The Houston Texans are projected to win around four games in 2022. The Texans also have the 19th-hardest schedule in the NFL this year. The club’s 21st regular season may not be the one they turn it all around and return to the playoffs.
Part of the problem is the Texans lack any elite talent on offense. Even before the Texans took immense measures in the 2017 NFL draft to address quarterback, receiver DeAndre Hopkins was a solid fantasy option. Starting in 2021, the Texans’ roster has been devoid of any decent fantasy options — at least when it comes to season-long fantasy.
Expect 2022 to be more of the same on that front.
According to Ian Hartitz from Pro Football Focus, the Texans don’t have a single player that cracks his top-25 at their respective positions.
Davis Mills enters his second season at quarterback, and ranks No. 28 on Hartitz’s list of quarterbacks.
The two running backs Hartitz lists are fourth-round rookie Dameon Pierce (No. 37) and former Colts running back Marlon Mack (No. 64). Curiously Rex Burkhead does not make the list.
For receiver, Brandin Cooks is the highest-rated at No. 29. John Metchie is No. 61 despite being a second-round rookie coming off an ACL injury during conference championship weekend in the Power 5. Nico Collins is No. 90.
Brevin Jordan, the second-year tight end from Miami, is No. 29 in Hartitz’s rankings.
Cooks was the one consistent player in 2021 as he caught 90 passes for 1,037 yards and six touchdowns through 16 games — good for 141.8 fantasy points throughout the season.
It isn’t that the Texans lack players who can have a great game, but the consistency remains a big reason why Houston doesn’t have a player to send beyond the threshold. When fantasy drafts roll around, Houston may not have anything substantive to offer. However, their players may be adequate fill-ins from the waiver wire throughout the season.