Chunk plays: where an offense gains yards in the 10-30 yard range. If an offense has enough of them in a drive, they will probably score a touchdown, but for sure will maintain possession and melt clock.
Sometimes chunk plays are found in the run game when a running back is able to bust off a 10-yard run. For the Houston Texans, they have a running back in David Johnson that will be able to add those chunk plays in the passing game, not just on the ground.
According to new data from Pro Football Focus, in 2019, Johnson was tied with the Minnesota Vikings’ Dalvin Cook for the highest catch rate of 15 yards or more among running backs.
Highest rate of catches for 15+ yards last season (RBs)
1. Miles Sanders – 28%
2. David Johnson – 25%
3. Dalvin Cook – 25%
4. Austin Ekeler – 23% pic.twitter.com/tPo1BFaImn— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) June 16, 2020
Combined with receivers Brandin Cooks, Randall Cobb, Will Fuller, and Kenny Stills, the Texans’ passing game will be an explosive group along with Johnson.
“I think when you look at the people that we have in our offensive unit room right now, you’ve got a lot of explosive players there for us, guys that have unique skillsets, guys that are experienced and guys that have produced at a high level in this league,” offensive coordinator Tim Kelly told reporters on May 20. “It’s an exciting thing to be able to kind of sit back and watch those guys come together throughout this virtual offseason and learn the offense and kind of come together as one unit.”
If Johnson is able to add another element of chunk play production, it should help take the pressure off of quarterback Deshaun Watson in the post DeAndre Hopkins era.