miss Practice
Houston Texans tight end Brevin Jordan (illness) and wide receiver John Metchie III (illness) were both not with the team for practice on Wednesday due to illnesses. Jordan and Metchie will be monitored as the week progresses, but they both have plenty of time to get right before Sunday's contest against the visiting Cleveland Browns. The 23-year-old Jordan hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 3 and only has 13 receptions for 173 yards in 11 games, so he hasn't been on the fantasy radar behind starter Dalton Schultz. Metchie is also buried on the receiver depth chart and has 14 receptions for 145 yards and no scores in 13 games in his first NFL season. Both players should be able to play in Week 16 versus Cleveland.
Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III (illness) is expected to be active for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Metchie had been listed as questionable but seemed likely to play after practicing in full on Friday. However, the young receiver is not on the fantasy radar as he remains behind Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Robert Woods in the pecking order.
Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie (illness) is being listed as questionable for Week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons. The 23-year-old missed Thursday's practice with an illness but was able to get in a full session on Friday and is questionable for Week 5. It sounds like Metchie III is on the road to recovery, barring any setbacks, and should be good to go for Week 5. He's not on the fantasy radar, though, as he's way down the Texans' wide receiver target pecking order behind Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Robert Woods. He's caught 4-of-5 targets for 52 scoreless yards through three games so far this season.
Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III (illness) didn't participate in Thursday's practice due to an illness. The late setback puts Metchie's Week 5 status against the Atlanta Falcons in question. The 23-year-old missed the season opener with a hamstring injury and has fallen way behind on the depth chart to Nico Collins and Tank Dell. We'll see if Metchie feels better on Friday, as he'll likely need to pick up at least a limited session to instill confidence regarding his availability on Sunday. Veteran Robert Woods' Week 5 fantasy outlook would slightly brighten as a WR4, considering he drew 10 targets in Houston's Week 1 loss that Metchie missed. The second-round rookie has four catches (five targets) for 52 yards in 2023.
Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III (hamstring) was upgraded to a full practice participant on Friday and was removed from the Week 2 injury report as a result. After missing all of his rookie season due to leukemia and a torn ACL, Metchie's story of perseverance will see him active for the first game of his NFL career this weekend as the team takes on the visiting Indianapolis Colts. The 23-year-old is finally recovered from a hamstring injury he had been dealing with since early in the offseason. Metchie isn't guaranteed to be active or even play at all on Sunday, but it's nice to see that he has managed to put himself in position to see the first offensive snaps of his career. If active, he and rookie Tank Dell will compete for playing time behind Nico Collins and Robert Woods.
