Matt Schaub knows what you're thinking. He knows why you're concerned.
Last year, Schaub dealt with the lingering effects of a concussion in the first half of the season and then missed the final four games with a dislocated left shoulder that required surgery.
Along with that, star receiver Andre Johnson missed seven games last year with a knee injury, had offseason knee surgery prior to training camp and now has issues with his groin.
Schaub can sense you think he's injury prone, and that his best target might be fragile. And Schaub said there's only one way to prove you wrong -- stay on the field.
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"The two of us, the sky is the limit if we can stay healthy for 16 games," Schaub said in an interview with CBSSports.com. "The key for all of us is to stay healthy."
The Texans have a chance to be successful this season if they can stay on the field and out of the training room, and Fantasy owners would benefit. Between Schaub, Johnson, Ahman Green and Owen Daniels, there are starting Fantasy options throughout the huddle.
But outside of Daniels, the other three have had trouble avoiding injuries. Green only played in six games last year due to a knee injury, and Fantasy owners are leery because he's 31 and on the downside of his career.
Schaub said Green is "healthy and looking extremely well," despite Green sustaining a groin injury in the first preseason game. He is expected to be fine to start the season, but should still be considered a low-end No. 3 running back or a fourth option. If you can draft him around Round 8 or 9, then you're getting great value even though he'll likely share carries with Chris Brown and Steve Slaton.
Schaub also has confidence in Daniels, who had 63 catches for 768 yards and three touchdowns last year. Daniels recently said he would like more touchdowns, and if that happens, Schaub said Daniels would be mentioned among the elite tight ends like Jason Witten, Antonio Gates, Kellen Winslow and Tony Gonzalez.
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If Matt Schaub can stay on the field, he could be a real steal.
(US Presswire)
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Fantasy owners should draft Daniels as a low-end No. 1 tight end with plenty of upside.
"He definitely has a chance to get left unnoticed, and he will still have a big year," Schaub said. "He can get up to that echelon of tight ends. This is the year I think he'll get his recognition.
"Owen is a great security blanket. He knows how to work in a zone and get open, and we have a great relationship. He's athletically gifted and can outrun most linebackers and safeties."
As good as Green and Daniels can be -- and Schaub also touted the other receivers in Kevin Walter, Andre Davis and Jacoby Jones -- Fantasy owners can depend on Schaub and Johnson to have big years. That is, if both can stay on the field.
In his first season with Houston last year, Schaub finished with 2,241 passing yards, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. He started the year with 1,005 passing yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions in his first four games -- two without Johnson -- so he was on his way to a breakout season before the injuries set in.
This year, Schaub feels more comfortable with the team and what he's expected to do.
"I feel confident," Schaub said. "I'm more aware of my responsibilities this year. There's a comfort factor now in knowing the guys and knowing the system. I know the offense and what the coaches and my teammates are expecting of me."
Schaub should be viewed as a No. 2 Fantasy option coming into the season, but he could start for many owners by the end of the year. He has that much talent and potential, but keeping Johnson healthy is a must.
Johnson finished last year with 60 catches for 851 yards and eight touchdowns. If you project his stats over a full season, Johnson would have had 107 catches for 1,514 yards and 14 touchdowns, which would have been second only to Randy Moss.
He should still be considered a No. 1 Fantasy option even with the lingering effects of the knee injury and groin problem.
"The key with him is keeping him healthy and on the field," Schaub said. "It's so rare to find a guy who works as hard and has the physical gifts that he has. He has size, speed and can go get the ball at any time. You can just put the ball out there and he's going to go get it. To him, every play is a touchdown. It's a great comfort factor to know he's out there."
That's all Fantasy owners want to see is Schaub and Johnson "out there" on the field. If that happens, especially for 16 games, it should be a good season for the Texans and a great year for Fantasy owners who drafted them.
