Katy native and Texas A&M Cullen Gillaspia takes pride in being a core special teamer for the Houston Texans.
The seventh round of the NFL Draft tends to be a shot in the dark. Teams will take a special teamer, an athletic but raw prospect or a high-character athlete in hoping they stick on the roster.
In the Houston Texans’ case in 2019, they found fullback Cullen Gillaspia. The first 12th Man drafted in Texas A&M history, the 24-year-old Katy native is a core special teamer that plays like his long blonde locks are on fire.
“He does a good job,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said on Monday. “He takes a lot of pride in his role on special teams. That’s the primary reason why he was drafted. I mean, drafted, like, seventh round. Like, kind of drafted, I guess. He takes a lot of pride in that role.”
Gillaspia walked on to Texas A&M. He later converted from linebacker to fullback, earned a scholarship, won the honorable title of the 12th Man and found himself in the NFL playing for the team he grew up watching.
“Obviously, he was the 12th Man at A&M, he’s a Houston guy, he’s from Katy,” O’Brien said. “He loves it and he works real hard.”
On Sunday, in a Texans 24-21 win over the Tennessee Titans, Gillaspia tallied a key special teams tackle, his sixth of the season. “He made a really nice play on that,” O’Brien said. “Very physical play and did a nice job on that play he made.”
In the same game, Gillaspia paved a lane for a 31-yard DeAndre Carter kick return.
The Aggie and Katy Taylor product may not be a key contributor on offense. He has only seen 13 offense snaps and none since Week 8. However, he’s played in every single game as a rookie in a special teams role, recording 238 snaps in the third team, which is good value for a seventh-round selection.
Houston Texans safety Justin Reid won the team’s 2019 Ed Block Courage Award as voted by his teammates.
The Houston Texans have selected second-year safety Justin Reid as the 2019 Ed Block Courage Award winner.
Reid’s teammates voted to recognize his efforts both on and off the field and for his ability to overcome great adversity.
“I feel blessed and honored to be voted the winner of the Ed Block Courage Award, especially since it’s voted on purely by my teammates,” Reid said. “It means a lot to be able to represent them and the Houston Texans organization with this honor.”
Reid has played with wrist and shoulder injuries since coming into the NFL as a third-round pick from Stanford in 2018. The Prairieville, La., native has started in 25 of his 29 career games with 153 total tackles, four interceptions, a pick-six, 14 pass breakups, two quarterback hits, and three tackles for loss.
Coach Bill O’Brien says that Reid’s “team-first attitude” is what made him a great selection for the award.
“For a young player, he has a great understanding of what it means to be a professional in order to have success at this level,” O’Brien said. “Everyone sees the plays he makes on Sundays, but it’s his dedication to doing whatever it takes throughout the week to get his body ready to go in the training room that has earned the respect of his teammates.”
Established in 1984, the Ed Block Courage Award is given to one player from every NFL team and honors players who exemplify commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. The award is also the only one that is chosen solely by their peers.
Reid and other winners from the other 31 teams will travel to Baltimore to receive their trophies at a gala in their honor and to visit the Ed Block Courage House, which provides support and quality care for abused children and their families in the community.
Block, a longtime athletic trainer for the Baltimore Colts, was passionate towards causes that helped children.
The Houston Texans dropped to No. 10 in the latest Touchdown Wire NFL power rankings for Week 16.
The Houston Texans vanquished the Tennessee Titans, who had won six of their last season games, to take a convincing lead in the AFC South with a 24-21 win Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
However, that wasn’t enough to convince Pat Yasinskas of the Touchdown Wire to move up the Texans any higher in the top-10. In fact, the Texans dropped to No. 10 in the latest power rankings.
With a 24-21 victory at Tennessee, the Texans took control of the AFC South and their own destiny. Houston can clinch the division with a win Saturday at Tampa Bay. Even if the Texans and Titans, who play again in Week 17, end up in a tie, Houston would win the AFC South because of a better division record. If the Texans are going to go anywhere in the postseason, they’ll need a better performance than they got from quarterback Deshaun Watson on Sunday. Watson was intercepted twice, marking only the second time in his career that Watson has thrown multiple interceptions in consecutive games. Both interceptions happened in the end zone. If this team is going anywhere, it needs Watson to be at the top of his game.
