There is a certain curiosity as to what running back David Johnson will bring to the Houston Texans offense. There is an even greater mystery as to what Johnson will be able to generate in fantasy football.
Yahoo Sports fantasy football writer Andy Behrens believes that Johnson will be at least as productive in fantasy as Carlos Hyde was in his lone season with the Texans.
Hyde appeared to be absolutely cooked entering 2019. When he was traded to the Texans last August, he was joining his fifth team in three years. He’d rushed for just 3.9 YPC in 2017 and an abysmal 3.3 in 2018. There was no reason to think he could contribute in a meaningful way for a team eyeing a deep postseason run.
All Hyde did last season was rush for 1,070 yards and six scores on 245 carries (4.4 YPC), plus another 92 yards in the playoffs. He fully recovered from a career nosedive during his year in Houston.
Even if you’re a serious skeptic about DJ’s potential in his sixth NFL season (which is reasonable), it’s unlikely you think less of him today than you thought of Hyde last summer. Carlos finished as RB27 in half-PPR formats last year and RB23 in standard; Johnson should beat that with relative ease if he can avoid significant injury.
He doesn’t need to be vintage David Johnson in order to help the fantasy community. His early 2019 production suggests he’s not yet finished.
Johnson is part of an offense that features a diversity of weapons for quarterback Deshaun Watson. Where the former 2016 All-Pro running back will be able to help the Texans is with his ability to carry the ball but also play pass-catcher out of the backfield. Second-year offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, who will take over play-calling duties for the first time, will find ways to involve Johnson in the game plan.
