The 2020 season will be a telling one for the Houston Texans. The organization has been stuck in playoff purgatory for much of the last half-decade and this offseason, the team traded superstar wideout DeAndre Hopkins and moved on from several key players such as Carlos Hyde, Jonathan Joseph, D.J. Reader and Tashaun Gipson.
So, if the Texans want to stay perennial contenders in the AFC, they'll likely need several players to take their games to the next level. Here are three to watch.
Will Fuller
Talent has never been the question for Fuller. The problem is that injuries have hindered the former Notre Dame star for the first four years of his career.
The 26-year-old has only appeared in more than 11 games once but when he's on the field, Fuller has shown the potential to be a legitimate No. 1 option at receiver.
Last year, Fuller recorded 49 catches for a career-high 670 yards and three touchdowns despite only playing 11 games. With Hopkins now gone, Deshaun Watson will need a new go-to target. If Fuller can stay healthy, there's no reason the former first-round pick can't be that guy.
Duke Johnson
Johnson has been a quality backup running back throughout his five-year NFL career. The 2019 season was his first as a Texan and the former Miami star was effective, putting up 820 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns on nearly five yards per carry.
Former All-Pro David Johnson is obviously expected to be the No. 1 running back in Houston this season but there's no denying that injuries in the last few years have derailed David Johnson's career with last season being a low point in his career.
With the former Arizona Cardinal's injury history and recent sub-par play, the team could turn to the other Johnson for a more consistent and reliable option which could lead to a breakout season for Duke.
Justin Reid
The Texans' pass defense was not good last season. The 267.3 passing yards the team allowed in 2019 was the fourth-worst mark in the entire league.
Despite that, the team still has some talent in the secondary. Former third-round pick Justin Reid started all 15 of the games he appeared in last season, recording 78 tackles, five passes defended and two interceptions.
Reid was one of Pro Football Focus' highest-rated safeties last season in terms of pass defense. With the losses of Gipson and Joseph in the secondary, the team added several pieces to replace their impact.
Whether or not the Texans' pass defense as a whole improves next season, Reid should be the top performer and could have a Pro-Bowl-level impact.
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