2018 NFL Power Rankings: Philadelphia Eagles begin preseason on top

19. Houston Texans

After years of struggling to find a quarterback to build the franchise around, the Houston Texans seem to have finally found the player they’ve desperately been searching for in Deshaun Watson when looking at the impact he made as a rookie. Without question, chances are the former Clemson star would have taken home Rookie of the Year honors if it wasn’t for his torn ACL, but hopefully an offseason to recover will result in Watson playing at a high level in no time.

Over the years, Houston was always known for having one of the top defenses in the league thanks to the leadership of J.J. Watt, who coincidentally also missed most of last year after suffering a leg injury. Seeing Watt limited to playing in just eight games over the last two seasons shows how difficult it’s been for him to stay healthy, but when he in on the football field, he makes a huge difference as one of the top defenders in the game.

Both Watt and Watson staying healthy will be key to the success of the Texans in 2018 when it comes to whether this team has what it takes to be a playoff contender in the AFC. Playing in the AFC South isn’t going to be easy after last year, but Houston will be ready for the challenge.