Saturday, January 1, 2022

Houston Texans Week 17 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Houston Texans rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 28 (28th)
  • Best ranking: 27 (Multiple)
  • Worst ranking: 30 (USA Today)

Below you will find a Week 17 roundup for the Texans in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 28

Non-QB MVP: WR Brandin Cooks

Coming into the season, it was clear the Texans didn't have a lot of depth at receiver behind Cooks. Although Cooks missed the Texans' Week 16 contest while on the reserve/COVID-19 list -- a game Houston won -- he has been the best player on the team. Cooks is just 55 yards shy of reaching 1,000 receiving yards for the sixth time in his eight NFL campaigns, and this season he has done it with a mix of Tyrod Taylor and 2021 third-round pick Davis Mills at quarterback. Cooks is a leader on the team, and this offense would have struggled even more this season without him. -- Sarah Barshop

NFL.com -- Rank: 27

The Texans' offense delivered its best performance of the season against the Chargers. Rex Burkhead tore into a vulnerable Chargers run defense for 149 yards and two touchdowns, and Davis Mills completed 21 of 27 passes for 254 yards with two touchdowns and without a turnover. It continued an intriguing run of quality play by Mills, the third-round rookie who has played smart and efficient football since replacing Tyrod Taylor as starter three weeks ago. That doesn't mean the Texans won't be in the market for a QB after they finally part ways with Deshaun Watson, but Mills has earned a chair in the quarterback room going forward.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 28

David Culley has this team playing good football. Davis Mills has impressed and might be their long-term starter if he keeps it up.

USA Today -- Rank: 30

Per the NFL, Mills is the third rookie QB ever with at least 250 passing yards, two TD throws and a 130+ passer rating in multiple games. He joins Robert Griffin III and Justin Herbert ... so clearly this could go one of two ways.

The Athletic -- Rank: 27

Is he The Guy? Deshaun Watson is facing 22 civil suits alleging sexual misconduct, and the Texans paid him to stay away this season, so he is not the guy. Davis Mills has shown enough in the last month to probably get a shot next season, which may end up holding the franchise back further. (Though it's not a great draft class, so maybe the Texans address some other needs and table the QB talk for a year.)

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