Fantasy Football 2017 Team Preview: Houston Texans
This is the 2017 fantasy preview of the Houston Texans. In this preview I will provide the Must-Own players, Sleepers, and Longshot players with upside very deep in drafts.
Must-own players are those who should be owned by someone in any league. Handcuff RBs can qualify, as they are often very important to a fantasy team over the full schedule. Sleepers are secondary players that you may find on the waiver wire at some point in the year, or may go undrafted in shallower auction-style leagues. The Longshots are players with microscopic ADP, who are being drafted at the very end of drafts, or more likely not drafted at all.
All ADP data is courtesy of FantasyPros.com.
**I will list all kickers, but I cannot give analysis on them. Sorry :-/
MUST OWNS
Lamar Miller, RB (ADP: 26): Miller was a first-round back in 2016, and he didn’t have a terrible season – 1,073 yards, five touchdowns is better than serviceable – but he returned far less than first round value. Not a whole lot has changed for this offense in terms of personnel, so Miller’s ADP has fallen some. Now, he’s right where he belongs, and in a spot that can really reward those who draft him. Losing Brock Osweiler is the best thing that could have happened to this whole offense, and if the winner of the Texans QB battle can make defenses respect the threat of the pass, Miller will rediscover his lanes for big plays. A bounceback campaign is in the cards for Miller, and early Round 3 is sick value.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR (ADP: 29): Hopkins was among the most disappointing players in fantasy last year, when he caught 33 fewer passes, seven fewer touchdowns and gained 567 fewer yards. Unlike Miller, who was still useful, Hopkins was often in owners’ lineups getting outperformed by players on the bench. It was complete misery playing him every week. And yet, his ADP hasn’t really suffered. Fantasy owners are buying the talent, and hoping that the change away from Osweiler is all he needs; after all, his breakout 2015 happened with an unholy quartet of Brian Hoyer, T.J. Yates, Brandon Weeden and Ryan Mallett at QB. I am skeptical of Hopkins returning to truly elite status though in this run-first offense, and I think he will be a fine WR2, but a low-end WR1 if that’s where you draft him.
Defense/Special Teams (ADP: 118): J.J. Watt is back, so that fact alone means the defense he is on gets drafted. Watt is bookended by Jadeveon Clowney, with three All-Pro linebackers at the second level. There will be sacks, turnovers and touchdowns to be had.
SLEEPERS
Will Fuller, WR (ADP: 258): Fuller’s ADP says “longshot,” but I’m treating him as a sleeper, because without his collarbone injury he’d be close to a must-own. Last season Fuller had some moments, topping 100 yards in his first two games, before succumbing to the black hole that is Brock Osweiler at QB. For the season Fuller averaged 13.5 yards per catch, and he will be the team’s big play threat when he returns to action. There are several receivers vying for his No. 2 spot in this offense, but none are good enough to hold him off for long.
LONGSHOTS
Braxton Miller, WR (ADP: 272): We have seen Terrelle Pryor blossom into one of the better receivers in the league, and the Texans are hoping Miller can duplicate that success. With Fuller missing extended time, the door is wide open for Miller to seize the day. Miller didn’t receive much of a chance as a rookie, so all we have to go on are his physical gifts; Miller is incredibly athletic and very fast, but he played receiver for just one year in college at Ohio State with underwhelming numbers. At 6’1, 204 lbs. Miller isn’t the physical specimen that Pryor is either, so the comparison is very superficial. Unfortunately, I
Jaelen Strong, WR (ADP: N/A): Strong is such an afterthought right now that he literally doesn’t have an ADP. Entering his third year, with a reputation for drops and in an offense that leans heavily on the wrong this isn’t surprising or inappropriate. Strong is a big receiver though, and he did score three touchdowns as a rookie. The job opposite Hopkins is wide open so monitor him during the preseason if you have a late draft. He might be a steal in the mold of a Jacquizz Rodgers at RB in the early portion of the season.
Deshaun Watson, QB (ADP: 174): Watson does not seem like he will be the starting QB in Week 1, which is a shame because he has the potential to be an impact player on a win-now team. The coaching staff must see that he needs seasoning; personally, I see a QB who went to back-to-back National Championship games and accounted for 50 total touchdowns (41 passing). I don’t know why he isn’t starting in Week 1, but he will certainly overtake Tom Savage during the year.
KICKER
Nick Novak.