The Texans made a splash during the NFL Draft by not only taking one of the top 2 quarterbacks, but then trading back up to take the first defensive player, Will Anderson. Their defense has some more work to do before being a strong fantasy choice, but it should have some nice IDPs.
Especially in the secondary. A year ago, Houston not only had the league's top tackling defensive back in second-round safety Jalen Pitre (pictured), it also had the league's 2nd-most productive player in that regard in Jonathan Owens. The Texans ranked last in run defense, and the result was that Pitre and Owens were extremely busy making stops downfield.
Pitre finished with the 2nd-most tackles by a defensive back since 2000, behind only Pat Tillman, who did it 23 years ago. Owens also snuck into the top 20.
Table shows the top 50 seasons for defensive back tackles since 2000. Those who made the list from 2022 are in bold. Data from pro-football-reference.com was used in compiling this table.
DEFENSIVE BACKS, TOP TACKLERS (2000-PRESENT) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Player | Team | Solo | Ast | Comb |
2000 | Pat Tillman | ARI | 118 | 37 | 155 |
2022 | Jalen Pitre | HOU | 99 | 48 | 147 |
2019 | Budda Baker | ARI | 104 | 43 | 147 |
2004 | Rodney Harrison | NWE | 96 | 45 | 141 |
2010 | Donte Whitner | BUF | 96 | 44 | 140 |
2011 | Antoine Bethea | IND | 80 | 59 | 139 |
2013 | Barry Church | DAL | 107 | 28 | 135 |
2015 | Reshad Jones | MIA | 106 | 29 | 135 |
2008 | Gibril Wilson | OAK | 98 | 36 | 134 |
2014 | Morgan Burnett | GNB | 94 | 36 | 130 |
2002 | Michael Green | CHI | 100 | 30 | 130 |
2019 | Eric Reid | CAR | 97 | 33 | 130 |
2016 | Johnathan Cyprien | JAX | 96 | 31 | 127 |
2015 | Corey Graham | BUF | 96 | 31 | 127 |
2000 | Rodney Harrison | SDG | 101 | 26 | 127 |
2008 | Eric Weddle | SDG | 105 | 22 | 127 |
2016 | Landon Collins | NYG | 100 | 25 | 125 |
2003 | Rodney Harrison | NWE | 92 | 33 | 125 |
2000 | Mike Minter | CAR | 91 | 34 | 125 |
2022 | Jonathan Owens | HOU | 84 | 41 | 125 |
2009 | Tyvon Branch | OAK | 98 | 26 | 124 |
2021 | Minkah Fitzpatrick | PIT | 84 | 40 | 124 |
2022 | Julian Love | NYG | 79 | 45 | 124 |
2020 | Jordan Poyer | BUF | 91 | 33 | 124 |
2012 | Morgan Burnett | GNB | 88 | 35 | 123 |
2022 | Richie Grant | ATL | 70 | 53 | 123 |
2010 | T.J. Ward | CLE | 95 | 28 | 123 |
2017 | Reshad Jones | MIA | 94 | 28 | 122 |
2018 | Antoine Bethea | ARI | 100 | 21 | 121 |
2005 | Erik Coleman | NYJ | 84 | 37 | 121 |
2006 | Chris Hope | TEN | 89 | 32 | 121 |
2000 | Lawyer Milloy | NWE | 90 | 31 | 121 |
2021 | Jalen Thompson | ARI | 79 | 42 | 121 |
2008 | Yeremiah Bell | MIA | 100 | 20 | 120 |
2004 | Robert Griffith | CLE | 92 | 27 | 119 |
2018 | John Johnson | LAR | 82 | 37 | 119 |
2020 | Budda Baker | ARI | 90 | 28 | 118 |
2021 | Derwin James | LAC | 75 | 43 | 118 |
2015 | Barry Church | DAL | 78 | 39 | 117 |
2019 | Landon Collins | WAS | 78 | 39 | 117 |
2021 | Logan Ryan | NYG | 77 | 40 | 117 |
2021 | Johnathan Abram | LVR | 64 | 52 | 116 |
2002 | Adam Archuleta | STL | 102 | 14 | 116 |
2009 | Erik Coleman | ATL | 82 | 34 | 116 |
2009 | Brian Dawkins | DEN | 95 | 21 | 116 |
2022 | Rayshawn Jenkins | JAX | 73 | 43 | 116 |
2017 | Keanu Neal | ATL | 83 | 33 | 116 |
2018 | Jamal Adams | NYJ | 86 | 29 | 115 |
2012 | Roman Harper | NOR | 88 | 27 | 115 |
2022 | Derwin James | LAC | 64 | 51 | 115 |
Owens, incidentally, is currently a free agent, busy of late getting married to gymnast Simone Biles (that's your celebrity wedding news of the day). The Texans believe they've strengthened that group with one of new coach DeMeco Ryans' safeties from San Francisco, Jimmie Ward. A new defense creates some uncertainty, but Ryans' defense in San Francisco had the 17th and 32nd most productive safeties for tackles, and Ward himself might have been a third defensive back in the top 50 (projected) had he been healthy all year (he missed six games with a hamstring injury). Conceivably, the team could still bring back Owens before camp.
Pitre is going to be one of the top defensive back IDPs, and there will likely be a second one who's a factor, for those who utilize those positions in fantasy leagues.
The Houston Defense itself also has a chance to be fantasy relevant -- a spot starter, perhaps. Last year it was better than you might recall, ranking just 18th in sacks (39) but 4th in takeaways (27). And it's added Ward (3 interceptions in 12 games last year) and Anderson (27.5 sacks in 28 games at Alabama the last two seasons). Pitre also had 5 interceptions as a rookie. Considering the AFC South looks potentially overloaded with rookie quarterbacks starting for suspect offenses, there's some value there.
--Andy Richardson