The Houston Texans are ranked No. 24 in ESPN's Football Power Index ahead of the 2020 NFL season. With no preseason games this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, Week 1 is the first time we'll see new acquisitions and rookies for every team. Week 1 will also give us the first NFL games since Super Bowl LIV in February.
Here's everything you need to know about the Texans heading into the season, from the big question to answer and the toughest stretch on their schedule to a bold prediction and potential breakout fantasy football stars.
Full schedule | Roster | Depth chart
The big question: Will David Johnson justify the DeAndre Hopkins trade?
Carlos Hyde had a career year in 2019 for the Texans, running for 1,070 yards and six touchdowns on 245 carries. He's now in Seattle, but Houston head coach Bill O'Brien likes having one featured back in his offense, so David Johnson should get plenty of opportunities in this Houston offense. After his breakout 2016 in Arizona, injuries have been a big issue. Can he turn back the clock and be both healthy and effective over the entirety of a 16-game season? -- Sarah Barshop
How the pandemic has most affected the Texans
Because of the virtual offseason and shortened training camp, Deshaun Watson hasn't had as much time as he would have had with his new veteran wide receivers. Houston's offense had a lot of turnover this offseason, and Watson hasn't had much time on the field with either Randall Cobb or Will Fuller. Cobb, who signed with Houston in March, said if they had been together during the offseason program, they would have had "about 25 to 30 opportunities to communicate, to go through routes and timing." Instead, the group's work has been limited. -- Barshop
Football Power Index projections for the Texans
Overall ranking: 24
Offensive ranking: 14
Defensive ranking: 28
Special teams ranking: 10
Total wins: 7.6
AFC South title chances: 20.9%
Chances to make playoffs: 36.5%
Super Bowl chances: 0.7%
Inside the Texans' schedule
FPI's strength of schedule rank: 25
Toughest stretch: The Texans start the season with two of their toughest games of the year, against the reigning Super Bowl champions in Kansas City and then their home opener against the Baltimore Ravens. Houston will find out pretty quickly if it can compete with the best teams in the AFC; Baltimore blew out the Texans 41-7 last November and they split with the Chiefs, blowing a 24-0 lead when it mattered most in the playoffs.
Over or under 7.6 wins? Over. The Texans might get off to a slow start with the difficult schedule, but with a healthy Watson, the Texans should be good enough to get to at least eight wins. The Texans have gone 4-2 in the division each of the past two seasons. If they can replicate that, they could be in pole position to win the AFC South for the fifth time in six seasons. -- Barshop
Bold prediction for 2020: Deshaun Watson will be sacked fewer than 35 times
Two seasons ago, the Texans led the league with 62 sacks allowed and last season Watson was sacked 44 times, which was the sixth most in the NFL. Now, with all five starters on the offensive line returning, including Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, the group should take a big step forward protecting their mobile quarterback. -- Barshop
Breakout fantasy star: Will Fuller, WR
Believe it or not, Fuller is entering his fifth NFL season having yet to finish a campaign better than 53rd among wide receivers in fantasy points. The former first-round pick has struggled with durability (he's missed 34% of Houston's games since he was drafted), but has been productive when healthy (25% target share, WR13 in fantasy points during nine full 2019 games). With DeAndre Hopkins and his 150-plus targets per season now in Arizona, 26-year-old Fuller is the main man in Houston. He has WR1 upside. -- Mike Clay
ADP for the top players:
Deshaun Watson: 42.4
David Johnson: 44.2
Will Fuller: 88.7
Brandin Cooks: 96.6
Duke Johnson: 150.2
The view from Vegas
Super Bowl odds: 55-1 (opened 50-1)
Over/under: 7.5
Playoff odds: Yes +140, No -160
The Texans won the division last season with a record of 10-6, then beat the Bills before falling to the Chiefs in the divisional round -- not bad for a team that was 50-1 to win the Super Bowl at the start. But their odds look pretty similar this year. -- ESPN Chalk staff
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill as of Sept. 1.
Where the Texans landed in NFL Rank
No. 10: Deshaun Watson
No. 38: J.J. Watt
No. 64: Laremy Tunsil