Fantasy Football News, Advice, Stats, Projections & Draft Kit

Posted 7/05/2020 1:48 am UTC

Houston Texans WR Brandin Cooks will be QB Deshaun Watson's No. 1 target and lead the team in catches in 2020, in the opinion of Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com.

Huddle Up: His 2019 season was a disaster, but Cooks had topped 1,000 yards in each of the four previous seasons. His concussion issues are a real concern, but if he stays healthy, WR2 production is likely as the Texans try to replace DeAndre Hopkins.

Posted 6/19/2020 4:21 pm UTC

Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson led the AFC with 28 big-time throws (Pro Football Focus' highest-graded throws on precise downfield passes) in 2019.

Huddle Up: Watson has finished as a top-five fantasy QB in each of the last two seasons and should challenge to make it three in a row in 2020, even with stud wideout DeAndre Hopkins no longer in the picture.

Darren Fells - TE

Posted 6/06/2020 9:54 pm UTC

Houston Texans TE Darren Fells led the team with nine red-zone receptions and seven touchdowns in 2019. His 11 red-zone targets shared the team lead with WR DeAndre Hopkins.

Huddle Up: With Hopkins since traded to the Arizona Cardinals and the Texans' receiving corps overhauled with the additions of Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb, Fells could gain a few more red-zone looks while helping to replace Hopkins. He's a late-round option at a thin position.

Duke Johnson Jr. - RB

Posted 5/26/2020 10:27 pm UTC

Houston Texans RB Duke Johnson will gain a better understanding of the offense during his first full offseason with the team, according to offensive coordinator Tim Kelly. 'A lot of this stuff that we're covering right now, it's the first time (Johnson and David Johnson) really being able to kind of hear it in-depth and it's really, really good.'

Huddle Up: Johnson took a backseat to Carlos Hyde for much of the 2019 season and finished his first season with the Texans with 410 rushing yards and 410 receiving yards with five total touchdowns across 16 games after being acquired from the Cleveland Browns last offseason. He's likely to see limited usage behind David Johnson this season and won't begin the campaign with any fantasy value in standard redraft leagues.

Will Fuller V - WR

Posted 5/20/2020 11:08 pm UTC

Houston Texans WR Will Fuller (groin) appears to be on track with his recovery from surgery, according to offensive coordinator Tim Kelly.

Huddle Up: Fuller has dealt with various injuries over the last few seasons but is in line for a bigger role in the passing game after the DeAndre Hopkins trade. He has played well when he has been healthy and is a big play threat because of his speed. He can be at least a No. 3 fantasy receiver when healthy but is a risky option because of the injury history.

Michael Thomas - CB

Posted 5/19/2020 9:58 pm UTC

New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas isn't disclosing his offseason workout program, but he vows to be ready whenever he's needed on the field with teammates. 'I'll be ready when the season comes,' Thomas said. 'More than ready.'

Huddle Up: Thomas had a career year in 2019 while leading the NFL with 149 receptions and 1,725 receiving yards, despite QB Drew Brees missing time due to injury. In an offseason where every team is expected to have a little less preparation time, Thomas' status as a top-two or three fantasy option will only be more accentuated.

Michael Thomas - CB

Posted 5/16/2020 4:22 pm UTC

New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas caught 80.5 percent of his 185 targets in 2019 to lead all wide receivers with at least 75 targets.

Huddle Up: Targeting Thomas has proven to be a model of efficiency as he's reeled in at least 76 percent of his targets in three of his four seasons with the Saints. He's been a top-10 fantasy wideout in all four campaigns and slots right back in there in the 2020 preseason rankings -- and that's PPR or standard scoring.

Posted 5/14/2020 3:37 am UTC

Houston Texans RB David Johnson led all NFL running backs with 139 air yards on his catches last season as a member of the Arizona Cardinals. Conversely, his 231 receiving yards after the catch was the fifth-lowest total for running backs with at least 40 targets.

Huddle Up: It's been well-documented Johnson didn't look like his younger self in 2019. The debate rages on about whether that was the result of playing hurt or wearing down figures to continue until at least September, and head coach/general manager Bill O'Brien had better hope it was the former or else the trade of DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals will look worse than it already does. Johnson should have volume in his favor this year, however, so he should be a serviceable fantasy RB2.

Michael Thomas - CB

Posted 5/13/2020 3:21 am UTC

New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas was targeted on a league-high 31.1 percent of his team's pass attempts in 2019.

