Today we are continuing our 4-EYED TEAM PREVIEW SERIES and we are starting the AFC South with the Houston Texans! This morning we’re talking offense and later today we’ll be releasing our IDP outlook, so stay tuned!
There isn’t a lot to say about the Texans at this point with their star quarterback wanting a trade and also dealing with off-the-field issues. The Texans have a new look to their running back corps and have Brandin Cooks as their best player heading into training camp. While the overall team may be historically bad, there could still be fantasy relevance here.
So, who are the players from the Texans offense that can help you win a fantasy championship in 2021?
Find out below in our 2021 Texans Offensive 4-EYED Team Preview!
Quarterbacks
Deshaun Watson
At the time of this writing, Watson is still an active member of the Texans although he has made it very clear that he wants out of Houston. Approach him with care as his off-the-field issues could land him on the exempt list at any time, and people are assuming that he will be missing at least some time this season.
That being said, if he plays the entire season, somehow, somewhere he is going to retain top-5 value. Roster Watson only with a solid backup plan in mind.
Tyrod Taylor or Davis Mills?
Tyrod Taylor has had quite the career never getting going for the Ravens who he started with and then re-inventing himself in Buffalo. Then Taylor wasn’t re-signed as the Bills drafted then-rookie, Josh Allen, Taylor signed with the Browns and was surpassed on the depth chart by then-rookie Baker Mayfield, and finally was in Los Angeles with the Chargers and lost his role to (you guessed it) then-rookie, Justin Herbert. Now, Taylor is waiting in the wings and could be the starter for the Texans in Week 1. Taylor could open up the offense with his legs, but recent history should have you weary. Taylor is averaging about 12 fantasy points per game in his last four starts going back to 2018.
Davis Mills is a rookie out of Stanford and was a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft. Playing in 13 games for the Cardinals, Mills completed 65.5% of his passes for 3,468 total yards and 18 passing touchdowns to only eight interceptions in his career. Not a large sample size, but Mills isn’t known for his rushing ability as he only had 86 yards rushing at Stanford. This is a training camp battle to watch to see who the starter is, but you probably aren’t going to roster either of these guys if they are the Texans quarterback going forward.
Running Backs
David Johnson
I will be the first to admit that I was surprised that Johnson finished as a top-20 running back in 2020 as he was the RB19 in fantasy. Showing flashes of what we saw him do early in his career in Arizona, Johnson both ran the ball efficiently and was used in the receiving game. For running backs with at least 118 rushing attempts, Johnson ranked tied for 14th in yards per attempt and he ranked targets in the receiving game. Johnson isn’t going to put up RB1 numbers, but he is someone that can perform well no matter who is under center and his value will be there. Solid RB2 for me this year.
Phillip Lindsay
One of the additions to this “backfield of misfit players” is former Denver Bronco Phillip Lindsay. No longer behind Melvin Gordon on the depth chart, Lindsay chose to test free agency to try and show that he can take over a backfield. The surprising thing to me with Lindsay is that I always had the feeling that he was a receiving option, but he was only targeted 11 times last season and had seven receptions for 28 yards. Lindsay is going to be the beneficiary of the quarterback situation if it is either Mills or Taylor. I think Lindsay is a solid backup option and we have seen that David Johnson won’t be a full, bell-cow back.
Others?
Former Patriots goal-line vulture Rex Burkhead and former Raven Mark Ingram round out the Texans running backs. Both of these players would only have value in the deepest of leagues or if there is an injury to Johnson or Lindsay. Keep an eye on Burkhead if he retains a similar vulture role and he gets those deep redzone carries consistently.
Wide Receivers
Brandin Cooks
Cooks was the WR15 last season and has had at least 1,138 receiving yards and five touchdowns in five of his last six seasons. There is a slight concern with the quality of targets if Watson isn’t the quarterback under center, but Cooks had the most targets, receptions, and receiving yards for any Texans receivers last season. Cooks should still retain WR2 value this season.
Others?
The Texans traded away Randall Cobb back to the Packers and in a separate deal brought in Anthony Miller from Chicago. Miller joins Nico Collins, another third-round 2021 draft selection by the Texans, as the other receivers in this offense. I personally love Collins in dynasty leagues, but when it comes to redraft leagues you are probably leaving these guys undrafted. Both of them could be waiver wire targets if they get consistent usage in the passing game in the early part of the season.
Tight End?
Jordan Akins
Former Texans tight end Darren Fells is gone and so Akins slots in as the team’s starting tight end. Akins had the third-most targets on the team last season and he is one player that if Watson is gone, the new quarterback under center may be more inclined to check down behind a bad offensive line and Akins could be the beneficiary. Not draft-worthy, but another name to watch.
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