The Texans’ August acquisition of running back Duke Johnson gave Houston a tool not yet seen before in their toolshed. A 5-9, 210-pound dynamo out of the backfield, Johnson is more than a tool in the Texans’ offense. He’s a weapon.
Johnson, a former Miami Hurricane, averages a league-high (for backs), per Player Profiler, 6.5 yards per touch in the Texans offense. Through Week 14 of 2019 play, he is averaging a career-high in yards per reception (9.8) and carry (5.2).
Acting as a complimentary back to Carlos Hyde, Johnson has four touchdowns on the year (one rushing). The Texans have won every game in which he finds paydirt.
#Texans' Duke Johnson running routes out of the backfield. Disgusting. pic.twitter.com/CJYwk8MZBK
— Avery Duncan (@averydduncan) November 1, 2019
Johnson is particularly lethal as a receiving back, no matter if he does so out of the backfield or out-wide. Against the New England Patriots in Week 13, that showed in a win, as he caught five receptions for 54 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown.
Johnson is a mismatch as a receiver. The Patriots felt it. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy allowed the touchdown. The Texans tailback also gave Houston free yardage via a defensive pass interference he brought out of linebacker Elandon Roberts.
“I understand that Duke Johnson’s a really good player,” said Patriots safety Devin McCourty on Sunday. “Coming out of the back field is kind of tough, you know, KV (LB Kyle Van Noy) on the line.”
Johnson’s ability to cause mismatches stems from his speed, agility and nuanced route-running. It also comes from a Texans scheme that tries to get him in open-space as much as possible.
“I think it’s definitely both,” said Texans coach Bill O’Brien on if Johnson creates with schematics or skill. “I think that’s a good question that you’re asking, but in the NFL there’s definitely a lot of scheme and strategy and then there’s a lot of matchups.”
Since the Cleveland Browns selected Johnson in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, he is second in the league in running back catches (265), receiving yards (2,464) and receiving touchdowns (11).
Johnson’s stat line of 679 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns may not scream centerpiece. However, his fifth-highest breakaway run-rate (8.1%), precise route-running, 16th-ranked juke rate (26.9%) and, of course, tape of creating mismatches certainly do.