Houston Texans running back David Johnson is ranked near bottom of NFL.com list of starters.
Preseason lists aren’t too kind when it comes to the Houston Texans, and that is the case for the franchise and starting running back David Johnson, at least according to a list of starting running backs compiled at NFL.com.
In a recent NFL.com rankings list of best starting running backs written in an article by NFL.com Analyst and former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew, David Johnson was ranked 29th out of 32 running backs on the rankings list for 2020. It is easy to see why Johnson is so low because 2019 stats are key for this list. It is also easy to see the Texans starting running back is being undervalued on this list as well.
This has been a topic of discussion lately about David Johnson being undervalued by many in the league this offseason, because as poor as his season finished in 2019, the play of David Johnson for the Houston Texans will be better than his final season with the Arizona Cardinals.
The 2019 season of David Johnson saw him lose his starting job in Arizona, a season where he finished with 94 carries for 345 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Johnson also had 36 receptions for 370 yards and four touchdown receptions.
It is tough to discredit how Jones-Drew sees Johnson at this point of the offseason, but the next three players ranked ahead of the new Texans running back are Kerryon Johnson (Detroit Lions), David Montgomery (Chicago Bears), and Sony Michel (New England Patriots), and in this opinion, David Johnson is a better overall running back than those three players.
Jones-Drew in his NFL.com article did write the following about Johnson and what he brings to the Houston Texans in 2020:
"“Being traded to Houston had to feel like a breath of fresh air for Johnson, and I think the injury-prone back landed in the right spot.”"
Jones-Drew later went on to speak highly about how Johnson can catch passes out of the backfield, and not only that, but also it is good to see that Jones-Drew believes Johnson landed in the right spot, as that is good news for the running back and the Houston Texans.
Houston Texans News: David Johnson can be productive in 2020
The uncertainty of what type of season David Johnson can have for the Houston Texans is one of the most glaring issues for the team entering the 2020 season. For the Texans to really have success the running back must gain his second 1,000-yard season in his career. Last year the offensive line of the Houston Texans blocked for Carlos Hyde who had a 1,000-yard season on the ground, so that goal is very possible.
That is where the optimism should come for the upcoming season is the Texans offensive line is much improved, which helps the rushing game of Johnson, who can not only have success running the football, but the potential he brings catching the football out of the backfield is exciting too.
This article isn’t saying David Johnson is the best running back in the league, and he does have a few things to prove this season, but to be ranked 29th best starting running back in the league continues to show how undervalued and underrated he is entering the 2020 season.