Houston Texans 2018 : 10 players who can improve team

Deshaun Watson

No one expected Deshaun Watson to light the whole world on fire in his first year as a Texan. He singlehandedly made the team better in 2017. The team only went as far as Watson’s health carried them.

Despite going 3-3 as a starter, he elevated both the aerial and ground attack. Watson was able to extend plays when the pocket collapsed and created opportunities for players around him.

The Texans had one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league with Watson at quarterback, and the threat that he brought with his ability to scramble allowed running lanes to open for Lamar Miller. They were averaging 137.7 yards on the ground prior to the game versus the Seattle Seahawks in which Watson emerged as the real deal.

In his rookie season, Watson completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 1,699 passing yards. He had a record-breaking 19 touchdowns as a rookie, surpassing Kurt Warner‘s touchdown record in his first seven games with eight interceptions.

His 103 quarterback rating is one of the best in Texans history. His rushing statistics were also great, as he rushed 36 times for 269 yards. Watson averaged an impressive 7.5 yards per carry.

With a portion of a season under his belt, Watson will enter his second season with a better grasp on how an NFL offense works.

The opposing defenses will have more film on him, but the Texans are planning accordingly and installing a new offense that will tailor to Watson’s strength.