Andre Johnson Injury: 5 Houston Texans Who Must Step Up

With WR Andre Johnson out three games, the Texans are going to need some people to really step up their game a notch or two.

Johnson leads the Texans receiving group in many categories. By a bunch. 

Johnson has 25 receptions, and the next WR is Jacoby Jones who is fourth place on the team with just seven.

The same story is true for yards. Johnson has 352 yards, while Jones is fourth with only 91 yards.

Johnson brings to this team an undeniable advantage.

Safeties have to constantly shadow him to try and stop the deep threat. He is constantly double teamed and is always paid a lot of attention.

He also has amazing chemistry with QB Matt Schaub. When Schaub is out of the pocket, scrambling, Johnson always seems to know exactly where Schaub wants him to be.

He is the ultimate playmaker. It is going to be difficult to replace him.

However, with a collective effort from the offense, and players realizing their full potential in Johnson's absence, the Texans offense can still be effective.

Here are five players who need to perform while Johnson is out.

1. QB Matt Schaub

With Andre Johnson out, Matt Schaub should be on a mission to show the whole NFL that he is an elite QB.

Schaub is often overshadowed by the play of Johnson, and I believe he does not get enough credit for what he does.

With Johnson out, Schaub will have to show that he is a playmaker on his own. 

Defenses will now be focusing a lot on the running game—if Schaub is unable to get a passing attack going, then that will make RB Arian Foster's job that much more difficult.

Schaub will have to maintain his accuracy and excellent decision making skills. He only has three INTs on the season and seven TDs.

However, without Johnson, things get more complicated.

Owen Daniels now will be paid a lot more attention, and the defenses will be able to focus more on Foster and the running game. 

Schaub will need to get more players involved in the offense more often, and execute his passes

2. WR Jacoby Jones

Jacoby Jones is the best deep threat the Texans have now without Andre Johnson. He has the ability, but he has yet to really burst through and show us what he is capable of.

Jones has shown, as a returner, he is dangerous in the open field. He can make tacklers miss and burn with his speed.

As a receiver, he has not grown up enough to be the route runner he needs to be, as he has shown a hard time getting open. 

He also has not really developed much chemistry with Matt Schaub with Johnson in the offense. 

Jones needs to be the guy who can stretch the field in Johnson's absence. If he can do that, then that will benefit TE Owen Daniels running over the middle, and open up the playbook for Kubiak in the running game and short passing game.

What Jacoby Jones will have going for him is that defenses will now focus their attention on stopping the running attack now that Arian Foster appears to be back healthy.

That should give him some chances deep with the defense worried about Foster at the line of scrimmage.

However, it could be a long day if the running game stumbles under the pressure of having more defenders in the box and Jones is unable to burn over the top.

3. WR Kevin Walter

Kevin Walter is a veteran wideout and is very sure-handed. He is often a checkdown option and used in the slot.

His life gets more difficult without Johnson. Defenses will be able to creep in some and suffocate the short passing game, where Walter excels.

Unless Jacoby Jones is able to stretch the field by making some plays, Walter is going to have a much harder time doing the things he does best. 

Walter has underrated quickness and elusiveness. He can get open on quick slant plays and he has very good hands. He also has been used on some WR screens.

With Johnson out, I believe we will see more conservative play-calling by the Texans and that means more Kevin Walter.

Walter's value in points per reception in fantasy leagues will jump. I am not a big fantasy guy, but it is worth mentioning. 

4. TE James Casey

James Casey is a player I have had full confidence in from the beginning of this season.

He is currently the Texans' third leading receiver and has done it coming from three different spots on the field. Casey lines up out of the backfield as the starting FB but he is also a TE and can line up as a slot WR.

He has shown that he can be a very effective receiver down the field and has very good quickness for his size. 

Casey, like WR Kevin Walter and TE Owen Daniels, will benefit from an effective rushing attack by Arian Foster. He is most effective coming off of screens and taking advantage of play actions.

Casey's versatility makes him difficult to game plan for. He is a strong and powerful runner in the open field, which allows him to get yards after the catch and plow through defensive backs with his size.

5. RB Arian Foster

A stellar 155-yard performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week is a good indication that Foster is back healthy.

This could not have come at a better time with Andre Johnson's injury early in the game. The Texans will absolutely need Foster to be on top of his game.

The defense will now see him as the No. 1 thing they need to focus on with Andre Johnson out of the picture.

If Foster is unable to find holes to bust runs on a consistent basis, then that adds more pressure to the passing game to perform without their best receiver.

However, if Foster is able to bust open some runs, then that will draw in some linebackers to fill rushing lanes. This would open up the passing game to go over the top to WR Jacoby Jones or hit TE Owen Daniels on some play-action passes.

A worst case scenario for Houston would be an ineffective rushing attack with only four to five defenders playing in the box. Foster will have to draw the defense in. If he is unable to do that, then Houston will have a long day.