2022 Dynasty/Fantasy Preseason Week 1 Game Report: Texans 17, Saints 13
The Texans tried to run with their 1st-team offense against a 1st/2nd team defensive mix for the Saints, but the Saints weren’t having any of it. The Texans looked inept while the Saints D looked like the 85 Bears. I’m not sure which is ‘to blame’ -- the Saints D being so good or the Texans offense being so bad…probably a little of both. The Texans couldn’t block anyone, so their 1st-team offense was limited at best.
When the teams switched off to their backups, the Texans started to take more control. The Texans defense was energized bell-to-bell…it’s just their offense is so bland…perhaps by design for the preseason, but then why put the starters out there? The Saints started hot then rotated a lot and played out the string. Full strength, the Texans aren’t in the Saints league yet.
Dynasty/Fantasy Player Notes…
-- The Texans’ world (in this game) really changed when Dameon Pierce (5-49-0) entered the fray.
Marlon Mack (3-6-0) started and was a joke…but he did face the full brunt of the Saints best defensive lineup of the night. Dare Ogunbowale took touches second at RB. Why? I have no idea. Pierce then entered and everything changed -- from the energy Pierce ran with, to the broken tackle toughness, to the grinded extra yards when the play looked dead…Pierce is already the Texans best RB, and it isn’t even close. No one could think it’s a better idea to run with Marlon Mack…except Lovie Smith will, for sure, to start the regular season and then if Frank Reich had the chance, he might too…as he desired to push Mack over Jonathan Taylor his rookie season. NFL head coaches are a different kind of ‘fool’ in human logic.
It will only be a matter of time before Pierce is the lead back for Houston…like weeks into the season, maybe even off the bench Week 1 and just never relinquishes the touches.
-- Saints rookie Abram Smith (7-30-0, 1-12-0/3) came into the game very late after like 19 other Saints RBs worked. I assume Smith is destined for the practice squad more than any hope of making this team.
Smith didn’t look like anything all that special in his brief time in for his debut. We’ll see what next week brings.
-- WR Notes…
Chris Olave (1-4-0/1) was in for a bit to start and looked fine. It’s still hard to tell if he’s just ‘good’ or if he’s better than that/worthy of that high draft pick. I have my doubts, and I hate his 2022 situation in NO for targets…but he didn’t do anything here on tape that made me be more skeptical. I have a semi-open mind on him.
One of my favorite no-name WRs from 2021, WR Jalen Camp (2-53-1/4) had a couple nice plays in this game…and at least showed he is still alive. I don’t see him breaking out to be a star anytime soon, but he’s better than a forgettable WR who was drafted and cut by the Jags (because the Jaguars personnel people are the worst). If they shape this raw clay over the next year or two, they might have something…but NFL teams typically don’t have that kind of time, especially at WR.
Texans UDFA rookie WR out of Oregon, Johnny Johnson (2-25-1/3) made a nice impression here…a bad Combine (testing/time wise) but the guy is a solid technical WR…and he showed just that in this game. There’s some hope for a future here…but it’s not in 2022.
-- A couple IDPs stole the show in this game…
Houston rookie SAF Jalen Pitre (4 tackles) was ‘as advertised’…our top-rated safety in this class with Lewis Cine. Pitre will be an all-pro quickly.
What was a surprise…where did Saints ILB Chase Hansen (6 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 PD) come from? He looked dominant this game. The 2019 UDFA out of Utah was definitely an eyeopener here. He’s been quietly on and off the Saints roster for years (with a pit stop in Atlanta). He’s 29 years old already…but if he forces his way into the starting lineup, he could be a one-hit wonder for IDP 2022.
-- Davis Mills (3-3 for 14 yards, 0 TD/0 INT) got the start in this game for I don’t what reason. Houston has a bad O-Line, and the Saints have an aggressive defense, and they were crowding Mills quickly…forcing him to checkdown and just get out of there alive. I have no opinion change on Mills…it’s still on the board that he’s the best QB from the 2021 class. It looks like it will be Mills v. Lance. For FF, this Houston offense under Lovie Smith doesn’t look too exciting and they do not have a good O-Line.
Andy Dalton (5-5 for 51 yards, 1 TD/0 INT) played really well in his brief stint. All I could do watching this game tape was sit there and think…I just watched the IND-BUF game prior to this…how is it Dalton is a backup, written off as a bum…and yet teams are falling all over themselves to trade for and pay big money to Matt Ryan…or Carson Wentz…and these teams think they got something grand?
-- Just one last side note thought…
Brevin Jordan (1-7-0/1) was in this game for a while. When the starters made their couple series showcase, most all of them disappeared the rest of the game -- Mills, Collins, Mack, etc. Even Pharaoh Brown…but Jordan stayed in. I think Brown will start/be the main TE…and Jordan will sprinkle in on passing downs. Jordan doesn’t seem to be in a ‘protected class’ with Lovie Smith right now.
I’m not a huge Jordan fan as it is -- but I don’t see any evidence of a breakout year coming besides that, as some are hoping/suggesting.
