C.J. Fiedorowicz has been the No .1 option at tight end for two years now, are there other options threatening to take his place atop the Houston Texans depth chart?
C.J. Fiedorowicz
Since the departure of Texans’ legend Owen Daniels, the organization has struggled to sign or draft a replacement who could fill in as a dynamic pass option.
Fiedorowicz has compiled 754 yards as a Texan with six touchdowns on 75 receptions. He set career numbers in all three of those categories but continued to be inconsistent last season.
Though last season was his first full season as a starting tight end, Fiedorowicz failed to dazzle in any games but some of the blame falls on the shoulders of quarterback Brock Osweiler and his dreadful 2016 campaign.
There could be some improvement in statistical categories this upcoming season with quarterbacks Tom Savage and rookie Deshaun Watson battling for the starting job and looking like blue-chip players.
However, don’t hold your breath on Fiedorowicz Texans fans. During 51 games for the Iowa Hawkeyes–his college team–he caught 91 balls for 899 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Fiedorowicz’s gargantuan frame, 6’7″ 215 lbs, certainly adds value in the red zone and with the lack of talent at tight end behind him, expect him to receive the lion’s share of the workload.
Ryan Griffin
If the wheels fall off the Fiedorowicz wagon early, expect Griffin to step up and take over the majority of the workload.
Griffin has played for the Texans over four years and was inked to a three-year, $9 million contract this offseason.
The Texans’ coaching staff has faith in Griffin who hauled in 50 passes last season, crushing his previous career-high of 20. He’s currently rehabbing his Achilles and is expected to be ready for training camp.
Griffin’s a terrific pass and run blocker, which assists superstar running back Lamar Miller in racking up big gains and is locked in as the second-string tight end.
A 35 receptions, 500 yards, and five touchdown season is plausible with the inexperience the Texans boast at quarterback. Additional production will be welcomed with open arms in 2017.
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Stephen Anderson
The 24-year-old pass catching tight end had a tough start to his NFL career, injuring his hamstring early last season, missing weeks four and five.
Anderson signed with the Texans last offseason as an unproven undrafted free agent. And with the injury to Griffin, it has opened up an opportunity for him to showcase his talent at this year’s OTA’s.
Anderson isn’t the biggest target at 6-foot-2, however when Anderson was targeted 17 times in his rookie campaign, he hauled in 11 of those passes.
It’s been noted that Anderson and Watson are building chemistry, which could work out in his favor once training camp commences due to a lack of promising talent.
Keep tabs on Anderson Texans fans. The coaching staff likes his upside. As headcoach Bill O’Brien had nothing but praise after signing him after last year’s draft.
"“He’s a hardworking kid. A very, very smart kid. He’s got good hands. He’s got good route-running ability,” O’Brien said of Anderson to the Houston Chronicle in 2016."
Expect Fiedorowicz, Griffin and Anderson to fill out the three tight end spots going into Training Camp.