2. Lamar Miller is still the top running back option
In a bit of a surprise, the Houston Texans have stayed put and are going with Lamar Miller as their starting running back thus far, as the draft has come and gone and they didn’t sign a big star in free agency.
Miller enters the 2019 season with D’Onta Foreman as the second running back option. Following the draft process, the Texans did draft Cullen Gillaspia with the 220th pick in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft, as he won’t threaten Miller for his starting job but could make the roster.
Looking back at last season, Miller didn’t play up to expectations needed for the Texans, but part of that was his own doing, part was play calling and part was the play of the offensive line. In 2018, Miller totaled 210 carries for 973 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He also caught 25 passes for 163 yards, averaging 6.5 yards per reception.
Miller hasn’t had a 1,000-plus yard rushing season since 2016, so entering his final year of his contract — his eighth NFL season, fourth with the Texans — the veteran running back should have his shot at trying to get his third 1,000-yard rushing season of his career.
As for the Texans and how they’ve worked on their running back roster this offseason, they signed undrafted rookie free agents Damarea Crockett (Missouri) and Karan Higdon (Michigan), so as of now the Texans should be set with Miller as the starter, and the battle at running back will be for depth chart purposes.