There is no truer statement that the fact that Watson has to be at a high level for the Texans to make any postseason noise. However, he needs complementary play from the other two phases of the game, and that’s precisely what the Texans got with the field goal block from Angelo Blackson and the Whitney Mercilus interception. Houston will get more big time performances from Watson this year and possibly in the playoffs. If they can couple those with splash plays from the defense and special teams, the Texans will be a force to be reckoned with.
Houston can clinch the division with a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CT at Raymon James Stadium.
Houston Texans CB Vernon Hargreaves has a chance to show the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16 that they gave up too quickly on his career.
Vernon Hargreaves’ Tampa Bay Buccaneers career did not work out. A 2016 first-round pick from Florida and a Tampa Wharton High School product, Hargreaves did not live up to the Bucs’ expectations. Tampa Bay parted ways with the cornerback in mid-November.
The Houston Texans took a shot in Hargreaves after a slew of injuries hit their cornerback group. Now, Hargreaves will have a chance for retribution as his new team is a win away from a playoff berth while his draft team can only play spoiler to the rest of the playoff field.
While the Buccaneers may not have wanted Hargreaves — citing a lack of “hustle” before his release — the Texans are delighted to have him.
“Vernon is doing a good job. He’s practicing hard, he had a real good week of practice,” said Texans coach Bill O’Brien on Monday. “So, Vernon has done a good job so far.”
Hargreaves has shifted to a slot cornerback role in Houston, as opposed to the outside spot he manned in Tampa Bay. In four games with the Texans with one start, the 5-10, 204-pound corner has 17 combined tackles and two pass deflections.
The Houston Texans can clinch the AFC South with a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but coach Bill O’Brien is just focused on each day.
No math necessary: if the Houston Texans beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they win the AFC South.
As simple as the gains are for Saturday afternoon’s showdown with the 7-7 Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium, coach Bill O’Brien is not thinking about winning the division.
“I think as a football coach and as a football player, I really think that you have to focus on the day, really,” O’Brien told reporters Monday. “As a coach today, you’ve got to review the film, you’ve got to move on to Tampa Bay and start preparing for Tampa Bay on a very short week.”
The Buccaneers blasted the Detroit Lions 38-17 at Ford Field with quarterback Jameis Winston throwing for four touchdowns and also posting 450-plus passing yards for the second consecutive game.
“Tampa Bay is a very explosive team,” O’Brien said. “They’re very, very good. Jameis Winston has thrown for 450 yards I think in two straight games. Defensively you’re talking about a stout front, you’re talking about great coaches in Bruce Arians, Todd Bowles and Byron Leftwich. You just better focus on a good Monday and not worry about anything other than Monday — the division, nothing.”
The Texans are facing the Buccaneers on a short week. However, it is not uncommon compared to the Week 2 preparation when they hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium after opening the season on Monday Night Football at the New Orleans Saints.
Said O’Brien: “Just worry about Monday and then Tuesday, and if you’re a player you should be taking care of your body, reviewing the film and then Tuesday come in ready to go with having some thoughts on Tampa Bay.”
Nonetheless, the prospect of getting a win has to be enticing to the Texans as it would be their seventh since the club’s 2002 inception, second-most to the the Indianapolis Colts’ eight for the most in the history of the AFC South.
Houston Texans linebacker Benardrick McKinney has a “chance” to play in Week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, says Bill O’Brien.
Houston Texans inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney suffered a concussion late in the team’s 24-21 win over the Tennessee Titans Sunday afternoon at Nissan Stadium.
The head injury could put the 2015 second-round pick in jeopardy of missing his first game since his rookie year. The Texans will travel to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers on Saturday.
Texans coach Bill O’Brien believes there is a chance McKinney starts in his 71st consecutive game Saturday. Reports after the win in Nashville indicated to O’Brien he would have his Pro Bowl linebacker.
“I don’t know yet, relative to his morning, where we are at with that,” O’Brien said on Monday. “But, just from the reports after the game, I think we’ve got a chance there.”
Before McKinney can play, he has to pass the concussion protocol. He last suffered a concussion on Oct. 18, 2015, which ultimately caused him to miss two games.
The former Mississippi State Bulldog is a leader for the Texans’ defense. On the season, he has 102 combined tackles and four tackles for loss.
The Ravens simply need to win and they’ve locked up the No. 1 seed but don’t even need to do that to ensure they’re the top AFC seed
The Baltimore Ravens didn’t get any help from the rest of the league in their quest to lock up the AFC’s top seed in the playoffs. But they still control their fate at 12-2 and can officially clinch their top spot in Week 16.
