The Houston Texans have three players on their offense who, if they can all be on the field at the same time, could propel the franchise to great heights in 2019.
What if the Houston Texans had a franchise quarterback and two very talented wide receivers all on the field at the same time in 2019? Would you expect the Texans franchise to win more games than they lost? Would you see more high-scoring games?
As a fan of the Texans, would the expectations of the team in the playoffs jump off the charts? Starting in Week 1 of the 2019 NFL season, fans of the Texans had better be ready because the trio of quarterback Deshaun Watson and wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller will begin the journey back to the playoffs and beyond by all three being on the field at the same time.
In the two seasons when the Watson, Hopkins and Fuller trio could occur, out of a possible 48 regular-season games, those three players have only been on the field together 11 times. The TexansPR Twitter page tweeted the following about the trio and their games together in a recent tweet:
QB @deshaunwatson, WR @DeAndreHopkins & WR @Will_Fuller7 have played 11 games together.
— Houston Texans PR (@TexansPR) September 6, 2019
The #Texans average 30.8 points per game & 399.4 net yards per game when all three play.
Watson has thrown 12 TDs to Hopkins & 11 to Fuller while maintaining a 105.6 rating in the 11 games. pic.twitter.com/64a0dvfBvn
How amazing is it that when Watson has Fuller and Hopkins to throw the football to on the field at the same time the offense of the Texans averaged nearly 31 points per game, and the offense averages nearly 400 net yards per game?
In a closer look at their numbers provided by the TexansPR tweet, Watson has passed for 3,171 yards in those games with 30 touchdown passes with Fuller and Hopkins playing in the same game. Between Hopkins and Fuller, they have 1,895 of those receiving yards combined and a total of 23 receiving touchdowns, with Hopkins having 12 and Fuller with 11.
On the most recent injury report, Hopkins, Fuller and Watson are not listed, and that highlights Fuller, who missed half of last season after tearing his ACL after scoring a touchdown on Thursday Night Football against the Miami Dolphins.
Having Fuller, Hopkins and Watson all at full strength is a huge asset opening the ’19 regular season against the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football. Facing the Saints defense is no easy task, as their secondary includes cornerbacks Eli Apple and Marshon Lattimore, plus safeties Vonn Bell, and Marcus Williams, in their unofficial starting lineup.
The last time all three were on the field at the same time was when Fuller was injured, and in that game the trio had the following numbers on Oct. 25, 2018 against the Dolphins:
• Watson: 16-for-20, 239, 5 TDs, 0 Int
• Fuller: 5 receptions, 124 yards, 1 TD
• Hopkins: 6 receptions, 82 yards, 2 TD
If the Texans revamped offensive line can hold up — especially with the addition of left tackle Laremy Tunsil — Houston’s Watson, Hopkins and Fuller could show the entire nation how good of a unit they can be when all three are on the field at the same time, and even against the Saints, a win in Week 1 is possible for the Texans.