Houston Texans Team Report by Clayton Gray
| Hou Projections (9/3) | Passing Stats | Rush Stats | Receiving Stats | Fantasy | |||||||||||
| Change | Name | Pos | Att | Comp | % | Yds | TD | Int | Att | Yds | TD | Rec | Yds | TD | Pts |
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#fname# #lname# | #pos# | #NumberFormat("#pts#", '__,_____')# | ||||||||||||
| Totals | #NumberFormat("#tot_patt#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_pcmp#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#evaluate(100*tot_pcmp/tot_patt)#", '_____._')#% | #NumberFormat("#tot_pyds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ptds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_int#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ratt#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ryds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_rtds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_rec#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_cyds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ctds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_pts#", '__,_____')# | ||
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Quarterbacks Starter - David Carr Backups - Mike Quinn, Tony Banks, Kent Graham Starting Quarterback: The plan originally was for Kent Graham to start for a while so the rookie David Carr could be eased into the QB position. So much for plans. Graham has disappointed beyond belief, and Carr will open the season as the unquestioned starting QB for Houston. Obviously, Carr will experience growing pains, but there at times he'll look like a viable fantasy backup. At times. Most of the time, however, he'll suffer from a lack of a quality running game and a mediocre receiving corps. Backup Quarterback(s): Mike Quinn was supposed to hold the clipboard this year, but he has a firm hold on the back-up job. Look for him to receive little more than spot action as Carr will be learning on the job all season long. Graham was horrible in mini-camps but made up for that by being terrible in training camp. It's quite likely he won't even make the season opener. The back-up QB situation is so bad that Tony Banks has been signed. Shudder! Look for Banks to be the #2 guy here. Running Backs Starter - James Allen Backups - Jonathan Wells, Travis Prentice, Michael Jenkins Starting Running Back: Expansion teams simply do not produce quality fantasy RBs. The overall offense just simply isn't good enough. James Allen has a slight hold on the top RB job in Houston, but he's really hanging by a thread. Sure he's not very good, but he really doesn't have a chance to shine. The supposedly excellent offensive line is hobbled by injuries (no one seems to know when/if Boselli will be back), the starting QB is a rookie, and the receivers will strike fear into no one. That combo makes it next to impossible to have a successful running game. Allen will likely start the season, but he won't hold the job all year long. Backup Running Back(s): One has to think that the rookie Jonathan Wells will see significant action. The Texans obviously are not eyeing a playoff run this season, so why not take a strong look at the youngster. He could surprise, but he'll face the same long odds as Allen. Prentice and Jenkins are battling for the 3rd down back job. Neither are viable fantasy options. Fullback(s): Jarrod Baxter: There is some talk that Baxter could see some goal line duty. However, before you burn up the waiver wire ask yourself how many TDs Houston will score this season. Wide Receivers / Tight Ends Starters - Jabar Gaffney, Corey Bradford Backups - Jermaine Lewis, Tony Simmons, Avion Black Starting Receiver(s): Jabar Gaffney is far from a sure bet, but it's evident he'll see a good number of balls thrown his way. Of the Houston WRs, the rookie Gaffney must be considered most draft-worthy. Granted, rookie WRs rarely perform, but he has more potential than any of his fellow WRs. Gaffney is one of those late-round WRs that could pay off in a big way. Bradford was brought in to be the #1 WR but will be exposed as incapable of filling that role. Backup Receiver(s): Lewis is much more suited to returning punts. Actually, he is excellent in that role. The coaching staff is doing little more than risking injury to him if he sees significant action as a WR. Jabar Gaffney is far from a sure bet, but it's evident he'll see a good number of balls thrown his way. Simmons and Black will only see action if injuries hit Gaffney and Bradford. Even then, I'd pass on both. Tight End(s): Rod Rutledge, Billy Miller, Kaseem Sinceno Billy Miller is the best receiving TE here, but his blocking skills are questionable. On the other hand, Rutledge can block fairly well. For that reason, Rutledge will be on the field more often and see more looks than Miller. That said, neither are worth consideration. Place Kicker Kris Brown: Name Heinz Field's biggest detractor. Kris Brown is correct. Before moving into Pittsburgh's new home, Brown was an 84.7% FG kicker. Last year, he hit only 68.2% of his tries. Look for much better accuracy from Brown this year. But it won't matter. As a Steeler, Brown attempted 44 FGs last year. He'll be lucky to line up for 24 in 2002. There are better options available. Defense Expansion defenses are never thought of among the fantasy elite for two reasons: 1) Obviously, the talent on defense isn't good enough. After all, this is an expansion team, and 2) The offense isn't good enough to control the ball so the defense stays on the field too long. The Texans defense shouldn't be horrible as Jamie Sharper, Gary Walker, Marcus Coleman, and Aaron Glenn are each quality players. The problem for Houston is that the remaining defenders are certainly not upper tier talent. The players at NT, both safety positions, and the remainder of the linebackers smack of talent that won't be around in a couple of years. Further, this defense will struggle because the offense will struggle. They'll rarely if ever control time of possession, and this defense will wear down. For you IDP players, there could be some high tackle numbers here. Sharper could easily finish as a top 30 LB, but there are too many unknowns everywhere else to foresee any other high finishers here. Coaching One thing this staff does not lack is expansion team experience. Head Coach Dom Capers led the Carolina Panthers in their first four years of existence. His staff included current Houston Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio. Joining them in Houston is Offensive Coordinator Chris Palmer. Palmer held that same position when the Jacksonville were created and then became head coach for the new Cleveland Browns. These three men should certainly know what to expect with this new franchise. That has to be a plus for the Texans. Intangibles There are no expectations for early success. This season is clearly and obviously a first step in a multi-year plan towards fielding a competitive team. |