The NFL Draft is over and organized team activities (OTA’s) are winding down. With the Houston Texans training camp right around the corner, as well as the 2017 season, we will predict how the depth chart will look for each position. For this article, the focus is going to be on the wide receiver position.
Houston Texans Wide Receiver Depth Chart Projections
1. DeAndre Hopkins
Long-time starting receiver, Andre Johnson was released by the Texans in 2015. The biggest question for Houston afterwards was whether or not DeAndre Hopkins was ready to be the number one receiver. Hopkins finished the 2015 season with a career best, 111 receptions for 1,521 yards and 11 touchdowns. Impressive as those stats were, the fact that he was catching passes from three different quarterbacks makes it even more impressive.
There is no doubt that DeAndre Hopkins is the staple of the Texans passing game. Even with the wildly inconsisten play from Brock Osweiler, Hopkins still managed to rack up 78 catches for 954 yards and four touchdowns. Hopkins is definitely worthy of the number one receiver position and is the best receiver in the AFC South. With a decent quarterback throwing him the football, Hopkins will be in the same discussion as receivers like Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, and Odell Beckham Jr.
2. Will Fuller
Anyone who watched the Texans play last season had mixed emotions about Will Fuller. Fuller is insanely fast and can get open, seemingly, with ease. On the other hand, drops were a big issue for the rookie receiver. Fuller did manage to get 47 receptions for 635 yards and two touchdowns. Not bad for a rookie receiver, but he also dropped five passes, including a 45 yard touchdown pass in the playoff game against New England.
During this offseason, Will Fuller has been working on his hands. If Fuller can eliminate the drops this season, there’s no reason he can’t be an explosive addition opposite DeAndre Hopkins. The ceiling is high for Fuller and we could be on the verge of a top receiver duo in Houston.
3. Braxton Miller
Braxton Miller didn’t have a good chance to showcase much in his rookie season. With Brock Osweiler at quarterback, there wasn’t alot of passes thrown his way. Playing in ten games, Miller finished his rookie year with 15 receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown. Miller has the kind of speed that causes nightmares for opposing defenders. Miller should be a matchup advantage for Houston in the slot position but could also run a go route on the outside for them.
I expect O’Brien to utilize Miller’s skillset a little better this season. Braxton Miller is an extra addition to the already speedy offense the Texans have put together. With Lamar Miller at running back, Hopkins and Fuller on the outside, and Miller in the slot, Houston is a quarterback away from a very dangerous offense.
4. Jaelen Strong
Jaelen Strong may not have the explosive speed, like Fuller, but he has everything else. Strong has the size and the ability to “climb the ladder” and make difficult catches. He has great hands and looks very comfortable in the slot position. I almost made this a 3a and 3b because I beleive we will see a healthy mixture of Braxton Miller and Jalen Strong in the slot this season.
Strong showed some real promise in his rookie season. He played in ten games and finished with 14 receptions for 161 yards and three touchdowns. Strong’s 2016 season was on pace to be even better but an ankle injury cut his season short. Strong finished 2016 with 14 receptions for 130 yards in only eight games. This season should be a redemption season for Strong and I expect big things from him.
5. Wendall Williams
I’m excited to see what the future holds for Wendall Williams. As most know, Williams set the scouting world on fire by running an unofficial 4.19 40 yard dash. Williams’ official 40 yard time was clocked at 4.32 which is still impressive. Williams Spent his rookie season on the Texans practice squad. During the last three games of the season, Williams was activated and managed to catch four passes for 75 yards.
Wendall Williams is another speedy receiver that can help make the Texans a more explosive offense. While his time will more than likely be limited, Williams should see a little more time on the field this season, maybe even with special teams.
