Houston Texans Fantasy Preview

Are the Houston Texans finally ready to break out?
Offensively, this teams is loaded with options and, by the end of the year, may boast a top 5 offense. The offense starts with quarterback Matt Schaub who has the potential to put up 3,500 to 4,000 passing yards and 25+ touchdowns. The one thing that has held Schaub back from reaching his true fantasy potential has been a rash of nagging injuries; expect him to put it all together this season. Surrounding Schaub is a bevy of talented players at every skill position. At the running back position, Slaton is expected to build on his highly successful rookie campaign and cement himself as a top 10 RB for years to come. This offense also features WR phenom Andre Johnson who, last year, established himself as an elite fantasy player (regardless of position). Finally, the offense also features a couple of excellent role players- in TE Owen Daniels and WR Kevin Walter- who are expected to factor significantly into this offense. If you can nab a couple of these players on draft day; you are putting your team in a good position to be successful this season.

Best Bets:
Andre Johnson- Do I really even need to say much. Despite having to deal with multiple quarterbacks due to injuries, Andre Johnson turned in the best season of his career by catching 115 balls for 1,575 yards and 8 touchdowns. A healthy Shaub should mean an increase, in touchdowns, to at least 10+ scores while the rest of Johnson's numbers stay constant- or slightly improve. He's a beast, he's a stud, what else can I say other than you want him on your fantasy team.

Steve Slaton- In a running back heavy draft which featured more highly touted prospects like Darren McFadden, Jonathan Stewart, Chis Johnson, Felix Jones, Kevin Smith and Matt Forte- Slaton put up arguably the best rookie numbers of them all posting 1,282 yards (a 4.8 ypc), 50 catches for 377 yards, and 10 total touchdowns (9 rushing). He also is in an offense where he is the only viable option, at the running back position, and, thus, does not have any RB competition for goal-line opportunities and splitting carries. The only concern, with Slaton, is that he is smallish, at 5'9 195 (on ESPN it says 215 but that is a lie), and may be susceptible to injury. Regardless, he has been durable through college, and in his rookie year, and represents the perfect system back for Gary Kubiak's Broncos style zone blocking scheme.

Buyer Beware
Matt Schaub- Let me preface this by say that I love, and will draft, Schaub because of his fantasy upside, and also don't really think there are any true buyer beware players in the Texans offense. Still, with Schaub, it all comes down to health and this QB has been known to miss a couple of games due to injury each year since he has come to the Texans. I say draft him, but make sure to safeguard yourself with a strong backup QB immediately after in case his injury-prone troubles continue.

Sleeper
Owen Daniels- despite the fact that he has consistently been a top 5 TE, or close to it, the last two years- he seems to consistently be undervalued come draft day. This is good news for fantasy savvy players like you and I who know that it is foolish to draft a TE early when you can sit back and grab a potential stud like Daniels. Last year, Daniels did everything but reach the end zone as he compiled 70 catches for 862 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 2008 season. In 2009, expect him to reach the endzone 5+ times in addition to putting up comparable numbers to the ones he has been putting up the last two seasons.