J.J. Watt Fantasy

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (pectoral) played just 16 of 36 defensive snaps in the first half of the wild-card win over the Bills, but he saw 34 of 44 snaps in the second half. Houston's pass rush came to life in the second half, and Watt had a big sack of quarterback Josh Allen to force a field goal. Watt was surprised how well his body held up after the game after missing two months of the regular season. Getting more out of the All-Pro pass-rusher for an entire game against Kansas City would be huge for the Texans chances of springing the road upset. A healthier Watt is bad news for the entire Chiefs offense, especially quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Jan. 6th • 3:36 PM

Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said that defensive end J.J. Watt (pectoral) will play against the Bills in the wild-card game on Saturday and "be in there quite a bit." Watt hasn't played since Oct. 27, however, so it's fair to wonder how effective he'll be after such a long layoff. But the Texans figure to throw him out there often if he's healthy enough, as he's a difference-maker rushing the passer for this Texans Defense when he's on the field. Watt's presence on the defensive line is a downgrade to Buffalo's entire offense on the road, while he also makes the Texans defense more attractive for those looking for a sleeper unit on the defensive side of the ball.

Jan. 2nd • 1:09 PM

The Houston Texans officially designated defensive end J.J. Watt (pectoral) to return from Injured Reserve on Tuesday, according to sources. Watt can begin practicing with the team in hopes of returning for the wild-card round. With Houston already locking up a playoff spot last weekend, they won't risk throwing him out there in Week 17 against the Titans. However, it looks like Watt will return in the playoffs to give this defensive front a much-needed boost in both run defense and rushing the passer. Watt is likely to have his snaps limited when he does make it back, though, which will make him a risky IDP in leagues that continue into the playoffs.

Dec. 24th • 12:51 PM