FanPost

Texans Fantasy Football Outlook

After my optimistic review of how the Texans could go 10-6 this year, I received good comments from my post so I decided to do another fanpost. In this fanpost I will be going over Fantasy Football and the Texans in Fantasy Football. After my last article I told y'all I was in 9th grade, so this won't be a perfect post. However, I am a really good fantasy football player, even for a kid. First, I have to tell you about my fantasy football career, if you want to call it that. I started playing fantasy football when I was in 4th grade, and fell in love. My football knowledge was always able to dominate people and win leagues. I have won 9 out of the 12 leagues I have played in and have never finished below 4th. I usually play 10 team leagues but I have played up to 14 team leagues and I usually dominate. I am not one of those people who drafts an all Texans team, rather I just draft a winning team. This year I will be participating in 2 leagues, both Yahoo Fantasy Football, but I have played in ESPN leagues in the past. I know most of y'all on this blog don't love fantasy football, but for those who do, here is my perspective on most Texans fantasy players.

QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick

Ryan Fitzpatrick won me a league in 2012. I am not joking, I won a 14 team fantasy league with Ryan Fitzpatrick as my quarterback. (I also had Calvin Johnson and LeSean McCoy) This is probably when my Fitzpatrick bias comes from because I spent a lot of time following Fitzy in 2012. I know that was 2 years ago but he is close to a very similar player from 2012. When Fitzpatrick helped win me the league in 2012 he threw for 3400 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also threw for 16 interceptions making him the most frustrating player I've ever owned. What I saw from the glimpses of Fitzy that I saw was a quarterback that can air it out, and airs it out a little too much. He makes bad decisions and he will try to force the ball to his receivers. However, he will make some throws that you will have no idea how he could have possibly made those throws. He will have weapons to work with this year if they stay healthy, but Fitzy could quietly put up a great year if he makes good decisions. (These are just projections, remember that) According to yahoo, Fitzy will throw for 3,600 yards and 17 touchdowns, adding 17 picks. According to ESPN, Fitzy is the 32nd rated quarterback (behind Matt Schaub) and he isn't in the ESPN top 100 players. The verdict on Fitzy is that he is a decent backup quarterback, or 2nd quarterback in two quarterback leagues, but shouldn't start at QB for you this fantasy season.

RB: Arian Foster

Arian Foster became relevant on the fantasy scene in 2010 when he rushed for 200 yards or so versus the colts in week 1 of that season. Since that season he has been a top running back each year for the fantasy season. This year, questions of his motivation have come out, and he hasn't been able to stay on the field. This year, he has dropped down in the rankings and he is very questionable for a pick. I had one of my drafts recently and Foster was on the board for a good ranking, but I couldn't bring myself to draft him because he is just too risky. He is was too injury prone and I opted to go with Doug Martin. Foster was quickly taken, but as an RB2 I couldn't do it. I am a safer fantasy player, and he is way to much of a risk. Our league has 2 flexes, and I would have gone to Foster as a flex back, but I couldn't. For Yahoo, he is projected 1,054 yards and 8 touchdowns. He is also projected 47 catches for 378 yards. That is good stats, but the risk is too deadly. In ESPN, he is the 7th rated running back, and the 9th overall player, much too high in my opinion. In my opinion there are only 3 ways I take Foster. I would take him as a starting Running Back 2 in a point per reception league. I would take him as a flex, or I would take him as a bench player. Foster is the biggest risk/reward player in fantasy football this year in my opinion.

WR: Andre Johnson

The single most decision that I regret about the fantasy season last year was choosing Lamar Miller over Andre Johnson. I was in a league that gives you bonus points for 100 yard receiving games or rushing games. It was the fourth round and I had A.J. Green, Brandon Marshall, and Marshawn Lynch. I could have taken Andre Johnson who was the best player avaliable at the time, or I could have taken Lamar Miller who was the second running back. I went Lamar Miller and I forever regret it. My little brother got Andre with the next pick. I regret this because I would have dominated the league. Instead I finished 5th in the regular season, but I did win the championship. My brother finished third. I would have thoroughly dominated the league if I would have had Andre Johnson, A.J. Green and Brandon Marshall as my receiving corps. This year, he hasn't played in the preseason, but Andre always comes through. After the holdout, I am confident Andre will be a great receiver. He caught for 1,400 yards and 5 touchdowns with Schaub and Kennum as his quarterbacks. I consider Fitzy a small upgrade. I think he will be a beast again this year for you and your team. Yahoo has Andre slated for 87 catches for 1,172 yards and 5 touchdowns again. ESPN has Andre as the 11th receiver and the 31st best player in the NFL. Andre would be a great pickup, but don't take him too early as a hometown favorite.

