Watson out! Is Tyrod Taylor a Fantasy Football Option?

As expected, the Houston Texans will no longer have quarterback Deshaun Watson in the starting lineup for the season opener. After a wave of complaints about alleged sexual assault, the playmaker is only a spectator, veteran Tyrod Taylor (32) gets the job.

“Tyrod Taylor is starting at quarterback for us, that’s for sure,” Head Coach David Culley said. Watson (25), who called for a trade in January, is not expected to be part of the lineup at all for now. Rookie Davis Mills will likely sit on the bench as a backup.

Tyrod Taylor

Texas police had opened a criminal investigation against Watson after receiving 22 complaints from several women. Most filed trained masseuses, alleging Watson had indecently approached the women during treatments. Most recently, even the FBI had gotten involved in the matter.

Nevertheless, the decision in favor of Tyrod Taylor does not make him relevant to fantasy. He is and remains a game manager who shuns any risk. Taylor’s 53.3 percent completion rate last season puts him in the bottom third of all active quarterbacks. That, too, will have an impact on the Texans’ receiving corps. With Taylor still needing to get rid of the ball, WR Brandin Cooks is the only notable option at receiver for me.
Still, Taylor has enough experience and could definitely be a streaming option in some matchups.

Additionally, I think RB Phillip Lindsay will get an extra boost from Taylor’s starter role. Lindsay, to me, is the sleeper on this Texans team.

In any case, the path the franchise has taken is concerning. Especially since there is no improvement in sight for the near future.

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