Last year's 3-13-1 Texans scored the third-fewest points and gave up the sixth-most. The run defense was among the league's worst, as they yielded the NFL's most rushing yards on 5.0 yards per carry. In March, on the eve of free agency, they were tied with the Cardinals for the worst Super Bowl odds this season.
Then the built on a nucleus formed the previous two years by adding a franchise QB, a veteran RB, a dynamic WR, and a franchise TE, along with more defensive anchors. Entering last night, they were 14th in scoring while giving up the 13th-fewest points. And they yielded the NFL's third-*fewest* rushing yards on a mere 3.3 yards per carry.
And now they're in the playoffs.
It was a pretty thrilling Saturday night in fantasy and in the league. The only huge surprise in Game 2 was Michel Pittman's forgettable performance, though Houston's secondary deserves credit. If you draft DSTs in your league, prepare for the strong (yes, strong) possibility that the Texans DST will finish next season in the top eight. They're currently 13th in fantasy points per game while averaging 7.6. But they've averaged 10.0 in their last six contests. This is a franchise on the rise in all facets.
What's on tap for the final day of the regular season? Well, the Packers, Vikings, Buccaneers, Saints, Falcons, Seahawks, Bills, and Jaguars will be forced to leave everything on the field, as they're all fighting for final playoff spots. The only thing stopping Aaron Jones is a blowout loss or an injury. If Green Bay wins, they're in. That's the type of scenario I'm looking for in a Week 18 starter.
While it might be tempting to roll with Brandon Aiyuk or Jahmyr Gibbs or Rashee Rice if they're starting -- and while they might break off one big play -- the higher probability is that they'll play a series or two and then rest on the sidelines until the final whistle. Any head coach who loses a starter to a key injury in a meaningless game on the eve of the postseason . . . well, it happens. But it's rare for a reason.
Tomorrow I'll wrap things up with a final column before riding off into a multi-month sunset filled with data models that need updating and 2024 rookies that need researching. In the meantime, good luck today.