In support of: Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
SAVE was one of the nation’s first organizations dedicated to the prevention of suicide. Their work is based on the foundation and belief that suicide is preventable and everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide. Through raising public awareness, educating communities, and equipping every person with the right tools, we know we can SAVE lives.
Nominated by Alex Johnson (@a_johnsonff)
“I chose SAVE because I have lost an uncle and a friend to suicide in the last 18 months. It’s important to raise mental health and suicide prevention awareness so people know there is help available and we can stop losing so many great from this earth far too soon.“
#Project32 Menu
2020 Recap
Division: AFC South
2020 Finish: 4-12 (3rd in AFC South)
2020 Tendencies:
- Passing Ratio: 61% (3rd)
- Neutral Game Script: 64% (2nd)
- Offensive Scheme: Erhardt-Perkins
Personnel Groupings:
- 11 Personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR) = 64%
- 12 Personnel (1 RB, 2 TE, 2 WR) = 28%
- 21 Personnel (2 RB, 1 TE, 2 WR) = 2%
- 10 Personnel (1 RB, 0 TE, 4 WR) = 1%
- 22 Personnel (2 RB, 2 TE, 1 WR) = 1%
- 20 Personnel (2 RB, 0 TE, 3 WR) = 1%
Coaching Room
Head Coach: David Culley
Better late than never seems appropriate here. David Culley is finally in the driver’s seat as the HC of the Houston Texans at the ripe age of 65. Culley has excellent communication skills and has spent most of his time in coaching working with wide receivers and quarterbacks. For the last two years he served as an assistant head coach, wide receiver coach, and passing game coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. He has worked under coaches R.C. Slocum, Andy Reid, and John Harbaugh and has over 27 years of NFL coaching experience. He now steps in at the helm for a franchise that had very little draft capital in 2020 thanks to Bill O’Brien, parted ways with players like J.J. Watt, Jadaveon Clowney, and DeAndre Hopkins to name a few. To top it all off he is now having to deal with the Deshaun Watson drama. Welcome to Houston Mr. Culley and GOOD LUCK.
Offensive Coordinator: Tim Kelly
Tim Kelly is entering his seventh season in Houston where he previously held roles as the tight ends coach and quality control coach before being named the OC prior to the 2020 season. Kelly entered his first season as the OC without Deandre Hopkins after a blockbuster trade with the Arizona Cardinals. Welcome to the harsh business of the NFL. The Texans finished 2020 as the 9th ranked offense and 4th in passing yards and Deshaun Watson was outstanding under Kelly’s leadership. Watson finished with almost 5,000 yards passing, 33 touchdowns, and a 70.2% completion percentage. As Kelly enters year two in Houston, he is now on the verge of losing Watson for the entire season due to legal issues. Again, GOOD LUCK. This offense will be much different with Tyrod Taylor and/or Davis Mills behind center.
Overall Rank: 32nd/32
OL Room
LT Laremy Tunsil – PFF 75.4, Pass Blocking 85.8, Run Blocking 61.7
Laremy Tunsil is known around the NFL as one of the best pass-blocking tackles in the league but has struggled in the run game. Tunsil made the NFL All-Rookie team back in 2016 and was voted into the 2020 NFL Top 100 (#66) voted on by his peers. He has also been selected to the Pro Bowl his last two seasons. He’s come a long way since his pre-draft mask incident and the Texans will need him in 2021.
LG Max Scharping – PFF 52.1, Pass Blocking 60.7, Run Blocking 48.6
Max Scharping has struggled in his first two seasons in the NFL and could open camp in an open competition for the starting nod. Chalk him up as another OL for the Texans that struggles in the run game. The Texans cannot afford to see a continued decline in year three.
C Justin Britt – PFF 62.0, Pass Blocking 45.7, Run Blocking 66.2 *2019
Justin Britt is coming back from a torn ACL he suffered back in week 8 of the 2019 season and was let go by the Seahawks after a failed physical prior to the 2020 season. He will replace Nick Martin who has signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.
RG Lane Taylor – PFF 66.0, Pass Blocking 67.3, Run Blocking 60.7
Lane Taylor is coming off an ACL tear after playing only 63 snaps in 2020. He will be in an open competition with Marcus Cannon and Justin McCray for the starting role in Houston. Taylor enters his eighth season in the NFL after coming over from the Green Bay Packers where he only played in 3 games over the last two seasons.
RT Tytus Howard – PFF 62.1, Pass Blocking 65.4, Run Blocking 62.7
Tytus Howard has started 22 games in his two years in the NFL for the Texans. Houston believes he will continue to improve, and they have been impressed by his strength and ability to compete. Howard did finish tied for the league lead in penalties with 11 so he will need to improve his technique. Howard was a first round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft coming out of Alabama State, so the Texans expect to get a return on their investment in 2021.
New Toys: T Marcus Cannon, G Justin Mccray
Old News: G Zach Fulton (16/16), C Nick Martin (16/16),
Overall Rank: 21st/32
QB Room
Tyrod Taylor (QB29)
Tyrod Taylor started the 2020 season for the Los Angeles Chargers with the understanding that he would eventually be replaced by Justin Herbert. Herbert was the 6th overall pick by the Chargers in the 2020 draft and was set to be their next franchise quarterback. Taylor wanted to get off to a fast start and hold the QB1 position for as long as possible, but during pre-game warm-ups, before a Week 2 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, a team physician accidentally punctured his lung. Taylor would never get the starting job back.
