Everyone is enamored with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and rightly so. The NFL MVP did throw for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns in his first season as a starter.
Don’t be so quick to take Mahomes as QB1 in fantasy football; there could be a new sheriff in town.
Think about it: Mahomes is due a regression. It would be catching lightning in a bottle twice if Mahomes duplicated his 2019 season, and that may be a tall order given the situation with Tyreek Hill, his No. 1 receiver. Sure, Mahomes will be a top-5 quarterback, but maybe not the fantasy points generator he was in 2018.
Who could fill Mahomes’ spot? Try Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Watson has arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL in DeAndre Hopkins. Catching 105 passes with out a single drop in 2018 is very impressive. The former first rounder literally has the best hands at receiver than anyone else in the NFL.
Not only does Watson have Hopkins but a dynamic but often injured Will Fuller. Fuller has been great when he is on the field. Hauling in four touchdowns in seven games last season before an injury occurred, and seven touchdowns in 10 games. The one two punch of Hopkins and Fuller makes the Texans a very dangerous wide out group.
Add in Watson and there is no reason he should not be the QB1 in fantasy football in 2019. Watson’s ability to escape the pocket and run the ball is also and added reason of why he will be the QB1 as he rushed for a total 551 yards and five touchdowns last season.
The one knock that Watson does have is the fact the Texans have had very bad offensive line. Texans general manager Brian Gaine did address this in the offseason. Gaine drafted not one but two offensive tackles in the first two rounds of the draft as well as sign former first rounder Matt Kalil.
The Texans offensive line can only improve. When you look at what Watson has been able to do under center in Houston it is truly amazing that the former Clemson Tiger has been able to produce the way he has.
Let’s not forget that Watson was on pace for 41 touchdowns in his rookie season before he blew out his ACL in on Nov. 2, 2017, the Thursday before the first game against the Indianapolis Colts. The offensive line was in worse shape then that what it is now.
Give Watson a healthy offensive line in 2019, paired with two dynamic wide receivers and along with Watsons dynamic playmaking and rushing ability there’s no reason Watson won’t be fantasy footballs QB1 in 2019.