WR: Deandre Hopkins

Last year Deandre didn't hit his stride, but I expect a lot from the 2nd year wide receiver this year. He has drawn rave reviews from most during the preseason, and should take some pressure off of Andre Johnson. If Fitzy can get Deandre the ball, watch out for Deandre to do great things this year. I was fortunate enough to get Deandre this year later in the draft, and I have him on my bench this year. I am keeping him there, and if he breaks out he will be a flex for my team. He adds great depth to my team that has a bunch of talented wide receivers. (Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Wes Welker) I think Deandre could have a great season this year for you on the field as a Texans fan, and also on your fantasy team. Yahoo has Deandre getting 62 catches for 902 yards and 5 touchdowns, which are solid numbers. He is the 39th rated receiver for Yahoo, and the 90th overall rated player. Deandre is a great flex or bench depth in smaller leagues, and in larger leagues, he is a good WR3 option. Deandre won't disappoint for fantasy owners this year.

TE: Garrett Graham

Garrett Graham had a decent season last year, but with a coaching change that has BOB, a disciple of the hooded one, Garrett will look to thrive in this system. Most website will have Graham rated pretty low, but he is higher in my opinion because of the system he is in. In my recent draft, Graham went undrafted, but was one of the first pickups in free agents after he cleared waivers. He provides great tight end bench depth or even a starting tight end. The projections won't love him, but in BOB's system he will be alright. Yahoo has Garrett going for 49 catches, 569 yards and 4 touchdowns. In ESPN, he is the 27th best tight end, but he is also rated behind his backup Ryan Griffin. Graham was the 290th best player in the ESPN rankings. I would take Graham as bench depth, or even as a starter if other tight ends are taken. Don't let the projections fool you, Graham should have a good year this year.

TE: C.J. Fierdorowicz

F150 isn't really relevant on the Fantasy Football scene, and he shouldn't really be drafted at all. He has good hands, and he might find a couple of red zone targets, but he is a primary run blocker. C.J. isn't on any ESPN rankings lists. In Yahoo, he is projected a mere 28 catches for 317 yards and 2 touchdowns. I would stray away from C.J. in all leagues just because he is a primary run blocker.

Texans D/ST

The Texans defense and special teams has always been a unit that has been grabbed quickly when defenses are picked in the leagues that I have played in because of the homer-ism in my leagues. Most of the people are fans of the Texans or Cowboys so they haven't ever been worth going after. Add in the lack of turnovers, and they weren't a great defense last year. This year, they have a revamped coaching staff, and a new roster. The secondary is still ok, but they should generate good turnover numbers. They have a monster defensive line that should bring in many sacks this year. The main reason I would take this defense is the strength of schedule. We are playing many weak teams this year, with many weak offenses. I would take them just because they get to play Matt Schaub week 2. In reality they are a good defense, but they won't be avaliable if you play in a league with other Texans fans. In the ESPN rankings, they are the 13th best defense, and in Yahoo they are projected a mere 100 points, which is one of the lowest in the league. I would take them, but only is they are the best team avaliable.

Kicker: Randy Bullock

Randy Bullock (a.k.a Fat Kicker) was probably one of the worst kickers in the NFL for most of the year. He started making his field goals toward the end of the year, but that first half scares me. Randy from a fantasy perspective isn't all that good. He is okay, but the Texans won't have as many field goal attempts as other teams. The way I roll with my kickers is week to week based on the weather, and where they are playing. If they are playing Denver, I will probably take them. I think kickers all are the same in fantasy, so if you want Randy Bullock, go ahead, it shouldn't matter too much. Randy is projected low kicking points by Yahoo, and is the 25th kicker according to ESPN.

Now that you have insight on the Texans players you will know which of them to draft in your league, and which to stray away from. Good luck in your fantasy years, and Go Texans!

Recent FanPosts

In This FanPost

Teams