After DeAndre Hopkins the Houston Texans are quite thin at the wide receiver position. There are complimentary players on the roster but none that are good enough to consistently impact a game. To truly compete in the future the Texans need to find another wide receiver.
In a previous article the case for pursuing Jimmy Graham in free agency was made. However Graham is a tight end and not a receiver. For an offense to truly thrive another receiver must be found. Whether it is in the draft or in free agency, Deshaun Watson needs another target.
The aforementioned Hopkins is an absolute beast and is one of the best receivers in the NFL. That being said even the best receivers need help. Someone to take pressure off of a player to make plays. More importantly a player that makes the defense focus on the team as a whole and not one player.
Will Fuller is a good complimentary receiver. While this is factual he is most effective when Hopkins gets the majority of the attention. He is also effective for the Texans when Watson is the quarterback, but that is a different issue altogether. Fuller totaled 28 receptions for 423 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games. Even for a complimentary receiver that is impressive.
After Fuller the Texans receivers start to look rather average. Bruce Ellington caught 29 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Braxton Miller had 19 receptions for 169 yards and one touchdown. Essentially after Hopkins and Fuller there are lot of players who are replaceable.
Now it goes without saying that the best production from any of the receivers occurred when Watson was in at quarterback. The Texans offense led by Tom Savage and T.J. Yates was dreadful. The poor performances from that duo ultimately led to the lackluster numbers from everyone across the board.
The Texans are at a point in time when it is crucial to address the receiver position. Hopkins will continue his dominance. Fuller appears to be developing into a legitimate deep threat. Whether they sign Graham or not is a different story. The Texans focus needs to be on the acquisition of another wide receiver. Whether it is through the draft or in free agency.