Listed are the Top 10 best players on the 2020 roster of the Houston Texans.
As we tread through Houston Texans news and awaiting the return of the team in the midst of the crazy world we live in, it is time to take a look at the current 2020 roster. As the Houston Texans prepare to defend their AFC South title and avenge their debacle in the divisional round playoffs against the Kansas City Chiefs, let’s look at the top players on the current roster to see who the team needs to lean on going into the fray of this unknown season.
With the departure of key players in Deandre Hopkins, D.J. Reader, Carlos Hyde and Johnathan Joseph, the ranking might be a little different than you’d expect.
Deshaun Watson is officially the true face of the franchise with Hopkins’ departure and J.J. Watt’s age and health. The Houston Texans will go as far as Watson can drive them, but the franchise has other key contributors that will help get this team where they want to be.
General manager and head coach Bill O’Brien keeps winning as a coach, and until we see otherwise, we will trust in him and the following 10 players.
10: Darren Fells, Tight End
The 10th player was kind of hard to pick for this Houston Texans list. The franchise has a lot of players who were good contributors, but Darren Fells came out and helped dramatically in his first season in “Space City.”
The former college basketball star helped to the tune of 341 yards and a strong seven touchdowns while starting 14 games and playing in every game last season.
The yards might not catch the eyes of many, but the seven touchdowns can’t be ignored as they tied for first on the team with Deandre Hopkins in 2019. His efforts netted him a new two-year contract this offseason, showing his contributions were valued and that he should be a key contributor going into 2020.
9: Zach Cunningham, Inside Linebacker
When you draft a player in the second round, you want to see growth each season. Zach Cunningham has done just that. Tackle numbers (solo and combined) have grown each of his three seasons, and Cunningham looks to be getting better each season.
Cunningham’s speed and presence against the run are highly underrated, and he has been a great partner to Benadrick McKinney in the defense. Cunningham may have been a surprise pick in the 2017 draft for many Houston Texans fans, but his continued growth should be celebrated as a key cog in the defense.
8: Whitney Mercilus, Outside Linebacker
Whitney Mercilus enjoyed a return to form in 2019 after missing all but five games in 2017 and only starting nine games 2018 after his torn pectoral in ’17.
The 7.5 sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles, 48 total tackles and 16 QB hits were a true glimpse of the Mercilus we saw in 2015 and 2016. Stepping up with the Jadeveon Clowney trade, Mercilus will be leaned on even more as Jacob Martin gets accustomed to the defense.
J.J. Watt and Mercilus are getting better the further away they get away from their injuries, which is great news for the Houston Texans, bad news for opposing offenses.
7: Will Fuller, Wide Receiver
The presumed top wide receiver comes in at seventh overall. Even with a myriad of injuries throughout the years, Will Fuller’s chemistry with Deshaun Watson is obvious. Whether or not Fuller is re-signed long term is yet to be determined, but he should be in the long-term plans as long as Watson is the quarterback.
Fuller’s 670 yards and three touchdowns in 2019 were decent contributions, but with the departure of DeAndre Hopkins, those numbers should rise even with the addition of Brandin Cooks.
The injury risk will always be there with Fuller, but the respect he commands from opposing defenses as a deep threat burner will help along with Cooks in 2020.
6: Nick Martin, Center
In the middle of the offensive line, Nick Martin has been a stalwart center that has grown more with each season. While he didn’t pop instantly like his brother Zack Martin of the Dallas Cowboys, Nick Martin has improved each season and hasn’t missed a game since his rookie year.
In 2019, he only allowed two sacks, which was tied for ninth among centers, and he has four accepted penalties which was tied for 13th among centers.
While he might not be a Travis Frederick-level center in his career, Martin has shown he is starting to be worth the extension given to him.
5: Benardrick McKinney, Inside Linebacker
A season removed from the Pro Bowl, Benardrick McKinney might not have had the numbers in 2019 that landed him in Orlando but was still vital to the defense. Second on the team in total tackles with 101, he continues to show his value as a leader of the defense.
The former second-team All-Pro selection still has his best days ahead of him, and the Texans will lean on him and Zach Cunningham.
4: Justin Reid, Safety
With the departure of Johnathan Joseph in the offseason, it is safe to say Justin Reid will be the undisputed leader of the Houston Texans secondary unit in 2020.
The secondary is going to be the biggest question mark on the defense, but it’ll be Justin Reid’s job to lead that unit. With a handful of tough early season games, Reid will have a chance to shine against strong offenses in 2020.
With his torn labrum behind him, expect big things from Reid in 2020 and beyond as a member of the Houston Texans.
3: J.J. Watt, Defensive End
The Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient being this high might be a shock, but J.J. Watt still garners respect from opposing offensive coordinators. While only playing two full seasons in the last five years due to a myriad of injuries, Watt is looking to get back to his old ways.
Last season in eight regular-season games, Watt totaled four sacks, and now with 96 career sacks, he is just four away from 100 for his career. Deep playoff runs have eluded Watt in his first nine NFL seasons, and he is going to want to put an end to that while he still has gas left in the tank with the Houston Texans.
2: Laremy Tunsil, Left Tackle
Putting his 18 penalties aside, the trade and contract extension of Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil has been a success. After Duane Brown got his trade to Seattle, the left tackle spot has been an absolute mess. The vacancy left by Brown led to Deshaun Watson running for his life more times than not. That was until Tunsil joined the Texans and the sack numbers shrank.
Tunsil’s efforts in his first season in Houston earned him his first of many Pro Bowl invitations, and while 18 penalties is a lot — he led the NFL — Tunsil will grow in Houston, and those numbers should decrease.
With Tunsil protecting Watson for the foreseeable future, the future should be brighter in Space City.
When the lights are brightest, Deshaun Watson performs pic.twitter.com/KFRCmnTiey
— PFF (@PFF) June 25, 2020
1: Deshaun Watson, Quarterback
As the leader — and face of the franchise — the Houston Texans will go as far as Deshaun Watson will take them.
Even in Watson’s injury-shortened rookie season, we saw what we have before us now, and the future is bright for the former No. 12 overall pick. We have a strong sample size of what to expect from Watson, with 52 touchdowns, 21 interceptions and 8,017 passing yards over the last two season.
A two-time Pro Bowler in three seasons, making a conference championship will be the next step, and we can hope to see even more, as fellow 2017 first-round pick Patrick Mahomes won the Super Bowl and has been a league MVP within two seasons of starting.
The Houston Texans have their franchise guy, and hopefully the leader that will guide them to the Super Bowl, as Watson is the top player currently playing for the Texans in 2020.