The Houston Texans have been having a terrible season by their recent standards and now that Matt Schaub has been ineffective and injured, the team has now decided to put Case Keenum under center and the former University of Houston star will get his first career start in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs on the road at Arrowhead Stadium.
Keenum will not be entering a friendly stadium on Sunday, as Arrowhead is often called one of the loudest and hardest stadiums to play at, but he will be ready to go for Schaub over backup TJ Yates. According to ESPN.com, Texans coach Gary Kubiak said that Schaub is dealing with ankle and foot injuries suffered last week against the Rams and that he selected Keenum to start the game over backup TJ Yates, saying that the team needs a "spark" to get going after starting the year 2-4 in the AFC South after winning the division last season.
Schaub has been struggling mightily this season with interceptions and picks returned for touchdowns and after he was injured, Kubiak decided to give Keenum the start over Yates, who struggled in relief for Schaub, also tossing a pick six in the game that went 98-yards and according to ESPN,.com, that now is the fifth game in a row that the Texans have thrown one of those and that is something that needs to change if the team wants to rebound to make the playoffs.
Some teammates have raved about Keenum, saying that he is a very intelligent and studious player that has committed himself in practice and at the team facility. Andre Johnson spoke highly of him and the wideout will be one of the key players he relies on as Keenum makes his first NFL start. Keenum set numerous records while playing college ball in Houston and now he will get the chance to play professional ball in the same city.
The Texans are ranked 14th in the league in passing yards per game this season and they have now lost four games in a row since opening the season 2-0. The Texans have a bye week coming up after the Kansas City Chiefs game and then the team has a tough stretch that includes the Colts as well as the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos. Johnson has been one of the best receivers in the league this season and he will need to be at his best against the Chiefs to help Keenum.
Johnson is coming off of a solid game against the Rams that saw him catch seven balls for 88 yards, but he still has yet to score a touchdown this season and after getting 30 targets in the past three weeks, he should be in for more with the rookie starting. Arian Foster and Garrett Graham will also be players to watch in fantasy, as the team is dealing with an injury to Owen Daniels and Graham would end up being a busy target against the Chiefs.
