The Houston Texans and their star quarterback Deshaun Watson have to learn to live without Watson’s security blanket, DeAndre Hopkins, in 2020.
Hopkins, who was traded a few weeks ago, was targeted 150 times last year, more than double any other receiver. He also accounted for 68 first downs in 2019, and 85 in 2018. That is a lot of significant, clutch production the Texans have to replace.
The Texans do have several players on their roster who have shown promise in previous seasons, and it is time for them to up their game.
Watson needs receivers he can trust, and if a few players can improve, there is a chance the offense can be even better. If defenses have to concentrate on multiple options in the passing game, instead of focusing on Hopkins, as in years past, Watson and the Texans’ offense could be hard to stop.
Houston Texans who need to improve: No. 4: Jordan Akins
Jordan Akins is six years younger than Darren Fells and started to surpass the veteran last season. Adkins saw more targets (55 to 48) and slightly more receptions (36 to 34), but the latter saw more action in the red zone (seven touchdowns to just two for Adkins).
That needs to change. Adkins has to become a force in the middle of the field. He needs to be able to get open and present himself as a big target to whom Watson can throw from either in the pocket or on the move.
At six feet, four inches, 243 pounds, Adkins has the size. He only has four drops in 80 career targets, so his hands are decent too. He can become a legitimate target for Watson if he can separate himself from the other tight ends on the roster.
Houston Texans who need to improve: No. 3: Keke Coutee
It is time for Keke Coutee to realize the potential that made him a fourth-round draft pick in 2018. When he made his debut in week four of his rookie season, he hauled in 11 catches for 109 yards and looked like a star in the making.
He followed that up the next week with six receptions, 51 yards, and a touchdown. Unfortunately for both the Texans and Coutee, he hasn’t come close to the numbers of his debut since and hasn’t had more catches in any game than he had in those first two outings.
Since those two games, he has a game with four catches and another two with five, but no others with more than three. He only has three games with more than 51 yards since those first two games of his career.
If Coutee is going to become a real force in this offense, now is the time. This is an opportunity to prove he can be an every-game starter and become a favored target for Watson.
Houston Texans who need to improve: No. 2: David Johnson
The pressure is on David Johnson. The Texans just traded away the second-best receiver in franchise history, and he was the key player Houston got in return. He will need to produce in a big way to win over fans.
The good news is when Johnson is good, he is pretty darn good. In 2016, he ran for 1,239 yards and caught 80 passes for 879 more yards. More recently, in 2018, he ran for 940 yards and notched 446 more through the air.
The problem is his other three seasons have not been very good, including 2017 when he was injured in the first week of the season. His average yards per carry the past two seasons haven’t been good at all – 3.6 in 2018, 3.7 last season.
If Johnson somehow returns to his 2016 form running the ball, he could be a massive cog in the offensive wheel. Discounting the year he missed for injury, he has averaged over 50 catches a season, and he averages 10.7 yards per catch on his career. Clearly, he is a weapon in the passing game.
It is hard to project him being as good as he was in 2016. Though he isn’t all that old at 28 years old, a lot of time has passed since that All-Pro season. Maybe the change of scenery will help but don’t set expectations too high on Johnson.
Still, he needs to step up and show he can be as capable running the ball as he is catching it. If he can be an effective runner, that will only help Watson’s play-action game and will keep defenses in check and guessing.
Houston Texans who need to improve: No. 1: Will Fuller
The player who gains the most significant opportunity to be a star with the trade of Hopkins is Will Fuller. The 21st overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft has shown flashes of brilliance in his four seasons mixed in with a lot of games where he was barely a factor.
He has eight games with more than 100 yards receiving, including a 14-catch, 214-yard, three-touchdown game against the Falcons last year. He also has 16 games of two receptions or less. He has 16 career touchdowns, but only three came in 2019, and all of those were in that Falcons game.
His best outings reveal his unlimited potential:
- 2019, week five – 14 catches, 214 yards, three touchdowns
- 2019, week 11 – seven catches, 140 yards
- 2018, week two – five catches, 113 yards, one touchdown
- 2017, week seven – five catches, 125 yards, two touchdowns
- 2018, week eight – five catches, one touchdown
It is clear; Fuller can impact a game in a big way. The question becomes if he can become THE GUY with Hopkins no longer around to take up all of the attention of opposing secondaries.
He also has to stay healthy. Over the last three seasons, he has played in only 26 games. If he wants to be Watson’s primary target, he needs to stay on the field.
It’s clear Fuller has all the tools to be a number one wide receiver. Now is his chance to prove it to his quarterback and his organization. He doesn’t necessarily have to match Hopkins’ production since that is a lot to ask, but he does need to move forward in his development.
If these four players can improve their skills and overall games, and make much more significant impacts than they have over past seasons, the Houston Texans and Deshaun Watson won’t have to worry about their offense.