j2v Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 (edited) Consider this Son of Fantasy University. Each day we’ll make a post regarding a fantasy-relevant player or situation; then, we’ll turn the mic over to you and hear what you have to say. Today’s candidate: the Houston Texans ground game The Texans’ running game has been mediocre at best since… well, since forever. Domanick Davis had a brief minirun, but the past three seasons Houston has ranked in the bottom half of the league in both rushing yardage and rushing touchdowns. This season, however, there is a glimmer of optimism. Renown offensive line coach Alex Gibbs reunites with Gary Kubiak, and the hope is that the success of Denver’s ground game can be replicated in Houston. Moreover, the Texans addressed their primary need along the offensive line by using a first-round selection on left tackle Duane Brown—who just happens to be a perfect fit for Gibbs’ system. So, is there fantasy value here? Is it because Ahman Green finally stays healthy? Does Chris Brown—hardly an iron man himself—capitalize on the next Green injury? Can Chris Taylor, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, pickup where he left off at the end of 2006? Perhaps rookie Steve Slaton follows the Tiki Barber blueprint and morphs from undersized third-down back to a larger fantasy impact? Or is this whole situation just a poor man’s Bronco quagmire—just one more way Mike Shanahan has found to stick it to fantasy owners? Edited July 29, 2008 by j2v Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Yuk. Not one of them can be drafted as anything more than a RB3. You might get lucky and get RB2 production out of Ahman Green (if he stays healthy) but all of these guys have to be late round flyers IMHO. Unless you are in a Keeper or Dynasty in which case I think the play is for Slaton. He might not get playing time until late in the season this year, but hopefully they can turn him into a starter for next season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Scorp Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Is there a reason that S Alexander or C Benson or someother FA RB hasn't shown up in Houston? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Score 1 Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 July 28, 2008Questions already arising in Texans running back situation Chris Brown is already being forced to the sidelines with aches and pains. The Texans signed Brown as a free agent to help spell Ahman Green. But they knew Brown came with injury issues of his own. And those issues are already starting to creep up. He has a sore back that has forced him to miss Monday morning's practice. It's not a good sign for a player who has only played in 17 games with four starts over the past two seasons. Chron.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yo mama Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 I like Ahman Green the most out of the bunch, but he's a no more than a #4 RB to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMD Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 I have no faith in Green or Brown to remain healthy and that leaves Slaton who is not big enough for the job (though sort of Domanick Davis sized) or Chris Taylor who FF'ers love and the HOU coaches evidently do not. It all adds up to an ever changing landscape to me and I hate that. If I had to have one, I guess Green since he starts out the musical chairs but Taylor or Slaton later in drafts seems like a better value since you know it will eventually work down the depth charts to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziachild007 Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 I say Cedric Benson is better than all those backs currently on roster. I don't. Even if there were not the off the field stuff, Benson has not exactly set the woods a blaze. That and I don't think he really fits the zone blocking scheme they use. Is there a reason that S Alexander or C Benson or someother FA RB hasn't shown up in Houston? Supposedly, they are satisfied with the RBs they have. I like Ahman Green the most out of the bunch, but he's a no more than a #4 RB to me. I'd say RB3, but I am wouldn't argue with you about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 The Houston RB will be one of the highest add/drops of the season in most league waiver wire. Green to start the season but his best days are in Green Bay. Once he gets dinged then all hell breaks loose and it will be anyone's guess who to start. Then as soon as we know who to start it will change with no reason other than that's what they felt like doing. I am staying way far away from this situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziachild007 Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 I have no faith in Green or Brown to remain healthy and that leaves Slaton who is not big enough for the job (though sort of Domanick Davis sized) or Chris Taylor who FF'ers love and the HOU coaches evidently do not. It all adds up to an ever changing landscape to me and I hate that. If I had to have one, I guess Green since he starts out the musical chairs but Taylor or Slaton later in drafts seems like a better value since you know it will eventually work down the depth charts to them. Taylor will be working some at FB too. I think all HOU RBs will be a decent value to be honest. I mean someone has to get the carries, it's just the matter of picking the right one. FWIW, I think Green will be the guy as long as he is healthy. I'd love to see Slaton emerge as a big play guy, but I have my doubts as to him being a 20+ carry guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swiss Cheezhead Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Green is being drafted as the 30th RB or worse. That's a mistake, considering Alex Gibbs is in town. Brown is more injury-prone than Green, Slaton is a small rookie (maybe a good fit in the future), and Chris Taylor is coming off a serious knee injury. Green will be productive by default. I might be drafting Green in some leagues; I just might not keep him past Week 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yo mama Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 (edited) I'd say RB3, but I am wouldn't argue with you about it. A late RB3, maybe. I generally look to get my RB3 with my first 6 picks, and I'm not drafting Ahman with my first six picks in any format (unlike last year ). But after that the RB talent is all a crap shoot so Ahman starts to look pretty decent in comparison to the other skank RBs that are still on the board. Edited July 29, 2008 by yo mama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDFFFreak Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 (edited) This is a sad bunch. I'll have a hard time taking any of them in a position any more than a late round flier. Not to mention, I love the Texans passing attack. Edited July 29, 2008 by TDFFFreak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 What about Darius Walker? Didn't he produce some at the end of the season? