Texans

Def/Spec Team

Clowney was a force in his new spot, recording a sack, four tackles, and three quarterback hits. Asked whether Clowney will remain at defensive end or rotate back to linebacker, Houston coach Bill O’Brien said, “He understands blocking schemes. He understands football, so he can be moved around.” Clowney and the Texans D/ST will host the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2 and will be a top-tier fantasy option.

The Texans have the second-fewest takeaways among NFL defenses through eight weeks, with six. The lack of turnovers has hurt, but Houston has performed well at home with the Texans D/ST recording four top-10 fantasy performances at NRG Stadium in Houston. The Texans are on bye in Week 9 and will return to action in Week 10 as a mid-range fantasy option on the road at Jacksonville.

Houston allowed 161 rushing yards in Week 6 to Indianapolis, including 106 yards to the ageless Frank Gore. Texans coach Bill O’Brien noted the lackluster tackling of his defense as something that needs immediate improvement. “This is not an easy league. Some of these backs that we go against, receivers that we go against are hard to tackle. We have to continue to work on that and be more consistent tacklers,” O’Brien said. Houston will look to slow the Denver running game in Week 7, where the Texans D/ST will be a mid-tier fantasy option.

The Texans D/ST will be a top-tier fantasy option in Week 3 when they travel to New England to face Brissett in his first career start. Houston leads the NFL with nine sacks through two weeks and will make Thursday night extremely difficult for the young quarterback.

The report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is terrible news for the Houston defense and takes some of the shine of the Texans D/ST in fantasy leagues. Houston won’t be able to replace Watt’s production, but still should remain usable in most matchups. The Texans D/ST will remain a top-10 fantasy option in Week 4 against Tennessee.

The Texans haven’t faced the NFL’s top rushing attacks, but the improvement is encouraging nonetheless. In Week 12, Houston will look to continue its run stopping ways against San Diego and Melvin Gordon, who is fourth among NFL running backs in rushing yardage in 2016. The Texans D/ST has performed well at home this season and is a borderline top-10 fantasy options in Week 12.

Mercilus leads Houston with 5.5 sacks on the season and his absence would be a blow to the Texans’ defense. The Houston linebacker was limited in practice on Wednesday before missing practice on both Thursday and Friday, and his playing status will be a game-time decision on Sunday. With or without Mercilus, the Texans D/ST will be a quality Week 15 fantasy option at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have the third-most turnovers of any NFL team.

Clowney was ruled out on Saturday due to nagging wrist and elbow issues and did not make the trip to Green Bay with the Texans. Losing Clowney, who has three sacks and 12 tackles for losses in 2016, is a significant hit to the Houston defense preparing to face QB Aaron Rodgers. The Texans D/ST is not an advisable fantasy start on the road at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

“The only thing you can do is just look forward and make the corrections and just be more consistent. I think if we’ll be more consistent then we’ll get rolling,” Wilfork said. The Houston defense has allowed 25.5 points per game in losses to Kansas City and Carolina, and has forced only one turnover through two weeks. The Texans D/ST will have a chance to turn things around in Week 3 as they host rookie quarterback Jameis Winston at home. The Houston defense is a top-ten fantasy option this week as they battle Tampa Bay.

The Texans are aware of not only the passing game success of Atlanta, but the recent success of running back Devonta Freeman as well. DC Romeo Crennel told the Houston Chronicle, “They ran through the Cowboys pretty good. They have a big offensive line. If Freeman gets to the edge, he can go. We have to have a total defensive effort.” The Houston D/ST has been a mediocre fantasy option so far in 2015, as the group has struggled in the sack and turnover categories. Fantasy owners will want to bench the Houston D/ST this week in a difficult road matchup.