5 players who Houston Texans need to be great in 2020
2. RB David Johnson
Johnson’s 2016 season with the Arizona Cardinals (over 2,100 total yards and 20 total touchdowns) feels like a long time ago, and in running back terms it really was. But after sending DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals for him, Bill O’Brien is betting on that guy coming back in 2020.
Bill O'Brien: 'David Johnson is a three-down back who has had some very productive years. The type of guy he is, I'm so excited about having him, Randall Cobb, Brandin Cooks in our locker room.'
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 16, 2020
Johnson suffered a wrist injury in the 2017 season opener, and missed the rest of that season. He played all 16 games in 2018, with a workhorse-style workload (308 touches). But he also averaged just 3.6 yards per carry and 5.9 yards per target, as he clearly looked diminished.
Johnson started 2019 solidly, averaging over 100 total yards per game over the first six games with five total touchdowns. Then he was put on ice in Week 7 amid some injury concern (one carry for two yards), missed the next two games and Kenyan Drake happened to the Cardinals’ running game. Over his final six games last year, Johnson had just 17 carries and six targets.
RBs with more PPR than David Johnson in Weeks 1-6 before ankle/back injuries:
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) May 4, 2020
Christian McCaffrey
Dalvin Cook
Austin Ekeler
Nick Chubb
<end of list> pic.twitter.com/evnr0my8JB
O’Brien didn’t trade Hopkins to then use Johnson as a part-time player, even if there’s an argument Duke Johnson is a better back at this point. O’Brien also makes a bell cow out of his No. 1 back literally every year for better or worse, and he has professed a three-down role for the centerpiece acquisition of this offseason. Something between the 2016 and 2018 versions of Johnson would be fine, ideally toward the higher end, but it’s hardly guaranteed.