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 (edited) I think the starting RB post week 5/6 is not on the roster right now. Brown, as noted, is tweaked already. Between he & Green, maybe HOU is hoping that the tandem can stay healthy enough to give them 15-16 starts. I'd say the odds of that are very long. Slaton has apparently had fumbling problems already, something that cost him a lot of playing time in college last year and along with his pitty-pat running style bumped him way down the draft board after looking like a sure-fire 1st rounder after the 2006 season. He could play himself completely out of the league, a free fall of epic proportions. Taylor has been getting time at FB. It seems like they don't like his running style, and while he may be a late round darrkhorse darling of some FF touts, that doesn't do a damn bit of good if you can't impress the coaches enough to get reps at RB. There have been rumors swirling that Kubiak might bring Mike Bell in for a looksee. With Kubiak & Gibbs knowing Bell, and Bell knowing what they both want out of their RB, he could be a surprise. Another possibility is Dayne, whom HOU gave up on for some reason despite his seeing success when he finally got some reps at RB. In any case, what we're seeing from what HOU has on its roster right now, none is worth anything more than a possible RB depth play in FF, probably like a #4 RB most likely being Green. But knowing Kubiak and how he likes to run to set the table for his entire team philosophy, and knowing Alex Gibbs will quickly round the O-line into a formidable force in run blocking, it's well worth keeping a sharp eye on the situation and on your league's WW. Edited July 30, 2008 by Bronco Billy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingfish247 Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 (edited) I think the starting RB post week 5/6 is not on the roster right now. ... Assuming Green lands on IR or has to miss a few weeks (a pretty safe assumption), I have to agree with this. After Green, HOU RBs are a mess right now which is saying a lot given Green's issues. It's really a shame because if they placed a little more importance on the position--rather than trying to catch lightning in a bottle a la Shanahan in Denver--I think the HOU RB could be very productive. HOU has definitely become Broncos RB Situation: Redux and won't get any better until they actually draft a top RB prospect or get lucky with their patchwork FAs and late rounders. Edited July 30, 2008 by kingfish247 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonorator Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 You might get lucky and get RB2 production out of Ahman Green (if he stays healthy) but all of these guys have to be late round flyers IMHO. Unless you are in a Keeper or Dynasty in which case I think the play is for Slaton. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 I like Slaton. I don't know if he can be another Tiki but see him as more than a 3rd down back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budlitebrad Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 There have been rumors swirling that Kubiak might bring Mike Bell in for a looksee. With Kubiak & Gibbs knowing Bell, and Bell knowing what they both want out of their RB, he could be a surprise. Bell is trying out on Friday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avernus Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 I think Ahman can be effective if they ran a WC style of offense and used him more in the passing game... they need to keep him from getting mauled up front... I think Green can still have some value, but his situation isn't the greatest....however it's still promising with Schaub, Daniels and AJ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziachild007 Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 CBrown is living up to his past. I cannot fathom for one moment why they didn't sign KJ. I mean, he got a pretty small contract from Chicago, yeah? Or why they didn't bring in Lamont Jordan? (Just mentioning guys that were easily available to them) Are those guys really that much better than what they have? I don't think so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Irish Doggy Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Meh. Other than Slaton in dynasty leagues (just to see how he pans out), I doubt I draft any RB from that roster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hat Trick Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 I drafted Slaton so far in my first draft, 16 teamer as my 4th RB. I took him in HOPES that he might emerge and be able to give me a start or two when I need it. I definitely am not counting on anything from him, but with the injury prone RB's on the roster I figured I'd take a long shot with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budlitebrad Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Mike Bell just signed with the Texans. Add him into the mix now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Wow. That's one impressive turd of a backfield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziachild007 Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Dumb signing. I wonder if that's meant to be a wake up call for Brown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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