2024 Houston Texans Preview
2023 record: 10-7 1st in AFC South
Points For: 377 (22.2/g) 13th of 32
Points Against: 353 (20.8/g) 11th of 32
Losses RB Devin Singletary, LB Jonathan Greenard
Adds:. RB Joe Mixon, WR Stefon Diggs, WR Ben Skrownek, DE Denico Autry, LB Danielle Hunter, OLB Azeez Al-Shaair, CB CJ Henderson
Draft Picks :, No. 42 overall: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia, No. 59: Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame,, No. 78: Calen Bullock, S, USC, No. 123: Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State, No. 188: Jamal Hill, LB, Oregon, No. 205 : Jawhar Jordan, RB, Louisville, No. 238: Solomon Byrd, DE, USC, No. 247: Marcus Harris, DT, Auburn, No. 249: LaDarius Henderson, OL, Michigan
Overview: We had a feeling the Texans would be a surprise in 2023. We were right. Demeco Ryans and company had a tremendous year one and are the favorites out of the gate for a division title in 2024. The Texans doubled down and added elite veterans Joe Mixon, Stefon Diggs and Denico Autry. The Texans are on the cusp of challenging the upper echelon of the conference, and 2025 may be a changing of the guard.
Passing: The old adage of “Ohio State quarterbacks don't pan out in the NFL” was put to rest after C.J. Stroud’s 2023. Stroud’s rookie campaign was nothing short of spectacular. And then; Houston went out and signed Joe Mixon and traded for Stefon Diggs. This offense has a lot of mouths to feed but C.J. Stroud is poised to make sure everyone eats in 2024.
Rushing: The Texans lost Devin Singletary in free agency to the Giants but added a pro bowl caliber rusher in Joe Mixon, who was quietly coming off of an RB5 season, only his second top 5 finish at the position in his career. Mixon’s only competition for touches in the backfield is Dameon Pierce, who looked solid in 2022 but appeared to take a big step back in 2023. This may be on the the safest starting gigs for a running back in the league. The only place the Texans seemed to struggle offensively was the run game; their backs ran for 3.7 yards per carry on the year, tied for 5th worst in the NFL. Houston’s 10 rushing touchdowns were only good for 25th in the league. Was this a byproduct of their success in the passing game? The talent level of their running backs on the roster? That question has yet to be answered.
Receiving: Nico Collins was locked into a long-term deal during the off-season and Tank Dell is fully recovered from his broken leg. If that wasn't enough, the Texans acquired Stefon Diggs from Buffalo. Diggs is on a one year prove it deal, and boy does he not want to be the subject of another "dejected on the sidelines" meme. Aside from the top-tier offensive weapons, the Texans still have a few young stars such as Brevin Jordan and Xavier Hutchinson waiting in the wings, as well as veteran Noah Brown, who had a few fantastic games in 2023 when Dell was injured. Dalton Schultz is a top talent at the tight end position, but the Texans are deeper than ever after at Tight End after selectin Ohio State’s Cade Stover. Brevin Jordan is still lurking as well. A tremendous situation for a quarterback; not for players looking for their piece of the target share.
Defense; Demeco Ryan’s fingerprints were evident on both sides of the football, as the Texans went from the 27th-ranked defense in points allowed in 2022, to 11th in points allowed in 2023. Add in two huge players from a division rival ( Denico Autry and Azeez Al Shaair ) and the Texans' defense looks to be even stingier in 2024. One downside of a tremendous defense; is less of a need to put up points.
Fantasy Impact: The Texans winning the AFC South seems to be a foregone conclusion, and all systems are go for a solid encore. A late BYE WEEK ( Week 14 ) could be a tough break for those in the thick of a Title in their fantasy league, but C.J. Stroud should be on of the top five quarterbacks selected. Joe Mixon has top 5 upside at the position and Dameon Pierce could be a league winner should Mixon go down. Nico Collins and Tank Dell should outperform their ADP ( average draft position ). Stefon Diggs could be the odd man out here, as will Dalton Schultz in his second year in this offense. For Schultz, he’s a bye-week fill in at most at this point.
Prediction: 13-4 There haven't been many open and shut division winners in the NFL recently. The early 2000’s Patriots. The Packers of the 2010s. The Chiefs of the 2020s. But Houston is poised to have another strong year on both sides of the ball. The Texans offense added multiple veteran pieces in the off-season; is it enough to dethrone the elite in the AFC?
1 Sun September 8 1:00 PM ET @ Indianapolis Colts
2 Sun September 15 8:20PM ET Chicago Bears
3 Sun September 22 1:00PM ET @ Minnesota Vikings
4 Sun September 29 1:00PM ET Jacksonville Jaguars
5 Sun October 6 1:00PM ET Buffalo Bills
6 Sun October 13 1:00PM ET @ New England Patriots
7 Sun October 20 1:00PM ET @ Green Bay Packers
8 Sun October 27 1:00PM ET Indianapolis Colts
9 Thu October 31 8:15PM ET @ New York Jets
10 Sun November 10 8:20PM ET Detroit Lions
11 Mon November 18 8:15PM ET @ Dallas Cowboys
12 Sun November 24 1:00PM ET Tennessee Titans
13 Sun December 1 1:00PM ET @ Jacksonville Jaguars
14 Bye Week
15 Sun December 15 1:00PM ET Miami Dolphins
16 Sat December 21 1:00PM ET @ Kansas City Chiefs
17 Wed December 25 4:30PM ET Baltimore Ravens
18 Sun January 5 1:00PM ET @ Tennessee Titans
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