NFL Draft 32 for 32 - Houston Texans

April 17, 2019

Brandon Murchison's 2019 NFL Draft team previews moves on to the Houston Texans. Plenty of fantasy value can be found on this offense, but can they take that next step to contend for a Super Bowl? What impact will the rookies have on this team from a fantasy standpoint?

A team that feels like they are on the verge of taking another step, the Houston Texans, are coming off a disappointing playoffs loss last season. Things were going well in the regular season, but running into the hot Colts team sent them home. Deshaun Watson and this passing attack have all the makings of being a unit that is hard to stop. Finishing off 2018 as QB4 in fantasy, Watson will be looking to build on his strong year. He did it both with his arm and his legs last year with 26 TDs through the air and an additional five on the ground. Watson will be one of the first QBs off the board in drafts and rightfully so. He is a virtual lock to finish among the Top 5 at the position and will be a player that is selected around the 5th-6th round in drafts.

The primary beneficiary from Watson, DeAndre Hopkins, has now ascended to being dubbed the best receiver in football. Coming off back to back double digit TD seasons, Hopkins has shown the type of consistency that is coveted from a first round pick in fantasy. Barring injury, Hopkins will once again finish 2019 as one of the league's best. Speaking of injury, keep an eye on Will Fuller, who was on quite the pace himself (503 yards and 4 TDs) becoming going down for the year in Week 8.

Coming off of somewhat of a bounce-back season (973 yards and 6 total TDs), Lamar Miller is back for what may be his final season in Houston. He is a back that adds a wrinkle to the offense as he can succeed as both a runner and pass catcher. He largely goes overlooked in drafts but typically puts together solid seasons that is worthy of being an RB3. But a player to keep a watch on in this backfield will be D'Onta Foreman. He was injured for much of the 2018 season and a full offseason being healthy may help him form a role in this offense. The coaching staff likes what he can bring to the table and should be a player to target as a handcuff to Miller late in a draft. If the injury bug hits Miller, Foreman may be one of those players that can help you win a league.

Top Three Projected Selections

First Round- Andre Dillard, OT Washington State (23rd overall)
Second Round- Marquise Brown, WR Oklahoma (54th)
Kris Boyd, CB Texas (55th)

Remaining Picks
Third Round- 86th
Fifth Round- 161st
Sixth Round- 195th
Seventh Round- 220th

Needs Analysis

When it comes to the draft, the Texans are a team that simply needs to draft for depth. They have a roster full of talent but adding pieces to the offensive line and receiver will be key. As well as adding appropriate depth to the defensive side of the ball. Finding the players that can come in and be solid additions may be just what is needed for the Texans to make the next step.

Andre Dillard is a four-year starter in college at left tackle that will come in and should help improve a Texans offensive line that was one of the worst in football last year. Allowing a league-high 62 sacks, Dillard's strength, and arm length should help to cut down on blindside beats. He has fast and fluid movements and is one of the more athletic linemen that has come out recently. His balance and technique will allow him to become and be a starter for many years to come.

Marquise Brown is a talent that many had as a first-round receiver, but the foot injury before offseason testing may cause him to slide down boards a bit. Although the receiver isn't a major area of need for the Texans, passing on a talent like Brown at this spot is hard to do. He has a similar style game to Will Fuller, but his small frame may give him an advantage as a slot receiver for this team. He can force teams to think twice about bringing a safety down in coverage with his long speed. But he can also do damage on wide receiver screens where his athleticism takes hold and allows him to make defenders miss. In seasonal drafts, Brown may not have much appeal to fantasy owners. But he could flash some value late in the year as he becomes comfortable in the offense. In dynasty formats, Brown is a player that will directly benefit from Will Fuller's continuous inability to stay healthy. He can certainly provide a safe WR3 floor if given the right amount of targets in both PPR and standard scoring.

Kris Boyd is a corner that is slowly moving up draft boards as evaluators take a look at his tape. He plays a physical type of game at corner, as he prefers the bump and run coverage. He does well with hand fighting to maintain leverage in routes. But lacks the long speed if speedy receivers get past him at the line of scrimmage. He will come in and compete for a starting spot right away with this team, but likely will be a rotational/nickel corner in his first year. As he develops he can be a solid cover corner for a number of years.

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