Houston Texans vs. Arizona Cardinals: Key match-up to watch

If the Houston Texans are going to have any success through the air against the Arizona Cardinals, they’ll need Bruce Ellington to step up and have a big game.

With Arizona Cardinals’ star cornerback Patrick Peterson expected to completely lock down Houston Texans’ wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, another receiver will need to step up.

We already know that Texans’ no. 2 wide receiver Will Fuller won’t play this week due to a cracked rib, so Houston will need Bruce Ellington to win his match-up against Cardinals’ cornerback Brandon Williams.

So far this season, Williams has an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 60.4. So Ellington has an opportunity to step in and help the Texans move the football down the field.

Ellington has 19 receptions for 231 yards, two touchdowns and an average of 12.2 yards per reception in 2017.

While I expect the Texans to spread the ball around to tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz, as well as wide receiver Braxton Miller, I believe most of the targets will end up going to Ellington, who has a great match-up and has been more reliable this season than the guys I just mentioned.

Next: Can Tom Savage play better?

I know what you’re thinking, ‘why wouldn’t the Texans still throw the ball to Hopkins, he’s been great?’ As good as Hopkins has been, Peterson has only been targeted 32 times this season and I don’t expect Savage to gamble and throw the ball his way on Sunday.

With Hopkins already racking up 803 yards and eight touchdowns through the first nine games of the season, you can bet that Peterson will be shadowing him all over the field, so it won’t matter where Houston lines him up.

With Ellington’s role expected to expand, the Texans will rely heavily on him.

Comment below and give us your thoughts. Do you Ellington will have a big game?