Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
While Texans’ QB Deshaun Watson didn’t have an incredible fantasy performance, but he sure had plenty of highlight-reel worthy plays while leading Houston to a comfy 26-3 victory over Jacksonville. The game was closer than the scoreboard suggested in a handful of ways, but ultimately Jacksonville struggled to turn their opportunities into points. The teams were nearly even in time of possession (HOU 32:33 – JAX 27:27), total yardage (HOU 410 – JAX 356), and total drives (HOU 10 – JAX 11), but Houston’s massive differential in rushing yards and Jacksonville QB Gardner Minshew’s 4 turnovers proved to be the difference in the game.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Quarterbacks
- Gardner Minshew: 27/47, 309 yards, 2 INT, 2 lost fumbles
QB Gardner Minshew had a London debut to forget – finishing the game with 4 turnovers, including 3 in the 4th quarter. With talk earlier in the weekend about the possibility of Minshew remaining the starter once QB Nick Foles returns from injury, Minshew’s performance today may have the Jaguars’ coaching staff needing to take a long look at that decision. Other than a field goal towards the end of the 2nd quarter, Minshew and the Jaguars offense failed to put points on the board all afternoon. Minshew will be a risky streaming option next week at Indianapolis as he looks to bounce back from a disappointing performance in London.
Running Backs
- Leonard Fournette: 11 carries, 40 yards | 6 targets, 5 receptions, 32 yards
- Ryquell Armstead: 5 targets, 5 receptions, 65 yards
It was a tough day for the Jaguars backfield, as Houston seemed dead set on stopping RB Leonard Fournette with their defensive gameplan. While Fournette’s 5 catches helped salvage some fantasy output in PPR formats, Fournette managed only 72 yards from scrimmage and failed to find the end-zone for the 4th consecutive week. Fournette has only scored 1 TD for the entire season, but his usage in the passing game and his volume still make him a weekly viable starter in all formats. Fournette has recorded at least 4 catches in 7 out of Jacksonville’s 9 games this season. Rookie RB Ryquell Armstead added 5 catches of his own but didn’t log a carry on the day.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
- Keelan Cole: 6 targets, 5 receptions, 80 yards
- DJ Chark: 9 targets, 4 receptions, 32 yards
- Seth DeValve: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 41 yards
It was a disappointing day for fantasy-darling DJ Chark’s owners as Chark turned in his lowest scoring output of the season. It was a tough day in general for the Jaguars’ skill players, as the team failed to score more than just a single field goal. Chark did lead the team in targets (9) but was woefully inefficient at converting those targets into catches. While Chark was often double-teamed or shadowed by a safety on his side of the field, WR Keelan Cole made the most of his softer coverage – leading Jacksonville with 80 receiving yards on the day. Houston’s secondary did a great job in coverage and not allowing many big plays through the air. TE Seth DeValve added some security to Minshew as a check-down option and seems to be getting more familiar with his role in this Jaguar’s offense. That being said, if you’re looking for a TE streaming option, it’s likely you’ll find one more attractive than DeValve.
Houston Texans
Quarterbacks
- Deshaun Watson: 22/28, 201 yards, 2 TD | 7 carries, 37 yards
While QB Deshaun Watson didn’t have one of his legendary fantasy performances, he did lead his team to victory while making some absolutely jaw-dropping plays. There were multiple times where a sack seemed imminent, yet Watson was able to get the ball out just in the nick of time. Watson finished with a couple of TD passes on the day – one to WR DeAndre Hopkins and one to TE Darren Fells. The TD to Hopkins came towards the end of the 4th quarter after a Gardner Minshew interception. The TD pass to Fells was the result of a beautiful play-action pass Watson’s 201 passing yards were the 3rd fewest he’s had this season, and he failed to find the end-zone on the ground for a 3rd consecutive week. That being said, Watson is still a top-tier, must-start fantasy QB – even with his tough upcoming schedule (@ BAL, vs. IND, vs. NE, vs. DEN). Watson had that ‘it’ factor going for him again today, and he’ll hope to keep the Texans’ offense humming next week against a supremely confident Ravens team.
Running Backs
- Carlos Hyde: 19 carries, 160 yards
- Duke Johnson: 7 carries, 13 yards, 1 TD | 5 targets, 5 receptions, 48 yards
Texans’ RBs Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson both had outstanding fantasy performances against the Jaguars in London on Sunday. The Jaguars had no answer for Hyde particularly – he finished with a whopping 160 yards rushing on the day. He regularly gashed the Jags – including a 58-yard rush in the 4th quarter that should have been a TD but was instead knocked out and fumbled into the end-zone, recovered by Jacksonville for a touchback. Duke Johnson led the Texans’ in receiving yards with 68, plus he was able to find the end-zone on the ground for the first time this year on a 1-yard TD run in the third quarter. Hyde was the recipient of one of Deshaun Watson’s incredible sack-avoiding throws – catching a lateral and taking it for an 8-yard gain for a first down. While it’s been nice for both Hyde and Johnson to revive their fantasy careers in Houston this season, it’s been tough to trust starting either one of them consistently, except in deeper formats. That being said, either one of them could be slotted in as a FLEX and provide a moderately high floor with potential for a high ceiling as well.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
- DeAndre Hopkins: 11 targets, 8 catches, 48 yards, 1 TD | 1 carry, 6 yards
- Kenny Stills: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 52 yards
- Darren Fells: 3 targets, 1 reception, 1 yard, 1 TD
With Houston’s running game dominating Jacksonville’s defense, Houston’s pass-catchers didn’t produce any eye-popping numbers but were still productive. WR DeAndre Hopkins commanded a whopping 11 targets, but was only able to turn them into 48 receiving yards. Hopkins was able to find the end zone for his 4th receiving TD this season, and he almost scored before that on his first and only rushing attempt of the year. Hopkins took a handoff to the right side of the offensive line down to the Jaguars’ 1-yard line before he was taken down. TE Darren Fells would be the recipient of the 1-yard TD on the very next play. While those who started Fells in their fantasy lineups were rewarded with the TD, Fells didn’t record another catch for the entire game. Fells’ boom-or-bust nature has been evident for the Texans this year, but with 6 TD catches in 9 games, it’s safe to say that Fells is at least worthy of streaming consideration in a pinch.
–Corey Saucier