Dynasty Capsule: Houston Texans

Dan Meylor

As part of the premium content package, we’re again unveiling dynasty capsules for every team in the NFL leading up to free agency and the NFL Draft. This year, we’re again going to do a follow-up on all the teams after all the free agency and NFL Draft movement to assess the impact of any players teams have gained or lost. Since these capsules are always done as a simple snapshot in time, we figured that was the best way to tackle the off-season and provide ultimate value for our subscribers. All in all, we’ll have close to 500 player profiles found in these capsules over the off-season.

The Texans will enter the 2014 season with a new head coach in Bill O’Brien and most likely a new starting quarterback, which could come by way of the number one pick in the NFL draft.  We’ll take a look at the NFL’s youngest franchise in today’s Dynasty Capsule.

Quarterbacks

Matt Schaub

At this point, the question isn’t if Schaub will be released, it’s when.  If on the Texans’ roster next season, he’ll count $11 million against the salary cap – that simply won’t happen.  He was truly dreadful in 2013, throwing 14 interceptions and ten touchdowns in only ten games, losing his job to Case Keenum more than once.

Schaub will turn 33 in June and is unlikely to find a starting job this summer.  Most likely, he’ll have to settle for a backup job behind a young starter and hope to get another opportunity due to injury or poor play.  Dynasty owners shouldn’t expect to plug his name into any starting lineups in 2014… or maybe ever again.

Case Keenum

When Schaub hurt his ankle in week six and T.J. Yates’ play in relief was uninspiring, the Texans chose to give Keenum a chance.  His numbers weren’t great in eight games, as he completed only 54% of his passes while tossing nine touchdowns and six interceptions. However, considering he was an undrafted second year quarterback who spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad, nobody could expect more.

The all-time NCAA leader in completions, passing yards and touchdowns, Keenum doesn’t have they type of arm strength that teams look for in a franchise quarterback.  He’s an exciting player who can buy time with his feet and constantly wants to throw the ball downfield, but he holds the ball too long and isn’t accurate enough on quick, timing patterns.  Most likely, he’s a career backup.

T.J. Yates

Yates has good size (6’4, 220 pounds) and a quick release, but hasn’t developed into anything more than a backup to this point.  As a rookie, he filled in for Schaub admirably as the Texans made a playoff push but in limited playing time in 2013, he looked lost.  Dynasty owners shouldn’t expect anything more than what they have already seen from Yates.

The Texans’ starter under center most likely isn’t on their roster at this point.  Expect them to add a rookie and possibly a free agent to compete for the job.

Running Backs

Arian Foster

fosterAfter missing only three games between 2010 and 2012, Foster was only able to suit up seven times in 2013, carrying the ball 121 times for 542 yards and just one touchdown.  A back injury cost him a majority of the season, but recent reports out of Houston have indicated his rehabilitation is going well and expectations are he’ll be ready for training camp.

Foster has yet to turn 28, but his 1,320 touches over the last five seasons have many of his owners (as well as me) concerned the tread is running thin on his tires.  He’s constantly battled leg injuries throughout his career and his back injury, which has been labled “serious,” scares me off when I consider his bruising style.

In my opinion, dynasty owners should be looking for the first positive sign Foster is healthy and start shopping him immediately.  It may be the last chance you have to get quality compensation.

Dennis Johnson

Johnson spent the off-season last year with the Texans after going undrafted out of Arkansas, was waived by Houston, signed by Cleveland, waived by the Browns and signed to their practice squad only to be re-signed by the Texans midway through the season. Got that?  He carried the ball 49 times as a rookie for 183 yards (3.7 yards per carry) and caught just eight passes for 46 yards while failing to get into the end zone.

Scouts saw Johnson as a potential third-down back when he entered the league due to his ability to block in the passing game and good hands out of the backfield.  Nothing that happened in 2013 should lead anybody to believe he could develop into a full-time runner.  He’s listed at 5’7 and 190 pounds.  While he’s fast (4.48 in the 40), he doesn’t break tackles and is unreliable between the tackles.  His upside is very limited.

Jonathan Grimes

Grimes is one of the many young tailbacks the Texans have collected since Foster went down.  He’s a bit bigger than Johnson at 5’10 and 210 pounds and his play is much different than Johnson’s.  A downhill runner, he likes to make one cut and get the ball up field as quickly as possible.  With only 23 career carries, it’s hard to say with any certainty what kind of player he could become if given an opportunity, but it’s unlikely he ever gets the chance.  It’s questionable the Texans will keep him in 2014 and doubtful dynasty owners should.