The Ravens needed both the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots to lose in Week 15 while beating the New York Jets on Thursday night. Though Baltimore handled their business, defeating New York 42-21 in another blowout win, both the Chiefs and Patriots easily handled their poor competition as well.
With all eyes on Week 16, the Ravens can continue their march to the top of the postseason seeding simply by beating the Cleveland Browns. A win would put them at 13-2, and with just one game remaining, not enough time for any other team to surpass them.
The Browns are fresh off a loss to the Arizona Cardinals and sit at 6-8. While Cleveland isn’t eligible to make the postseason yet again (their 10th consecutive season without a playoff berth) and have been inconsistent this season, anyone thinking they’ll be an easy win would be foolish. The Browns beat up on Baltimore back in Week 4, 40-25 — the last loss the Ravens have had this season.
But that’s not the only way Baltimore can lock up the No. 1 seed in Week 16. Below are the other scenarios for this week.
Ravens clinch No. 1 seed:
1) Ravens beat Browns
OR
1) Browns beat Ravens
AND
2) Bears beat Chiefs
AND
3) Bills beat Patriots
The Baltimore Ravens could be without left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who missed Week 15’s game against the NY Jets in the concussion protocol
The Baltimore Ravens simply need to beat the Cleveland Browns in Week 16 and they’ll lock themselves in as the No. 1 seed in the AFC. But they could have the tall task of beating a division rival without one of their best players.
Both players missed the Ravens’ Week 15 42-21 win over the New York Jets. But with Cleveland likely attempting to play spoiler over Baltimore and looking to pick up a key win to potentially save jobs, missing Stanley would be a huge blow to the Ravens’ offense.
Stanley has been playing at an insane level, stepping up his game this season. He’s allowed just six pressures and no sacks through 13 active games, something that seems almost unheard of in this era of football. Of course, Baltimore features the top-ranked rushing offense in yards, touchdowns and yards-per-carry average — something Stanley is a big portion of.
Board hasn’t played much on defense after the Ravens signed L.J. Fort and Josh Bynes in the middle of the season. However, Board has gotten a number of snaps on special teams for Baltimore. And as a key reserve inside linebacker, Board would likely be counted on if there was an injury to Bynes or Fort.
With such a key game upcoming and with the playoffs looming in the future, the Ravens have an interesting question to ask themselves. While few teams have a chance to sit their players to rest up before the postseason, Baltimore might look to be extra cautious with Stanley returning in these final two games. But with a full week before the Ravens have to suit up against the Browns, there’s plenty of time for Stanley and Board to get healthy and back into the lineup.
Championship week is here for the vast majority of fantasy football leagues. Don’t give up waiver plays just yet!
Free-agent recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated. FAAB $ amounts are based on a $100 budget.
Since we are so late in the season, most recommendations will be one-week plays from this point forward.
Bye weeks: none
(Jay Biggerstaff, USA TODAY Sports)
Quarterbacks
1-Week Plug & Play
Drew Lock, Denver Broncos vs. Detroit Lions
Lock is best utilized in leagues that allow gamers to flex a second quarterback into the starting lineup. And as with some of the deeper dives this year, his utility crosses over to DFS action. For Week 16, the rookie gets a fresh slate after a tough go last week in a snowy battle at Kansas City. The incoming Lions have given up 29-plus fantasy points in three of the last five games. The two games without lofty totals featured rookie Dwayne Haskins, whose game has yet to mature at any fantasy-worthy pace, and Kirk Cousins as the Minnesota Vikings’ running game steamrolled. Jameis Winston was down to his fourth and fifth receivers and still lit it up in Week 15. Lock has plenty of upside vs. a defense that appears to have given up.
Availability: 71%
FAAB: $3-4
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(Sergio Estrada, USA TODAY Sports)
Running Backs
1-Week Plug & Play
Kerryon Johnson, Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos
The second-year back is poised to return from a knee injury suffered in Week 7. Detroit, provided the coaching staff will indeed return next year, needs to see what they have in Johnson in an “every snap counts” kind of way. He has flashed a few times in his two injury-ravaged seasons (16 games), but it’s a crapshoot as to whether he will enter 2020 as “the guy” in Motown. There’s always the concern of rust from Johnson, although he received praise from Matt Patricia for Johnson’s recent practice efforts. While Denver is not a statistically ideal test, we’ve seen Bo Scarbrough and Wes Hills produce for the Lions in recent weeks, so consider Johnson a viable PPR flex in Week 16.
