NFL training camps are open, and for millions of people worldwide their fantasy football preparation has begun in earnest. Here at Sports World News we will break down all 32 NFL teams in terms of their fantasy value. Readers will find the must-own players in every format, the sleepers in specific formats, and hidden gems only necessary for those in very deep leagues.
Today's preview will be on the Houston Texans.
Must Own
Arian Foster, RB: Foster's stock has dropped like a stone this offseason thanks to rumors about balky body parts, as well as bizarre behavior with the media. As a first round pick, the red flags can't be ignored, but his ADP has dropped to Round 2, pick 10. That's a fine spot to pick up Foster, especially if he is your RB2 or you have a stud WR in place.
Andre Johnson, WR: His holdout situation was scary for a bit, and that's not the only problem here. He's 33 years old, has Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing passes his way, and hasn't scored eight touchdowns since 2010. He relied on his freak athleticism in his prime, but age has a way of eroding that.
His ADP is late fourth round, and honestly, that might still be too high. If you are drafting Andre Johnson as a WR1 your team could find itself in dire straits. If he's a WR2, and you're loaded elsewhere, then he's worth a gamble. But remember-you pay for what you're going to get, not the past. He is a gamble.
Defense/Special Teams: Yes, this defense is a must own. J.J. Watt is the consensus top defensive player in the NFL, and now he will be paired with Jadeveon Clowney, a bookend that figures to be commanding his own share of double teams. There may not be enough offensive linemen and tight ends in the world to contain these two terrors-and we haven't gotten to the linebackers. Brian Cushing is healthy (for now) and Johnathan Joseph remains a quality NFL CB. They shouldn't give up many points, and even though turnovers are tough to predict, sacks are in this D/ST's future.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR: The second-year wide receiver was promising as a rookie last year, but didn't set the world on fire. The offense is different now, so it's hard to predict how that will affect Hopkins. All that can be said is that the physical tools are there, and Andre Johnson's slowing down.
Jonathan Grimes, RB: Grimes was on three teams last year, and got almost no run with any of them. By all accounts he's had a nice preseason though, and by virture of backing up Foster, who was hurt last year, he becomes a must-own for Foster owners.
Randy Bullock, K: With Fitzpatrick running the show, touchdowns will be missed. There will be field goal opportunities.
Sleepers (Best Format)
Garrett Graham, TE (Standard): When Owen Daniels went down last year Graham emerged as a solid red zone target, reeling in five scores. He won't be some kind of breakout star, but the role is all his now. With the zone blocking scheme out, if the rushing attack fails the ball will be in the air.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB (Two-QB): Fitzpatrick has a miniscule chance of mattering in a single-QB format, but his past suggests a boom-or-bust quality that might appeal to owners in two-QB leagues who like to load up at RB and WR and go for cheap value on their No. 2 passer. Fitzpatrick fits that bill. As long as he's not atrocious, he has decent enough weapons to have some big games.
Deep Finds (Best Format)
Alfred Blue, RB: This rookie's numbers at LSU over four years are pedestrian, but he's in a situation where the lead back (Foster) has a checkered history in terms of injuries and workload, and the primary backup can be easily overtaken.
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