Ray Graham

Even with all of the injuries in the Texans’ backfield along with the subpar play of the other tailbacks on the roster, Graham failed to get on the field until Houston’s meaningless finale against the Titans where he ran for eight yards on four carries.  Most likely, he’s not in the plans of the team going into 2014.  Running back Chad Spann also falls under that category.

Wide Receivers

Andre Johnson

Although he’s 32 years old, Johnson continues to put up monster fantasy numbers, racking up more than 1,200 yards receiving in five of the last six years.  The only thing keeping him from being one of the truly elite fantasy pass catchers is his lack of touchdowns – he’s never had more than nine and only compiled 11 over the last three years.

Although his age is a bit of a concern and he doesn’t hit pay dirt nearly as much as fantasy owners would like, there’s no reason to think he’ll slow down in 2014.  I fully expect 100-plus catches for 1,200-plus yards.  Considering he’ll turn 33 in July, the price to get him most likely won’t be high.  Dynasty owners who are looking to make a run at a title in 2014 and need a little help at wideout should inquire about his availability, especially in PPR leagues.

DeAndre Hopkins

Hopkins was my favorite prospect going into 2013 rookie drafts.  He possesses excellent hands, runs great routes and is great at making contested catches in coverage.  As a rookie he was solid, catching 52 passes for 802 yards and two touchdowns, but he wasn’t spactacular.  As a sophomore, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Nuk explode.  He has 80 catch, 1,200 yard and double-digit touchdown potential.  Of all the second-year wideouts in the league including Cordarrelle Patterson, Tavon Austin and Justin Hunter, Hopkins is still my favorite.  He has WR1 upside.

DeVier Posey

After two lack-luster seasons with the Texans, Posey isn’t the same prospect he was just a couple years ago.  He’s only caught 21 passes in 24 career games since being drafted in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft and hasn’t been able to stay healthy, suffering ankle, hand and Achilles injuries.

Although he may look to many like a lost cause, we should all remember Posey finished 2012 with strong performance against the Patriots in the postseason, where he showed his game changing ability on a circus touchdown catch and also spent a majority of 2013 recovering from a very serious leg injury he suffered during that game.  While expectations should be low for Posey going into 2014, he’s certainly worth a roster spot in most dynasty leagues.

Keshawn Martin

Martin was picked a round after Posey in the 2012 draft, but his story through two seasons is much different than his teammate’s.  He’s stayed healthy and played in all 32 games to this point in his career, but only contributed 32 receptions for 338 yards and three touchdowns over that time.  While he has the ideal quickness to succeed in the slot and has excellent hands, he hasn’t evolved into anything more than a returner and fourth wide receiver for the Texans.  He’s not worth owning in most formats.

Lestar Jean

Jean was a popular sleeper pick in dynasty circles a few years ago after being undrafted out of Florida Atlantic.  Like many preseason sensations before him, he hasn’t developed into anything more than a special teams player.  He shouldn’t really be on the radar of dynasty owners.  He’s a restricted free agent who may be looking for a new team next month.

Mike Thomas

Remember when Thomas caught 66 passes for 820 yards and four touchdowns for the Jaguars in 2010?  Fast forward a few years and he’s on his fourth NFL team.  He doesn’t have value in even the deepest of dynasty leagues.

Alan Bonner

Of the other receivers on the Texans’ roster including Uzoma Nwachukwu, Rico Richardson and Alec Lemon, Bonner is the most noteworthy.  He has the skills to become a quality return man, which should help him secure his roster spot and could potentially get him an opportunity on offense.

Tight Ends

Owen Daniels

Being 31 years old and entering the final year of a contract that will pay him more than $6 million dollars in 2014, Daniels’ roster spot is far from guaranteed.  On top of his age, he hasn’t played an entire 16-game season in six years and is coming off a year where he missed 11 games due to injury.

Although he’s injury prone and isn’t getting any younger, he still knows how to get open and has excellent hands.  He’s a low-end TE2 entering 2014 with the potential to put up low-end TE1 numbers if he stays healthy.

Ryan Griffin

With the potential of Daniels being released as well as Garrett Graham being scheduled to become a free agent, Griffin may find himself in a situation to be a fantasy riser going into 2014.  He’s listed at 6’6 and 250 pounds, has good hands and possesses the ability to line up anywhere on the field.  He only caught 19 passes for 244 yards and one touchdown as a rookie, but he may have the inside track on being the starter in Houston next year.  He should be owned in all dynasty leagues.

dan meylor