Availability: 70%
FAAB: $10-12
Boston Scott, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
Regardless of whether RB Jordan Howard (shoulder) plays, the Eagles have a desperate need for a pass-catching option out of the backfield. Scott has proved himself worthy of attention over the last two games, and he flashed potential in limited action way back to his time with the New Orleans Saints. Dallas gave up the sixth-most receptions to the position heading into Week 15, and while Todd Gurley caught only three passes in that game, he found the end zone — the second back to do so in the last three weeks. Scott is a fine flex play in PPR setups.
Availability: 83%
FAAB: $4-5
Myles Gaskin, Miami Dolphins vs. Cincinnati Bengals
This one is more of a shot in the dark than one gamers should be crazy about jumping on. The rookie saw nine carries in Week 15 for 43 yards — the most efficient showing by a Miami back in ages. Gaskin added 29 yards on a pair of catches vs. the New York Giants and may have earned himself more touches. The Bengals have yielded the fourth-most rushing yards (118/game) in 2019, and 11 ground touchdowns have been scored. Toss in four more aerial TDs and we’re talking about more than one per game, on average. The upside is obvious, but the risk is, as well. It all comes down to whether the Dolphins give him the ball enough to matter (roughly 15 touches).
Availability: 87%
FAAB: $2-3
(Raj Mehta, USA TODAY Sports)
Wide Receivers
1-Week Plug & Play
Breshad Perriman/Justin Watson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Houston Texans
Perriman is the obvious must-own option of the two, and we recommended him entering Week 15, so hopefully he is already on your team. If not, you know what to do! Watson also warrants a lineup spot this week after the Bucs lost Chris Godwin (hamstring) a week after a bum hammy shut down Mike Evans. They say things come in threes, and WR Scott Miller gets tossed on the scrap heap, as well, after aggravating a hamstring injury of his own. Watson was quiet vs. Detroit (2-17-0) but enjoyed a 5-59-1 day the prior week. This one is not only about the opportunity but Houston as an opponent. The Texans have allowed three receivers to catch at least five balls in the last three weeks, and two of those players went for at least 106 yards and a score. Seventeen receivers in 14 games this year have posted double-digit PPR points against this defense. Do not hesitate to burn whatever remaining FAAB money you have to ensure landing Perriman.
Josh Gordon, Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals
Feeling frisky? A week after Gordon laid out for one of the prettiest catches of 2019, Seattle hosts the woeful Cardinals defense. Ignore whatever it was Cleveland called a passing game last week and focus on the body of work against this defense in its totality. Arizona has yielded 21 fantasy efforts of 10-plus PPR points and a touchdown per game in 14 contests. This matchup is among the best of the championship week, regardless of the scoring format, and Gordon should often face rookie corner Byron Murphy in isolated coverage. There’s potential for Gordon’s biggest day of the year to come at the perfect time for fantasy purposes.
Availability: 32%
FAAB: $2-3
Greg Ward, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
How much of a gamble can one stomach? Philly has suffered so many injuries at wide receiver that Ward has emerged as a viable fantasy option, and he came through in Week 15 with a 7-61-1 day on nine targets vs. Washington. The Dallas defense has been battered of late, yielding a WR high score of 16.1 (PPR) or more in five straight contests. With 18 targets in the last two games, look for Ward to lead the Philadelphia wideouts in targets and have a reasonable strong PPR day as a flex option.
Availability: 97%
FAAB: $1-2
John Ross, Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins
Purely a flier based on the matchup, Ross could be a deep-league gamble as a flex play. He’s an all-or-nothing play for gamers seeking a cheap touchdown option. Miami has given up a league-high 27 touchdowns to receivers through 14 games this year, and even the Giants managed to produce a trio of double-digit scorers in PPR his past weekend. The Dolphins have yielded at least two touchdowns to the position in five consecutive outings.
Availability: 57% FAAB: $1-2
Kelvin Harmon, Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants
The matchup is among the finest in the league this week as we’re talking about a defense that has conceded 22 touchdowns in 14 games to wideouts this season. New York cut CB Janoris Jenkins prior to Week 15, and rookie DeAndre Baker has been a major liability all year. Harmon, a fellow rook, should continue to see a little more action with Paul Richardson on IR, and Trey Quinn (concussion) uncertain after missing consecutive weeks after not catching a pass in the prior two games. Harmon has four or more targets in four of his last five contests. There are few better matchup opportunities, although his risk is through the roof based on such limited production in a low-volume passing game.
