HOUSTON TEXANS

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS

What can we expect from C.J. Stroud this season?

The Texans needed a quarterback with precision and a knack for good decision-making. Stroud called himself a “ball placement specialist” at the NFL Scouting Combine, and the Texans should expect him to maintain the accuracy that made him a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist at Ohio State. There isn’t much established firepower on the roster, but Stroud should break the team’s rookie record for passing touchdowns (19) while keeping his interception total down.

With the signing of free agents Devin Singletary and Mike Boone, what kind of workload can we expect from second-year RB Dameon Pierce?

Pierce exited the season after 13 games with a high ankle sprain, and he still finished with 55.3 percent of the team’s rushing attempts. Pierce will still be the team’s go-to running back. But expect new Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans to manage Pierce, Singletary and Boone in the same way that the 49ers spread out snaps with Christian McCaffrey, Jeff Wilson Jr. and Elijah Mitchell last season. That won’t preclude Pierce from being a 1,000-yard rusher. But he shouldn’t get near 250 carries again.

What role will second-year WR John Metchie III play after missing his rookie season while dealing with cancer?

It would be too much to expect Metchie to become Houston’s leading receiver after spending the 2022 season battling leukemia. But he was a full participant for the team’s voluntary minicamp in early May, and if all things go well, he should start for the Texans in 2023. He’s a dynamic receiver who can play inside and outside, and if he’s indeed back to his full former self, there could be major upside.

C.J. STROUD