Examining the Texans' Backfield

Sorry for the late and relatively short post, but I have been getting my house ready all evening for Hurricane Ike evacuees. Let's hope that everyone remains safe over the next few days.

Speaking of Ike, he has forced the Texans-Ravens game to Monday night. And, speaking of the Texans, Ahman Green has gone down with the inevitable injury (after a whopping 5 carries), and Steve Slaton will be starting in week 2, and possibly longer than that. Who predicted that Slaton would be the starter by halftime of week 1? Oh, yeah, that was me. Hope you picked him late in your draft as directed.

Slaton looks to be used like a poor man's Reggie Bush (and yes, I sense the irony of him playing for Houston). He'll use his speed to get to the outside, and should be dangerous catching the ball, but I don't see him running much between the tackles.

That job will go to Chris Taylor. Taylor has 28 career rushes, all of them in 2006, but the Texans' coaches love him. He did have a 4.4 yard per carry average in 2006, while the Texans as a whole averaged only 3.9 yards per carry, so he does appear to have some talent. He is expected to get short-yardage and goal line work along with spelling Slaton occasionally. Expect 10-15 touches per game for Taylor, and 15-20 for Slaton, but most of the rushing TDs should go to Taylor.

The problem with both these guys is the Texans' brutal schedule. Their next four games are against Baltimore, Tennesee, Jacksonville, Indianapolis. So I wouldn't break the bank to get either of these guys, they may not be startable for awhile. However, in a few weeks you may be able to pry one of them from a disgruntled owner before the Texans play Miami, Detroit, Cincinnati, and Cleveland over a 6-game stretch of the season.