Houston Texans: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – Receivers
By Bob Dove
The downside to underperformance by the receiver group is not as severe as for the quarterback and offensive line position groups, but meeting expectations is essential for a deep playoff run.
As with all the position groups setting the likelihood of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly is a guesstimate at best. When an injury to one player is the key for the prediction it becomes a pure crapshoot. Let’s roll the dice.
The Good – If the receiver group exceeds the high expectations that are part of the game-by-game predictions it will mean both the quarterback and offensive line position groups are providing sufficient support. With the receiver group exceeding and the quarterback groups meeting or exceeding expectations a deep playoff run is likely
Likelihood of achieving The Good – 10%
The Bad – The two most likely paths to underperformance by the receivers are the rookies developing more slowly than projected or Cecil Shorts missing time before the rookies are ready to carry a full load. Of course, underperformance by the quarterback position can also cause the receivers to be less productive than expected.
Likelihood of achieving The Bad – 20%
The Ugly – Odds of DeAndre Hopkins suffering a debilitating injury are impossible to project. He has no serious injury history, and while he still will be a focus of every defense that focus will lessen as his fellow receivers produce. Even if he goes down there is a chance, though not a good chance, that another receiver will reasonably fill-in thus avoiding The Ugly.
Likelihood of achieving The Ugly – 5%
Next: Braxton Miller dedicated...
If Will Fuller and Braxton Miller are the talents that Texans brass foresaw when they were drafted, and if they are able to use their strengths early, speed for Fuller and elusiveness for Miller, this will be a very good, very explosive receiver group. I have high hopes for this group, but some critics believe the rookies will develop slowly or not at all. What do you think?