Availability: 83% FAAB: $1-2
(Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports)
Tight Ends
1-Week Plug & Play
Jacob Hollister, Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals
There’s potential for Hollister to return to fantasy relevance after being awfully quiet in three of his last four showings. He has seen nine total targets over the past two games, just one more than he saw in Week 13. He wasn’t a factor vs. the Cardinals in Week 4 due to Will Dissly enjoying a strong showing (7-57-1). The point being, Seattle obviously was intent upon utilizing the position with eight targets sent Dissly’s way. The Cardinals have yielded an insane 17 touchdowns to tight ends in 14 games this year, including two last week to Ricky Seals-Jones.
Availability: 34%
FAAB: $2-3
Noah Fant, Denver Broncos vs. Detroit Lions
Depending on the depth of your fantasy league, Fant could be on the wire. The rookie has erratically stepped it up in recent weeks, and he even managed 56 yards in a snow globe vs. KC in Week 15. Quarterback Drew Lock has targeted him 10 times in the past three contests, with a pair of three-look games surrounding a line of 4-113-1 on four targets. The Lions have given up three of the five touchdowns allowed in the last five weeks, including one-catch, one-score efforts by a pair of Chicago tight ends in separate games. All five of those TDs have come in the last seven games. Volume is unlikely to be on Fant’s side, so the idea here is a touchdown will draw the line between boom and bust for his utility.
Availability: 35%
FAAB: $2-3
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Kickers
1-Week Plug & Play
Kai Forbath, Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
The matchup rating isn’t actually all that favorable from a statistical perspective. There’s a factor of familiarity working in Dallas’ favor, and the closest quantifiable metric to point toward is former Cowboys kicker Brett Maher going for 13 fantasy points (3 FGAs, 4 XPAs) in the Week 7 meeting. Forbath was good for all three of his field goal kicks and five point-after tries in his Dallas debut. Philly has yielded at least one field goal in five straight, including two games with multiple kicks in that time, and no kicker has posted fewer than five fantasy points since Week 9 vs. the Eagles.
Availability: 98%
FAAB: $0-1
Randy Bullock, Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins
The Bengals head south for a battle that affects nothing but draft placement. Miami has given up three or more field goal attempts in four of the last five games, and kickers have been granted four or more PATs in three of those outings. Bullock has been afforded multiple field goals in each of the last three weeks, making nine of his last 10 tries.
Availability: 94%
FAAB: $0-1
Defense/Specials Teams
1-Week Plug & Play
Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants
It’s unclear whether Eli Manning will start again this week, so keep that in mind, but it’s not like Daniel Jones (ankle) wasn’t making plenty of mistakes prior to his injury. Manning played a clean game in Week 14 but turned it over three times vs. Miami last weekend. He has been sacked three total times in those games. The Redskins have picked off a ball in five straight, and the last four weeks have produced 19 total sacks and 2.25 takeaways, on average, by this defense. Don’t be afraid to spend up.
Availability: 91%
FAAB: $2-3
Denver Broncos vs. Detroit Lions
David Blough’s honeymoon ended after one quality game. He has thrown four picks vs. only one scoring strike in the last two weeks, and the Lions have averaged 12 points in that time. Blough has taken three sacks, on average, since assuming the starting role. Denver has generated a trio of sacks in each of the last three weeks, and the defense has tallied at least that many in four of the most recent five games Since Week 10’s bye, the Broncos have created nine takeaways and a defensive touchdown.
Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is heading to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time, as he finishes as the AFC’s top WR vote-getter.
DeAndre Hopkins, the people’s wide receiver.
With fan voting for the 2020 Pro Bowl wrapped up, the Houston Texans wide receiver stands as the most popular at his position in the AFC. Hopkins finished the fan voting stage with 275,684 votes to get him to Orlando in February of 2020.
“Nuk” is now guaranteed to make the Pro Bowl for the fourth time in his seven-year career and third year in a row. He will do so as an AFC starter, which the NFL will announce on Tuesday.
Though his numbers aren’t perhaps as gaudy as 2018, Hopkins’ campaign is well worth another Pro Bowl nod. In 14 games, the 27-year-old has 99 receptions for 1,142 yards and seven touchdowns. The reception mark is second in the NFL, behind the New Orleans Saints’ Michael Thomas.
Whether or not Hopkins attends the Pro Bowl is unknown, however. Though he has earned the honor thrice before, he has only been once. Players can opt-out of attending.
