Overall Fantasy Impact: Average
Offensive Outlook: The Texans were a middle-of-the-road fantasy producer a year ago, which wasn’t bad considering the disaster they had been in years past or when taking into account all the injuries they had a year ago.
Their top quarterback, running back, and receiver all missed significant time.
This is still a team with a messy running back situation, but if the Matt Schaub to Andre Johnson combo can stay healthy and develop the chemistry they showed early last season, Houston’s offense could conceivably take another step up.
QUARTERBACKS: Schaub started off fast last season before the injuries started to take their toll. A concussion messed him up in mid-season and a dislocated left shoulder finished him off for the last few games. In the 8 games he started and finished, he never threw for less than 225 yards and racked up 9 TD passes. He’s still another top receiver and a little experience away from being a fantasy starter, but he’d be an excellent #2 to have for favorable matchups.
Sage Rosenfels was brilliant at times in Schaub’s absence, throwing for 15 scores with at least one in every game. But the Texans still brought in free agent Quinn Gray, who played well in Jacksonville last year. Neither is likely to challenge Schaub, but either would be worth a look if the starter goes down again.
RUNNING BACK: Ahman Green is the #1 guy going in, but it’s hard to imagine him winning the job at age 31 or staying healthy if he gets it. So who does that leave behind him? There’s Chris Brown, always a teaser in Tennessee (check out his 175-yard outburst in Week 1, which he never even came near matching.) Brown does have a goal-line knack and could be used in that capacity. Darius Walker showed some life late last year but isn’t likely to see the field much. Ron Dayne had a career-high 773 yards last season, and could be a nice battering-ram type, but he’s still unsigned.
The popular choice is rookie 3rd-round pick Steve Slaton, who certainly has electric skills. But his lack of size and his adjustment from the unique offense he played in college more than likely means a more specialized NFL role. Watch this battle play out in training camp, but temper your expectations even if someone wins the job outright.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Andre Johnson was on his was to the elite last year when a knee injury felled him in Week 3 for half the season. His numbers suffered only a little when he returned, but the knee required more surgery in May. If he makes it to the season healthy, look out. He averaged over 100 yards a game with 8 TDs in 8 games last year. Stretched over a full season, those numbers are worthy of a second-round choice on Draft Day, but the worries over his injury means you might be able to get him in Round 3.Kevin Walter had a surprising hot-streak when Johnson got hurt and was a popular free-agent pickup. He’s good as a number three or four fantasy guy because he always gets catches, but nothing more than that. Andre Davis saw his production plummet when Johnson returned. Jacoby Jones could steal some of Davis’ action in his second year, but neither is worthy of being drafted.
Owen Daniels quietly nabbed 63 receptions for 768 yards last year. The reason it was so quiet is that he only managed 3 TDs. Still, he caught 5 scores in ‘06, so look for that TD total to go up and for Daniels to be a sleeper pick who will produce numbers comparable to much bigger names.