Houston Texans: 3 Standouts from Week 1 vs. Saints

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 09: Head coach Bill O'Brien of the Houston Texans calls a timeout during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on September 09, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 09: Carlos Hyde #23 of the Houston Texans runs with the ball during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on September 09, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

2. RB Carlos Hyde

The Houston Texans made their share of trades in the few weeks leading up to the start of the season. Most recently, the club acquired left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills from the Miami Dolphins.

Earlier in August, the defending AFC South champions went out and got running back Duke Johnson from the Cleveland Browns. He enjoyed a solid debut on Monday night, running for 57 yards on nine carries and catching four passes for 33 yards.

But the Texans also picked up another proven running back via trade when the team obtained Carlos Hyde in a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. This is a Houston team that lost starting running back Lamar Miller with a knee injury late in the preseason.

While Johnson’s forte is really pass-catching, the one-time second-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers and former Ohio State Buckeye is one of the more effective power runners in the NFL.

Hyde was on his game in this tilt with the Saints. Dennis Allen’s defense was missing defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and Houston took full advantage. The physical Hyde ran 10 times for 83 yards and helped the Texans roll up an impressive 180 yards on the ground against the league’s second-ranked rushing defense from 2018.

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