Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 8 at 1:00 PM ET
Location: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FL
Betting Odds: HOU -7, 51 Total via Oddsshark
Network: CBS
Houston Texans
Quarterback
Deshaun Watson (Start, QB1)
As expected, Deshaun Watson has been a QB1 yet again and is coming off four straight 300+ yard passing games and five games with multiple touchdowns. This week he gets a pretty bad Jacksonville pass defense that is giving up the fourth-most points to opposing quarterbacks. With no real authority in the run game, the Texans have been relying on the passing game. The news of Will Fuller staying put is great news for the stock of Watson, especially given the emergence of his secondary weapons. This is one that could be competitive given the state of both defenses so we could very well see another 300 yard and multiple touchdown game from Watson. Start with confidence.
Running Back
David Johnson (Start, RB2), Duke Johnson (Sit)
David Johnson hasn’t been the DJ of old that was a top-end RB1, but he has been a serviceable week to week as a Flex and occasional RB2 candidate. Coming off his second-best scoring performance of the year (16.4 PPR), DJ comes out of the bye with a nice matchup with a safe floor. Look for him to approach 100 total yards with a great chance at a touchdown. The four targets per game are a nice addition as well. Duke Johnson has been sparingly involved in the passing game, but he is just a handcuff for David Johnson owners.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Will Fuller (Start, WR1), Brandin Cooks (Start, Flex), Randall Cobb (Start, Flex), Jordan Akins/Darren Fells (Sit)
In the wake of trade talks with the Packers, Will Fuller stayed put and will continue to be a WR1 candidate week to week. So far on the year, he has a 31/490/5 line with a donut on his ledger in Week 2. Other than that, Fuller had his worst outing in Week 7 with 3/35/1 in a true garbage time save. He will be back on track this week and approach his 20 point ceiling. Brandin Cooks has emerged as a weekly WR2/Flex and should continue to see volume in that role. Owners are probably down after hoping Cooks would be the new WR1 in Houston, but with Fuller in town, he should continue to settle into a double-digit floor with a ceiling in the teens of PPR leagues. Start him this week. The same goes for Randall Cobb who had a coming out party of sorts against his old team in Week 7 to the tune of 8/95. He has a lower floor than Cooks at around 10 points, but you will take that from a Flex play. The tight end position is way too inconsistent with Watson focusing on his wide receivers in Houston.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Quarterback
Jake Luton (Sit)
News broke that Gardner Minshew has multiple fractures in his thumb and will be out for an extended period. This makes room for sixth-round rookie Jake Lutton to take the field. He was a 7.6 YPA guy at Oregon State and shouldn’t give any confidence to anyone that he is a streaming option. Keep him on the wire and watch the Jags head for a top pick and a new quarterback in the future. Minshew Mania was fun, though.
Running Backs
James Robinson (Start, RB1)
Who knew coming into the year that Leonard Fournette would be headed to Tampa Bay and James Robinson would be an RB1 in Jacksonville. #2020. Well, he is and you should keep starting him as such. Hitting 20+ points three times, including two 30 point games, Robinson is locked into a stellar schedule down the stretch. He will be relied on even more now with the loss of Minshew and gets Houston and Green Bay the next two games. He is still a buy in fantasy leagues and we should see 20+ touches in more games than not going forward. There are not any other running backs worth rostering as of now as Robinson has been used on the ground and through the air as a true workhorse.
Wide Receivers
DJ Chark Jr. (Start, Flex), Laviska Shenault (Sit), Keelan Cole (Sit)
I almost didn’t recommend anyone in this group but figured DJ Chark has the most talent here and has a chance to be a safety net for the young quarterback making his debut. He has still been seeing targets, just not quality, but it could be attributed to his quarterback having a fracture in his thumb. Time will tell. He is the one I am choosing if any are going to pop off as he did still see seven targets last week. I could eat crow, but that could be said for any of the new guys with a new quarterback, just look at Dallas. Laviska Shenault has been a multi-tool player that we have seen get work through the air and on the ground which could give him a decent floor, but I am not recommending him in the first game with a fellow rookie. Keelan Cole is the biggest boom/bust candidate of these and I don’t want you buying the boom to happen in the current situation he finds himself in.
-Matt Dean (@MattDeanQBList on Twitter, mdean8 on Reddit)
It is spelled Pittsburgh.
Where’s WR Tim Patrick for the Broncos?