HOUSTON -- The performance of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud will likely be the top storyline for the Houston Texans this season, but the caveat to that is he can't throw the ball to himself.

Football is a team game and Stroud will rely heavily on his pass catchers, but on paper, the wide receiver room lacks proven production.

ESPN's Bill Barnwell ranked the Texans' playmakers last -- for the third year in a row. Though, he did positively mention the signing of tight end Dalton Schultz to a one-year, $6.25 million deal after totaling 2,000 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns in the past three seasons, along with running back Dameon Pierce -- who rushed for 939 yards through Week 14, which ranked seventh, before being sidelined for the rest of the season with injury.

But the main concern is the wide receivers. In 2022, Texans wideouts had 176 receptions (ranking 26th out of 32 teams), 2,154 receiving yards (28th) and nine touchdowns (28th).

However, the bottom-tier receiver production for the Texans doesn't worry Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, as he believes the group will "surprise a lot of people."

Nico Collins is the only returning contributor who produced over 400 yards last season (481). Robert Woods joined the club on a two-year, $15.25 million deal after posting a career-low 522 receiving yards and two touchdowns with the Tennessee Titans last season to help Houston replace leading-receiver Brandin Cooks, who was traded to the Dallas Cowboys. The Texans also signed former Cowboy Noah Brown to a one-year contract, who set career highs in catches (43), receiving yards (555) and touchdowns (3).

At the draft, the Texans picked up receivers Nathaniel Dell in the third round and Xavier Hutchinson in the sixth.

"I'm not concerned with where we are with our wide receivers," Ryans said on SportsRadio 610 last month. "I like our group. I like where we are. We have a lot of talented guys and have a lot of different qualities. Nico Collins, you got the big guy with probably the best hands on the team. You got the veteran Robert Woods, just been consistent day in and day out. 'Tank' Dell comes in, providing his route-running ability. He's been open a lot in OTAs. So that's exciting."

Another player Ryans is ecstatic to see in training camp is 2022 second-round pick John Metchie III, who missed his entire rookie season after he was diagnosed with leukemia last summer.

"I'm just excited to see him out there," Ryans said. "I know the type of player he was, seeing him in college and seeing the type of playmaking ability that he has."

But overall, the group lacks experience. Even though Brown is going into his fifth year, he only has 980 yards in his career.

So Woods understands he has to be a leader. He understands that he has to be an example and also help new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik implement his West Coast offense.

“[I'm] just trying to set the expectation for this offense, and this team, show them how to work -- kind of like my experiences on Super Bowl teams," Woods said, "and then for our receiver room, the offense more so, just setting the standard of being in the right spot at the right time."

The only receiver on the roster that has eclipsed 600 yards in a season is Woods, who has done so six times in his career, including exceeding 1,000 yards twice with the Los Angeles Rams in 2018 and 2019, but Woods is also only two seasons removed from a torn ACL. Still he believes he can recapture his production from 2017 to 2020 when he ranked ninth in receiving yards (4,070), eighth in receptions (322) and second in yards after the catch (1,777) among receivers.

For Stroud, Collins has appeared to be his favorite target throughout the spring. Collins has been able to stand out with big-play catches from Stroud, but since being selected in the third round of the 2021 draft, he has just 70 catches for 927 yards and three touchdowns.

Still, optimism is high for what life can be like under Slowik.

"I feel like this offense gets everybody ways to touch the ball, make plays," Collins said. "When your number is called, go make a play. Coach Bobby, he’s telling us, ‘If you’ve got the ball in your hands, go score.’ Just have that mindset of ‘just go.’ He wants that dog. He’s going to bring that dog up out of you. So, that’s what I love about his offense, man. And can’t wait for the season.”