After years of disinterest from casual fans, AFC South fantasy football is a thing again. The division has reinvented itself in recent years as the home of some of the best young talents in the National Football League. With each team finally feeling as if they have a franchise quarterback, can the division now be one where fantasy owners can find consistent production?
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Houston Texans
Deshaun Watson
It’s time that we started acknowledging quite how good Deshaun Watson is. Despite consistently having one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, Watson had the most points per game of any quarterback as a rookie in 2017 and finished the 2018 season as the QB4. His lack of protection leaves him open to big hits but also forces him into scrambling, showcasing his athleticism and scrambling ability. Watson also led the league in average completed air yards in 2017 and was fifth in 2018. With two of the best deep receivers in the game in DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller, Watson is a touchdown threat every time he drops back.
DeAndre Hopkins
If you exclude the 2016 season, which featured a passing attack orchestrated by Brock Osweiler and Tom Savage, it’s been difficult to find fault with DeAndre Hopkins’ career. Hopkins has gone over 1,200 receiving yards in four of his six seasons in the league and has reached at least 11 touchdowns in three of those. He’s been a top-six fantasy wide receiver in three of those seasons despite injuries and inconsistency at quarterback. Big plays change weeks in fantasy football and Hopkins is one of the best in the league when it comes to contested catches, with a quarterback who looks his way often.
Lamar Miller
Lamar Miller may not be the sexiest name at the running back position, but those looking for a consistent option could do a lot worse. Miller averaged 15 carries per game in 2018, finishing the season with the 13th most in the league despite missing two games. His career average of two receptions per game feels underwhelming for a player with his athleticism, but it looks unlikely to increase by much. You know what you’re getting with Miller – he’s a high floor RB with a low ceiling. He’s unlikely to finish the season as RB6 as he did in 2015, but he’s finished in the top 25 each of the last five seasons and should do the same again.
Sleepers
Will Fuller is a big-play threat every time he gets the ball. The issue is that his injury history and the fact he shares the field with one of the best wide receivers in the game means that he doesn’t get the ball as often as fantasy owners would like. Despite that, he’s proven himself more than just a deep threat and will look to continue his usual efficiency with a higher number of catches.
With Lamar Miller in a contract year, the Houston Texans will want to see what their backup running backs have to offer. D’Onta Foreman was assumed to next in line for touches, but he was a surprise recent cut. One thing led to another, and now Duke Johnson is on the team. Johnson’s carved out a career as a good pass catcher out of the backfield and should step into that role instantly. The Browns wouldn’t have traded for him if they didn’t intend to use him and his usage should grow throughout the season.
Keke Coutee showed promise in his rookie year, with an 11 catch, 109-yard performance in Week 4 showcasing his skills. He was productive when the ball was thrown his way and it looks as if he should be a key part of a high-scoring offense. He won’t draw the targets that Hopkins or Fuller do, but don’t be surprised if Coutee has some big weeks.
UP NEXT: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
