2007 Previews: Houston Texans

Note: This is a team-by-team look previewing the 2007 season. These are my official thoughts on how I think things will play out.

Last year: 6-10 (fourth in AFC South)

Best addition: Matt Schaub (QB, Falcons)

Key personnel loss: Antwan Peek (LB, Browns)

2007 outlook: Still in shambles after all these years, Houston made wholesale changes - including letting the team's first ever No. 1 overall draft pick David Carr find new employment - and the hope is the team is getting better under 2nd year coach Gary Kubiak. Highly regarded Schaub will replace Carr this season and Ahman Green will take over as the No. 1 RB. The best weapon on offense remains WR Andre Johnson, but after the Eric Moulds experiment didn't work out last year, Johnson finds himself the only target defenses will respect.

Mario Williams will forever be linked to Reggie Bush because he was drafted ahead of him when Houston was desperate for - and still is - a RB. However, the defense may actually be improved this year with the addition of 1st round pick Amobi Okoye. The LB corp looks to be the strength of this unit, especially with its depth, while the secondary is thin and could pose problems if any injuries occur.

Key to success: In all reality, Houston probably has no real shot at making the playoffs, no matter how much the team overachieves. With a (still) patchwork line that proved to be the downfall of Carr and no running game to speak, the offense will have a hard time moving the ball. The Texans could have a chance of being respectable, but they will go only as far as the defense can carry them.

Against Washington: The Skins beat the Texans 31-15 in week 3 for their first win of the season. In that game Ladell Betts ran for 124 yards. The teams will not face each other this year.

Fantasy sleeper: Matt Schaub. The only real weapon on this team is Johnson and the guy who will benefit most from his playmaking abilities will be Schaub. Because Johnson is one of the top WR's in fantasy football, Schaub should put up good enough numbers to be considered a spot starter while his mobility boosts his value because he will be able to pick up points on the ground. He may not rack up the points on the ground like his former teammate Michael Vick, but Schaub is more mobile than Carr, which could also give him a better shot at staying upright more than Carr too.