Fantasy- 32 Teams in 32 Days: The Houston Texans
By Matt Mikolas
Houston Texans: Off-Season Overview
It’s no secret that the two biggest questions for the Houston Texans this off-season have been: Will DeShaun Watson be healthy? Can DeShaun Watson be as productive as he looked in 2017?
The first answer appears to be yes.
The second? Well, we’ll have to wait and see. Watson’s very impressive rookie campaign was cut short by an ACL injury that he’s expected to be fully recovered from when next week’s training camp starts.
Like in yesterday’s Steelers preview, most of Houston’s off-season moves took place off the field. In a situation where owner Bob McNair seemingly had to choose between his GM and head coach, Bill O’Brien stayed, and Rick Smith was sent packing. The Texans hired Brian Gaine away from Buffalo’s front office to run things in Houston. Being as I often refer to O’Brien as the worst head coach in the NFL –When’s the last time O’Brien made a decision YOU agreed with? I’ll wait. (Starting Watson week two of last season doesn’t count, because he was correcting his original boneheaded mistake of going with Tom Savage— you can correctly assume I think McNair made the wrong choice.
Even O’Brien wasn’t enough to stand in DeShaun Watson’s way last year. He’ll bring back the same weapons as last year, and even adds Sammie Coates to the mix.
I don’t know how it will translate to their overall record, but hey. This is fantasy. Who cares about that. I expect Watson to pick up right where he left off last year.
I Gotta Get Me One of Those!
The fantasy stock for DeAndre Hopkins continues to rise and rise and rise. He was fourth in yards and first in touchdowns in 2017. That comes along with being one of only three players with double-digit receiving TDs. It may not be a popular opinion because people are enamored with Beckham, but Hopkins is my number two WR off the board after Antonio Brown.
Buyer Beware
Why do people like Lamar Miller so much? Maybe it’s just the leagues I play in, but it feels like Miller gets some mystery status that he doesn’t deserve. He put up a couple really nice games in Miami, and then what? What’s he done?
Miller had three rushing touchdowns in 2017. THREE.
Yes, he added three through the air, but even then … For the respect it seems he deserves, he doesn’t put up the production to warrant it. Let somebody else make that mistake. Maybe there’s a Dolphins fan in your league that is clinging to his ‘glory days’ in Miami. Fine, whatever. Let that dude miss the playoffs. I bet Miller and his 3.7 YPC gets bumped anyway.
Stay Woke
And when Miller DOES get demoted, it will be D’Onta Foreman that takes over the starting spot. In redraft leagues, you’ll be able to get him with a later round pick, and by about mid-season, you’ll be glad you did.
LIke Watson, Foreman is an explosive athlete that had his rookie season cut short by injury. UNLIKE Watson, the hype train hasn’t quite pulled into Houston yet on him. There is a small, slowly growing buzz about Foreman, so definitely feel out the draft board to see where you have to pick him. But make no mistake. D’onta Foreman is the Texans running back to own.