The Houston Texans continue to deal with injuries that are stalling their offense each week. With Brian Hoyer moving in as the starting quarterback, he is having a hard time finding consistency with anyone outside of DeAndre Hopkins. This week will be no different as they prepare to face the Miami Dolphins as Cecil Shorts is expected to be out for the game.
Shorts has been on and off the field this season with various injuries and in Week 7 it is his hamstring keeping him sidelined. According to ESPN's Tania Ganguli, Shorts has been ruled out for the game against Miami.This comes after the receiver had injured his elbow against the Atlanta Falcons, missed a game and then returned against the Jacksonville Jaguars, only to get hurt again.
With Shorts out, all eyes are on the health of Nate Washington. The receiver has also been dealing with hamstring problems that have left him out the past two games. Washington was able to return to practice on Wednesday, but was not guaranteeing that he would see the field on Sunday.
"Things are coming along well, I'm feeling really good," Washington said, via the Houston Chronicle. "It's a slow process. We'll see how things go in practice and how rehab goes. It's unfortunate. Missing these games has been tough on me. I'm trying to do everything I can to get back out there."
With both Washington and Shorts out, Jaelen Strong and Keith Mumphery become players to target for fantasy purposes. The two young receivers have been battling for playing time all season. Strong's debut featured two catches for two touchdowns while Mumphery has gotten more playing time. Strong looks like the better candidate to target as he appears to be the more explosive receiver of the two. Both players are looking to become Hoyer's second look for the day as competition is high.
The Texans have been riding the success of Hopkins which has been working out, but he is expected to be shadowed by Brent Grimes all game which could be as issue. Hopkins continues on a record-setting pace this season as head coach Bill O'Brien is hopeful he is setting a positive example.
"I use him as another example to younger players," O'Brien said, via the Miami Sun-Sentinel. "You've got a guy like Jaelen Strong and Keith Mumphery, Chandler Worthy and some of these guys that have a guy like him at the position to look up to. That's a hell of a guy to look up to because he's worked very hard to get to where he is now."
Hoyer will have Hopkins and Arian Foster to work with while Alfred Blue is still making plays despite moving back to the backup role. The question will be who emerges in the race between Strong and Mumphery.
