How good are the Houston Texans?
As a roster, perhaps a bit underwhelming.
As individuals? A trio of names continue to impress heading into the home stretch.
In the latest article from ESPN, defensive end Danielle Hunter, running back Joe Mixon and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. all were the top players for a certain superlative that stands out as an “elite trait” in 2024.
Mixon, who’s on pace to become the Texans’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Carlos Hyde in 2019, was named the NFL’s “vision/instincts” runner.
“Mixon has been an easy fit in Houston’s zone run game, pressing the ball to the edge and finding the cutback lanes,” ESPN’s Matt Bowen wrote. “Mixon is averaging 88.7 rushing yards, the third most in the league.”
Hunter, a dark horse to win the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year Award, was given the accolade for “best spin move” after recording 10.5 sacks in 14 games.
“A super disruptive edge defender, Hunter leads the NFL with a pass rush win rate of 27.9%,” Bowen wrote. “He has a devastating spin move that puts blockers in conflict. Hunter’s 10.5 sacks and 42 pressures both rank in the top three around the league.”
Stingley, who’s transformed into a top-three cornerback entering Year 3, was given the title of “best backfield vision” for his ability to read quarterbacks.
“An emerging star in the league, Stingley can overlap seam balls and get a jump on in-breakers because of his backfield vision in the Texans’ scheme,” Bowen wrote. “He has three interceptions and 11 pass breakups.”
The Texans return to NRG Stadium to face off against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. With a victory, Houston would guarantee a second-winning season under DeMeco Ryans.
Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.
