The Houston Texans’ season is over. After finishing 10-6, they found themselves in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs, only to lose a 24-0 lead to the Kansas City Chiefs, who moved on by winning in 51-31 fashion.
With the season now over for the Texans, let’s take a gander at the running back position group.
The Texans entered the season with Pro Bowler Lamar Miller as the presumed starter. However, a torn ACL in the preseason ended that thought process. Despite so, Houston got production out of a running back room that they built in August.
Before the season started, the Texans acquired Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson in trades from the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns, respectively. The acquisitions proved to be good ones for Houston, as both produced in a big way.
Hyde led the Texans’ ground attack, recording his best season in the NFL in the process. The 29-year-old tallied 1,070 yards and six touchdowns on 4.4 yards per carry; first, second and second in his NFL career, respectively.
Hyde acted as Houston’s power back, seeing most of his snaps on first and second down. Though a free agent in March, he stated after the defeat in Kansas City that he wants to come back.
Johnson was complementary back in the Texans backfield, seeing snaps as both a runner and receiver. He recorded 820 scrimmage yards and five total touchdowns on the season, seeing 83 rush attempts and 44 receptions.
Johnson, 26, will be back in Houston in 2020 after the Texans sent a third-round selection to acquire him. He is under contract through the 2021 season.
Taiwan Jones and Buddy Howell round-out the group. Both played most of their snaps on special teams. However, Jones made, perhaps, the most clutch play of the season for the Texans, a 34-yard reception in the wild-card round to set up a game-winning field goal in overtime to beat the Buffalo Bills.
Bill O’Brien’s coaching staff brought back the fullback in 2019, drafting former Texas A&M 12th man Cullen Gillaspia in the seventh-round. The rookie played minimal snaps on offense but was a standout on special teams. In the playoffs, he had a lead-block to help Deshaun Watson get to the endzone against the Bills on a 20-yard run.
Johnson, Howell and Gillaspia will return in 2020 if they aren’t released or traded. Expect the Texans to either resign Hyde, go after a different tailback in free agency or draft a rusher in April.