Huddle Up: This is the kind of thing one would expect from a receiver who was targeted 185 times in a season like Thomas was last year. The Ohio State product has commanded the target share of 25 percent in each of the last three seasons, so no one should expect that to change in 2020 despite the addition of Emmanuel Sanders. Thomas is perhaps the safest pick a fantasy owner can make in the first round of drafts, as he has topped 90 catches, 1,100 yards and five touchdowns in each of his first four seasons.

Posted 5/08/2020 12:00 am UTC

Houston Texans RB David Johnson's 3.60 rushing yards per attempt since the start of the 2017 season rank fifth-worst among all running backs with a minimum of 200 attempts in that time. Johnson gained a total of 1,308 rushing yards with nine touchdowns on 363 attempts over his last 26 games played.

Huddle Up: The Texans certainly seem to have big plans for Johnson after acquiring him in exchange for WR DeAndre Hopkins. Johnson's usage in the passing game has also been on the decline and he averaged just 2.8 receptions and 28.5 yards per game in 2019. He'll be a very risky RB2 who may be saved only by volume.

Posted 5/06/2020 1:27 am UTC

Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson completed only 52 percent of his passes against a four-man rush in 2019 - the second-worst mark in the league.

Huddle Up: It's a troubling number, and it may have been one of the reasons behind Houston's emphasis on improving the amount of speed it had at receiver this offseason. Watson shares plenty of the blame for this number, however, as he is occasionally guilty of trusting in his playmaking ability too much, leading to off-target throws as time is running out on him. Watson should remain firmly on the QB1 radar in fantasy this season, but his numbers figure to take a sizeable hit with DeAndre Hopkins now in Arizona.

Posted 5/01/2020 8:52 pm UTC

Houston Texans WR Brandin Cooks, who has been traded three times in his six-year career, doesn't view being moved so regularly as a negative. 'I take it as a positive that I'm wanted, and that I'm valued at a high level still,' Cooks said. He said he feels blessed to be able to play with so many different teams and quarterbacks. Cooks also feels he can adjust quickly with new teams. 'Wherever I go, like I tell people, I'm going to ball. So I'm not worried about that,' Cooks added. Cooks said he's healthy. 'As far as the concussions, I'm feeling great and I look forward to playing football,' Cooks said. Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said Cooks is a tremendous route runner with great speed and is a really good deep-ball player. O'Brien also isn't worried about the concussions. 'Yes, he's had concussions, but he's only missed two games since 2015,' O'Brien said.

Huddle Up: Cooks' 42 receptions and two receiving touchdowns last year were the lowest outputs of his career. Provided the concussion issues are behind him, he should quickly become the Texans top receiver. While talented and bringing plenty of boom, fantasy footballers should target him no higher than a low-end WR2.

Posted 4/28/2020 7:19 pm UTC

Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson had his fifth-year contract option exercised Tuesday, April 28.

Huddle Up: There was never any chance of the Texans not picking up this option. He'll be a top fantasy option yet again in 2020, even without the services of former No. 1 wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Posted 4/27/2020 8:02 pm UTC

Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson's fifth-year option will be exercised this offseason, according to sources. The team plans on talking with Watson about a long-term contract at some point this offseason.

Huddle Up: Watson has been one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL over the last few seasons and still have a solid receiving corps to work with despite the departure of DeAndre Hopkins. Watson should be considered a No. 1 quarterback in fantasy leagues.

Posted 4/17/2020 6:14 pm UTC

Houston Texans RB David Johnson said Friday, Apri 17, he's eager to return to form with his new team. 'Basically, I have that chip back on my shoulder,' Johnson in a video conference call with reporters. 'I just want to get back to 2016, if not better than 2016.'

Huddle Up: Johnson was fantasy's top back in 2016 with 2,118 total yards and 20 TDs on 373 touches -- all league highs. In the three seasons since then, he's logged 2,191 yards and 16 TDs on 455 touches while missing 18 combined games. Value him as a low-end RB2 until we see some actual signs that the 2016 DJ is actually close to re-appearing.

Posted 4/16/2020 11:00 pm UTC

Houston Texans WR Brandin Cooks' recent concussions aren't expected to be an issue in 2020 or beyond, according to head coach/general manager Bill O'Brien Thursday, April 16. 'Not to get into the details, but we feel really good at where Brandin's at, relative to his health,' O'Brien said. 'We really can't wait to start coaching him.'

Huddle Up: Cooks missed just two games last season with the Los Angeles Rams, his first absences since his 2014 rookie season. He finished with a career-low 42 receptions for just 583 yards and two touchdowns, but he'll have more room to operate at the top of the Texans' pass-catching depth chart. Still just 26 years old, he's a viable target as a low-end WR2.

