Last year, the Houston Texans had a better record than they do now, 9-3 to 8-4. However, the Texans feel like they are trending in a more optimistic direction compared to a year ago.
Part of the reason is receiver Will Fuller is available and productive. The former 2016 first-round pick has started in every one of nine games with 598 receiving yards and three touchdowns collected on 42 catches.
Having Fuller in the fold gives the Texans a speed element they were missing a season ago.
“You have to respect it,” Watson told reporters Wednesday. “You have to respect everything that Will is capable of doing, especially speed, because that’s one of his best traits.”
Fuller’s speed isn’t just an asset in the passing game. In the run game, having a speedster such as Fuller on the outside backs off the cornerbacks and safeties to where they can’t cheat closer to the line of scrimmage, thus opening up opportunities for running back Carlos Hyde.
“If a safety is supposed to run fit and be in that gap, instead of gaining three yards, the running back’s gaining seven, and those four extra yards are big,” Watson explained. “Especially with this day and age of football where defensive front are very, very stout in the run game. It really open up a lot of different things.”
The Texans will need Fuller’s speed throughout Houston’s final four contests, which kicks off Sunday at noon CT versus the Denver Broncos at NRG Stadium. Fuller will be going against a familiar face in defensive back Kareem Jackson, who used to play for the Texans for nine seasons until the club allowed him to walk after his contract expired in the offseason. Jackson for sure will be one of the Broncos defensive backs who will know to respect Fuller’s speed.