Pro Football Focus shows Texans could use a pass-catching running back

The Houston Texans don’t have a quality pass-catching running back on the roster.

According to analytics released by Pro Football Focus, the Texans’ best pass-catching back is D’Onta Foreman, who produced a 62.6 grade on two targets in 2018. However, with such a small sample size, Lamar Miller’s 49.7 grade on 34 targets last season is more representative of where the Texans are at with pass-catching backs.

Current Texans backs and their most recent receiving grades:

– Lamar Miller (49.7 – 34 tgt)
– D'Onta Foreman (62.6 – 2 tgt)
– Josh Ferguson (38.4 – 4 tgt in 2017)
– Taiwan Jones (58.4 – 2 tgt)
– Karan Higdon (59.2 – 10 NCAA tgt)
– Damarea Crockett (61.2 – 14 NCAA tgt)

— PFF HOU Texans (@PFF_Texans) July 27, 2019

 

PFF’s Brett Whitefield pointed out in a tweet that newly released Detroit Lions running back Theo Riddick has a 93.3 receiving grade since 2014, which would be a single-season best for the Texans according to the football scouting firm.

Riddick also forced 91 missed tackles on catches, the most since 2014, and also tallied 116 first downs and touchdowns, the second-most in that time frame.

Newly available HB Theo Riddick has posted a 93.3 receiving grade since 2014, which would be a Texans' single-season record. https://t.co/upYj0JfziV

— PFF HOU Texans (@PFF_Texans) July 27, 2019

 

At 28 years old the Texans could offer a one-year prove it deal and should get solid production for the former Lion. Not only would his contract be easy, but it would make it easy for franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Having a safety valve to dump passes off to and one that can run and is elusive is just what the Texans need. As the grades above look, the Texans need a player like Riddick. It’s now up to the Texans to go get him.