Will Fuller V - WR

Posted 4/16/2020 10:25 pm UTC

Houston Texans WR Will Fuller (groin) is 'doing great,' according to head coach/general manager Bill O'Brien Thursday, April 16. 'We're excited about Will. We're excited about the 2020 Will. We feel like he's really working,' O'Brien said. 'Like I've said a lot, when he's played for us, he's made huge plays. I think he's looking to have a really good 2020.'

Huddle Up: Fuller is expected to be the 1B to Brandin Cooks as the 1A in the Texans' passing game in 2020. Due to his horrific injury history, he's an extremely risky pick at any stage of fantasy drafts, but his upside makes him worth a shot as a WR3.

Posted 4/15/2020 8:01 pm UTC

RB David Johnson passed his physical with the Houston Texans, which clears the final hurdle in the completion of the trade between the Texans and Arizona Cardinals that also included WR DeAndre Hopkins, who previously passed his physical with Arizona.

Huddle Up: With nothing glaring stopping Johnson from being the Texans' No. 1 running back at this point, fantasy players can pencil him in as a risky RB2 come draft day. There is plenty of upside if he can return to his earlier career form, but injuries and inconsistent play have been a problem in recent years.

Posted 4/09/2020 11:15 pm UTC

Los Angeles Rams WR Brandin Cooks and a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft were traded to the Houston Texans Thursday, April 9, in exchange for the No. 57 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Huddle Up: Moving Cooks, who is coming off his worst statistical season since his 2014 rookie campaign, clears even more room for WRs Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. Kupp is the better of the two options and should be targeted as a high-end WR2 in 2020 fantasy drafts. Woods will be a viable WR3.

Will Fuller V - WR

Posted 4/06/2020 2:21 am UTC

Houston Texans WR Will Fuller played in 11 games in 2019, and the team averaged 26.3 points in those contests compared to 19.6 in the five games he missed. Houston had an 8-3 record when Fuller played and went 2-3 without him in the lineup.

Huddle Up: Fuller will be asked to be the No. 1 receiver for Houston in 2020 following the trade of DeAndre Hopkins, and while good things tend to happen when he is on the field, he has yet to play a full season. In fact, Fuller has played 11 or fewer games in each of the past three seasons. Fuller will have WR2 upside, but fantasy owners need to make sure to have depth at the receiver position if they choose to take a chance on him.

Posted 3/30/2020 2:29 pm UTC

Los Angeles Rams WR Brandin Cooks is not on the trading block, according to two sources.

Huddle Up: Cooks had a cryptic tweet Friday that created questions about his status with the Rams. Cooks is a boom-or-bust WR5 in fantasy. He could be worth a WR3, or he could be unrosterable.

Randall Cobb - WR

Posted 3/29/2020 1:01 am UTC

Houston Texans WR Randall Cobb said he feels better than he has in at least five years after focusing on improving his hamstring strength during his time with the Dallas Cowboys.

Huddle Up: Cobb's 828 yards last year were his most since 2015, and he averaged a career-high 15.1 yards per reception. Following the surprising trade of DeAndre Hopkins, Cobb could find himself a key part of the Houston passing game.

Posted 3/20/2020 5:06 pm UTC

Arizona Cardinals RB David Johnson was officially dealt to the Houston Texans along with a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft Friday, March 20. The Texans sent WR DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals, as well as a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Huddle Up: Johnson will likely fill the lion's share of backfield duties alongside Duke Johnson. The former All-Pro hasn't topped 1,000 rushing yards since 2016 while playing all 16 games just once in the last three seasons. He'll have plenty of work, but he's a risky RB2 pick following several injuries.

Posted 3/19/2020 4:15 pm UTC

Los Angeles Rams WR Brandin Cooks is available in a trade, The Athletic reported Thursday, March 19.

Huddle Up: Cooks is under contract through 2023 and is coming off his worst season (42 receptions-583 yards and two TDs) is six years in the league as he finished as one of fantasy's most disappointing wideouts. He's only 26, though, and has definite WR2 bounce-back potential wherever he's playing in 2020.

Randall Cobb - WR

Posted 3/17/2020 3:42 am UTC

Free-agent WR Randall Cobb (Cowboys) agreed to terms on a three-year, $27 million deal with the Houston Texans on Monday, March 16. He will receive $18.75 million guaranteed.

Huddle Up: The Texans were obviously in the market for a receiver after flipping DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for David Johnson earlier in the day. He'll have an opportunity at plenty of targets with Deshaun Watson under center, and he could see significant targets if he rises to the top of the depth chart.