Chad

Hansen

Hansen most recently came off the bench in place of Will Fuller (suspension) last year, totaling 17/236/1 as Houston’s deep threat across its last five games. The 26-year-old lands in an optimal destination to carve out a role behind Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman if only for the negligent competition scattered across the rest of Detroit’s depth chart.

This is the thanks Hansen gets for briefly saving/stabilizing the Texans’ 2020 receiver corps. Headed into his age-26 campaign, Hansen reminded last season that he can play both inside and out, and offers big-play potential with his 6-foot-2 frame. His 2020 tape could earn him the chance to make someone’s 53-man roster after his NFL career was on life support headed into last year.

Forgotten Jets-castoff Hansen made the most of his second NFL chance following Will Fuller’s suspension, catching 17 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown across five games. Not exactly reinventing the wheel, but Hansen mixed in a few long grabs while reminding he is capable of handling snaps both on the perimeter and in the slot. Two weeks shy of his 26th birthday, Hansen won’t necessarily have the inside track on a 53-man roster spot for 2021, but he is in much better shape than he was before Thanksgiving, where he remained on the practice squad.

Hansen’s score was a 38-yarder in the second quarter where he was granted free release on a crossing route. There was almost no one on the left side of the field as Hansen burned his way to the end zone. Hansen is now sitting on 14/212/1 in three games since Will Fuller was lost for the season with his steroid suspension. Although he is just one month shy of his 26th birthday, Hansen is buying himself a legitimate chance at cracking someone’s 53-man roster in 2021 after previously not appearing in a game since 2017. He will have some low-end WR4 appeal for Week 16 against the Bengals.

Hansen has become a fixture in Houston’s passing attack since Will Fuller was suspended for PED use, Randall Cobb injured his toe, and the team parted ways with Kenny Stills. Brandin Cooks missed Week 14 with a neck issue. He’s caught 12 of his 14 targets over the past two weeks for 157 yards. The former practice squad receiver -- with 91st percentile hand size and an 88th percentile agility score -- looks to be a legit fantasy option for a Houston team desperate for pass catching options. Hansen will be a viable flex play next week against the Colts.

Hansen led the team in all receiving categories minus touchdowns. That’s not what the Texans were hoping for, but Will Fuller (PEDs), Brandin Cooks (neck), and Randall Cobb (foot) were all out. Hansen’s role is most similar to Fuller’s as a full-time outside receiver with some downfield chops. His fantasy value for Week 15 will depend on Cooks’ health. If Cooks is out, Hansen is on the flex radar.

Promoted from the practice squad on Saturday, 2017 fourth-rounder Hansen was making his first regular season appearance since his rookie year. One month shy of his 26th birthday, Hansen has almost zero long-term upside, but standing in at 6-foot-2, he is capable of playing both inside and out. He is a similar athlete to Chris Hogan. A Week 14 repeat against the Bears is highly unlikely, but Hansen is clearly going to continue to see run and draw targets. Negative game scripts and ineffective rushing will keep the passes flowing for Deshaun Watson.

It’s the third team he’s been with since the start of the offseason. The battle for Houston’s No. 5 receiver job is wide open, but Hansen is just a training camp body.

A 2018 puff-piece all star with the Jets, Hansen was waived at final cuts and spent the year in the practice squad wilderness. Getting waived at this stage of the offseason suggests he is about to wash out of the league.

Hansen was a fourth-round pick of the Jets last year but only lasted one season with Gang Green. Grayson was a 2015 third-round pick of the Saints.