
Melvin Gordon (left) comes in at No. 2 this week at RB. Photo via Los Angeles Chargers/Facebook
QB
- Drew Brees vs. ATL
- Andrew Luck vs. MIA
- Matt Ryan @ NO
- Cam Newton vs. SEA
- Aaron Rodgers @ MIN
- Russell Wilson @ CAR
- Kirk Cousins vs. GB
- Lamar Jackson vs. OAK
- Carson Wentz vs. NYG
- Jameis Winston vs. TEN
- Philip Rivers vs. ARI
- Tom Brady @ NYJ
- Deshaun Watson vs. TEN
- Baker Mayfield @ CIN
- Ben Roethlisberger @ DEN
RB (standard scoring)
- Ezekiel Elliott vs. WAS
- Melvin Gordon vs. ARI
- Alvin Kamara vs. ATL
- Saquon Barkley @ PHI
- Christian McCaffrey vs. SEA
- Nick Chubb @ CIN
- James Conner @ DEN
- David Johnson @ LAC
- Joe Mixon vs. CLE
- Mark Ingram vs. ATL
- Aaron Jones @ MIN
- Leonard Fournette @ BUF
- Marlon Mack vs. MIA
- James White @ NYJ
- Phillip Lindsay vs. PIT
- Dalvin Cook vs. GB
- Sony Michel @ NYJ
- Adrian Peterson @ DAL
- Matt Breida @ TB
- Tarik Cohen @ DET
- Gus Edwards vs. OAK
- Josh Adams vs. NYG
- Tevin Coleman @ NO
- Peyton Barber vs. SF
- Chris Carson @ CAR
- Lamar Miller vs. TEN
- Duke Johnson @ CIN
- Jordan Howard @ DET
- Jalen Richard @ BAL
- Dion Lewis @ HOU
WR (standard scoring)
- Michael Thomas vs. ATL
- Julio Jones @ NO
- Odell Beckham Jr. @ PHI
- Antonio Brown @ DEN
- DeAndre Hopkins vs. TEN
- Adam Thielen vs. GB
- Stefon Diggs vs. GB
- Davante Adams @ MIN
- TY Hilton vs. MIA
- Mike Evans vs. SF
- Keenan Allen vs. ARI
- Kenny Golladay vs. CHI
- JuJu Smith-Schuster @ DEN
- Josh Gordon @ NYJ
- AJ Green vs. CLE
- Julian Edelman @ NYJ
- Alshon Jeffery vs. NYG
- Emmanuel Sanders vs. PIT
- Tyler Boyd vs. CLE
- Calvin Ridley @ NO
- Doug Baldwin @ CAR
- Tyler Lockett @ CAR
- Jarvis Landry @ CIN
- Amari Cooper vs. WAS
- Allen Robinson @ DET
- Mohamed Sanu @ NO
- Tre’Quan Smith vs. ATL
- Larry Fitzgerald @ LAC
- Corey Davis @ HOU
- Courtland Sutton vs. PIT
- DJ Moore vs. SEA
- Golden Tate vs. NYG
- Sterling Shepard @ PHI
- Anthony Miller @ DET
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling @ MIN
- DeSean Jackson vs. SF
- Keke Coutee vs. TEN
- Chris Godwin vs. SF
- Christian Kirk @ LAC
- Devin Funchess vs. SEA
TE (standard scoring)
- Zach Ertz vs. NYG
- George Kittle @ TB
- Rob Gronkowski @ NYJ
- Greg Olsen vs. SEA
- Trey Burton @ DET
- Cameron Brate vs. SF
- Austin Hooper @ NO
- David Njoku @ CIN
- Jordan Reed @ DAL
- Jack Doyle vs. MIA
- Eric Ebron vs. MIA
- Evan Engram @ PHI
- Vance McDonald @ DEN
- Jared Cook @ BAL
- Benjamin Watson vs. ATL
D/ST
- Ravens vs. OAK
- Bears @ DET
- Texans vs. TEN
- Jaguars @ BUF
- Bills vs. JAX
- Chargers vs. ARI
- Cowboys vs. WAS
- Patriots @ NYJ
- Colts vs. MIA
- Steelers @ DEN
- Panthers vs. SEA
- Titans @ HOU
- Redskins @ DAL
- Lions vs. CHI
- Vikings vs. GB
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SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
How Texans' CJ Stroud got the last laugh on Panthers entire organization
Nov 30, 2023, 4:56 pm
“Another one!”- DJ Khaled
That's the first thing that came to mind when I heard the news of Tytus Howard being shut down for the season because of a knee injury. They've had more injuries on the offensive line this season than Nick Cannon has Father's Day cards. Almost every member of the offensive line has spent time on the injury report. Howard went down in the same game in which Juice Scruggs was finally on the active roster. He missed the first 10 games due to a hamstring injury. The irony of next man up has never been so in your face.
The other thing that came to mind was the soap opera As the World Turns.
Howard had just signed an extension this offseason. So did Laremy Tunsil and Shaq Mason. They drafted Juice Scruggs, and signed a few guys too. Those moves, along with other holdovers, were expected to fill out the depth chart. Then a rash of injuries struck. At one point, only one of the original five guys expected to start was playing! In fact, they beat the Steelers 30-6 with that backup offensive line!
One can't have the expectation of backups to perform as good as the starters. They're professionals and are on an NFL roster for a reason. However, the talent gap is evident. One thing coaching, technique, and preparation can't cover is lack of ability or talent. The Texans have done a good job of navigating the injury minefield this season. While the Howard injury will hurt, I have faith in the guys there still.
As of this writing, the Texans are in the eighth spot in the AFC playoff picture. The Steelers, Browns, and Colts are all in front of them at the fifth through seventh spots respectfully. They've beaten the Steelers already. They play the Browns on Christmas Eve and their starting quarterback is out for the season. The Colts are relying on the ghost of Gardner Minshew to steer their ship into the last game of the season vs. the Texans with a possible playoff trip on the line. The Broncos and Bills are the two teams immediately behind them. They play the Broncos this weekend. Even though they're on a hot streak, this is the same team that got 70 put on them by the Dolphins. The Bills are the old veteran boxer who still has some skill, but is now a stepping stone for up & comers.
To say this team should still make the playoffs would be an understatement in my opinion. I believe in them and what they have going on more than I believe in the teams I listed above. That includes teams around them in the playoff race that aren't on their schedule. The one thing that scares me a little moving forward is the sustainability of this line. When guys get up in age as athletes, it becomes harder to come back from injuries. The injuries also tend to occur more frequently when it's a knee, foot, ankle, shoulder, elbow, or another body part critical to blocking for C.J. Stroud.
I know they just re-signed three of those guys and drafted one they believe can be a starter, but depth and contingency plans are a way of life in the NFL. We see how important depth was this season. Why not plan ahead? Don't be surprised if the Texans spend valuable draft capital on the offensive line. By valuable, I'm talking about first through third or fourth rounders. Those are prime spots to draft quality offensive lineman. Whether day one starters or quality depth, those are the sweet spots. The only guy on the two deep depth chart for this offensive line that wasn't drafted in one of those rounds was George Fant, who was an undrafted rookie free agent. While I highly doubt they spend any significant free agency dollars on the group, I'm not totally ruling it out.
The bottom line is, this team will be okay on the line for the remainder of this season. The only way that doesn't happen, more injuries. Stroud is clearly the franchise guy. Protecting that investment is a top priority. I don't care about a number one receiver, or a stud stable or singular running back if the quarterback won't have time to get them the ball. If the pilot can't fly the plane, you know what happens. So making sure he's happy, healthy, and has a great crew is of the utmost importance.