The Houston Texans have Alfred Blue, Jonathan Grimes and Chris Polk set to take over after Arian Foster went down with a groin injury and the team could look at adding a free agent to help with depth heading into the season and names like Pierre Thomas, Ray Rice, Chris Johnson and Steven Jackson are available.
Foster is dealing with a going issue and surgery could knock him out for an extended period of time. Foster could end up on the injured reserve/designated to return list and if that happens, he will be out until Week 9 of the season. According to the Houston Chronicle, Thomas turned down an offer from the Texans that was for $870,000 and he is looking for a better deal. John McClain reports that Foster may return "no later" than the second half of the season.
Last season Foster had a bounce back year after playing in just eight games in 2013, rushing for 1246 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games for Houston. Foster rushed for 1411 yards in 2012 and he had 15 touchdowns that season and that is what the Texans were hoping for heading into 2015. Foster now will have to recover and it comes after he has scored at least eight touchdowns in four of the last five seasons, including double digits in three straight years from 2010-12.
Foster has dealt with injury issues in the past and last season he missed three games while dealing with a groin injury. Foster has not played a full season since back in 2012 and now the Texans fear he could miss the majority of the season. Foster has been one of the most productive backs in football since he took over as the starter for the Texans and losing him for any amount of time is a major blow to fantasy owners.
Foster averaged 4.8 yards per carry last season and that was the best he has put up since his career season in 2010 when he set a personal best with 1616 yards and 16 touchdowns. Another big hit for the Texans and fantasy owners is Foster out of the backfield, as he has been a strong receiver for the team, making 38 catches last season and putting up at least 40 per year from 2010-2012. Foster is one of the best fantasy players in the league and the Texans will not have an easy time replacing his production.
The Texans have depth at running back with Alfred Blue, Chris Polk, Jonathan Grimes and Kenny Hilliard, but Foster is such a talented back that the team likely needs to bring in at least one free agent.
The Texans have other issues to worry about, as the team has Jadeveon Clowney coming back from a major injury and a quarterback battle still to be decided.
The Houston Chronicle reports that Brian Hoyer is in the lead to start over Ryan Mallett, but it's still early in camp. Hoyer was signed in the offseason after playing with the Browns, while Mallett returned after being acquired in a trade last season from the Patriots. Hoyer has more experience than Mallett and he signed a deal worth more money than Mallett this offseason and that could factor into things.
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