He now lands in Houston where the incumbent is facing legal issues that could derail his 2021 season. Not to mention, Deshaun Watson had demanded a trade prior to the legal issues going public. I do not believe Deshaun Watson ever plays another down for Houston, so it is now Tyrod Taylor’s show. Taylor will be playing for his 5th team in 11 years. It is his job to lose. Or is it? The Texans drafted Stanford quarterback, Davis Mills, in the 3rd round of the 2021 draft. I hope this “shot” is much better than his last one.
Fantasy Outlook
Passing: 564 Attempts, 65.4%, 3873 yards, 21 touchdowns
Rushing: 64 Attempts, 332 yards, 4 TDs
Total Fantasy Points: 272.1
New Toys: Davis Mills
Old News: Deshaun Watson??
Position Fantasy Rank: 30th/32
RB Room
David Johnson (RB27)
David Johnson was once thought of as a top 5 running back in the NFL when he exploded on to the scene in 2016 with the Arizona Cardinals. He finished that season with 2,118 total yards and 20 touchdowns. Johnson only played 1 game in 2017 after dislocating his left wrist in the season opener. He came back in 2018 and put up 1,386 total yards and 10 touchdowns but did not look nearly as explosive as he did in 2016. He has not played a full 16 games since 2018 and now the Texans have brought in two former pro bowl running backs that have both had 1,000-yard seasons. It is going to be a crowded backfield, but DJ should continue as the lead back.
Fantasy Outlook
Rushing: 192 attempts, 805 yards, 6 touchdowns
Receiving: 56 targets, 38 receptions, 284 yards, 2 touchdowns
Total Fantasy Points: 195.2
Philip Lindsay (RB50)
Philip Lindsay just might be the perfect compliment to David Johnson. Lindsay brings more of a burst and quickness to the Houston backfield, but don’t let his small stature fool you, he’s a physical runner at times that shows elusiveness in small spaces. Lindsay was selected to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season back in 2018 after putting up 1,278 total yards and 10 touchdowns. What was more impressive is that he started only 8 games. His career yards per carry is an impressive 4.8 on over 500 carries.
Fantasy Outlook
Rushing: 102 attempts, 460 yards, 3 touchdowns
Receiving: 34 targets, 22 receptions, 161 yards, 1 touchdown
Total Fantasy Points: 108.4
New Toys: Mark Ingram II
Old News: Duke Johnson Jr
Position Fantasy Rank: 26th/32
WR Room
Brandin Cooks (WR29)
Brandin Cooks may be one of the most underrated wide receivers in fantasy football. He quickly became the deep threat for Deshaun Watson when Will Fuller V was suspended. Cooks has a complete route tree and can create after the catch. He ranked 9th in the NFL in avg cushion per route run at 4.26 so opposing defenses still respect his speed. He was also ranked in the top 20 in target separation at 1.97 which shows his ability to get in and out of breaks quickly and attack his landmarks.
Fantasy Outlook
Receiving: 130 targets, 88 receptions, 1147 yards, 6 touchdowns
Total Fantasy Points: 239.0
Nico Collins (WR59)
Nico Collins was drafted in the third round (89th overall) and should make an immediate impact in Houston. Collins was a two-time All-Big Ten player at the University of Michigan and brings some much-needed size to Houston. He stands 6’4 with a 37.5” vertical and a catch radius in the 94th percentile. He should see significant time as the WR2 in Houston and will be utilized in the RZ where he can post up smaller defensive backs.
Fantasy Outlook
Receiving: 102 targets, 65 receptions, 728 yards, 4 touchdowns
Total Fantasy Points: 161.8
Anthony Miller (WR89)
Anthony Miller was a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. In his three years in Chicago he compiled a total of 134 receptions (44.7), 1,564 yards (521.3), and 11 touchdowns (3.7) while catching passes from Nick Foles, Chase Daniel and Mitch Trubisky. His quarterback situation doesn’t get any better with Tyrod Taylor, but if Deshaun Watson is able to suit up for Houston in 2021, you could see Miller have the best year of his career as he replaces Randall Cobb in the slot.
Fantasy Outlook
Receiving: 73 targets, 45 receptions, 441 yards, 3 touchdowns
Total Fantasy Points: 107.6
New Toys: Alex Erickson, Chris Conley
Old News: Will Fuller V (11/11), Randall Cobb
Position Fantasy Rank: 25th/32
TE Room
Jordan Akins (TE34)
Jordan Akins is entering his fourth season in Houston and over the last two years has done just enough to stay relevant. He doesn’t blow you away with speed or his ability to create yards after the catch, but he did rank in the Top 16 in yards per target (8.2), catch rate (75.5%), yards per reception (10.9) and target separation (1.68) among all TE’s in the NFL.
Fantasy Outlook
Receiving: 45 targets, 30 receptions, 315 yards, 2 touchdowns
Total Fantasy Points: 73.7
Brevin Jordan (TE65)
Brevin Jordan has an opportunity to be dynamic in Houston. Jordan can stretch the field both vertically and horizontally. In Miami, he was used all over the field including in-line, in the slot, and coming out of the backfield as both a blocker and a pass-catcher. Jordan was a finalist for the Mackey Award (Top Collegiate Tight End) as a sophomore. In 2020, he averaged 9.3 yards after the catch per reception and had 395 total yards after the catch leading all FBS tight ends. He’s going to be a problem.
Fantasy Outlook
Receiving: 11 targets, 7 receptions, 81 yards, 0 touchdowns
Total Fantasy Points: 15.4
New Toys: Ryan Izzo
Old News: Darren Fells (16/14)
Position Fantasy Rank: 24th/32
2021 Full Player Projections
Make Your Own Projections With Our Template!
Strength of Schedule (SOS): #10 (.516 132-124)
2021 Predicted Finish: 0-17 (Last AFC South)
Note: all projections are PPR scoring
