Madden 19: Houston Texans Player Ratings, Roster, Depth Chart, & Playbooks

By Toby DurantHead of Content

The Houston Texans have bounced between playoff contender and bottom of the league team for years now. The defining reason seems to be a lack of talent at the quarterback position, but in 2017 they seemed to solve that with Deshaun Watson, who they jumped up the draft to take. Watson's 2017 season was short-lived thanks to an ACL tear, but with him back in the fold for Madden 19, along with a talented defensive front and some excellent offensive playmakers, the Texans have a chance to surprise the NFL and be one of the most deadly teams in Madden 19.

*All stats correct at time of writing

Team Rating

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The Houston Texans start Madden 19 Franchise Mode as an 81 overall team. It doesn't leap out as very good, there are 15 teams with a higher overall, but they do have an elite defensive rating of 87. Only four defenses rate higher. Their defensive roster is loaded with talent in the front seven, especially when it comes to pass rushers, and they have several useful defensive backs that can take the ball away too. Offensively, they aren't loaded, but they have playmakers at the skill positions. If you like to play defense-first and are willing to run around with your quarterback, then Houston are the team for you.

JJ Watt, Defensive End (OVR 98)

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Age: 29

Development Trait: Superstar

Contract: 4 years/$67.5 million

2018 Cap Hit: $14.9 million

Best Stats: Play Recognition (98), Strength (97), Finesse Moves (93), Tackle (93), Pursuit (92), Agility (85)

JJ Watt has been a force of nature for the Houston Texans since they drafted him 11th overall in 2011. He missed the bulk of 2016 & 2017 with injuries, but prior to that he was the dominant player in the entire sport. Watt is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and the only player in NFL history to reach 20 sacks in a season twice. He comes into Madden 19 as a game-wrecker of a defensive end with the ability to pressure the passer, bring down running backs, and generally be a nightmare to all that try and stand between him and the ball.

DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver (OVR 96)

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Age: 26

Development Trait: Superstar

Contract: 5 years/$68.5 million

2018 Cap Hit: $12.7 million

Best Stats: Spectacular Catch (99), Catching (98), Catching In Traffic (98), Release (96), Short Route (95), Medium Route (95)

Selected 27th overall in 2013, DeAndre Hopkins soon became one of the most feared receivers in the NFL. Hopkins' precise route running skills, amazing hands, and impressive athleticism made him a difficult proposition for every cornerback in the world. Even with poor quarterback play, Hopkins has been able to post three 1,000+ yard seasons coming into 2018 and even led the NFL in touchdown receptions (13) last season.

Jadeveon Clowney, Outside Linebacker (OVR 91)

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Age: 25

Development Trait: Superstar

Contract: 1 year/$7.42 million

2018 Cap Hit: $7.42 million

Best Stats: Play Recognition (94), Awareness (94), Pursuit (93), Acceleration (90), Block Shedding (89), Power Moves (88)

Jadeveon Clowney made a name for himself with monstrous play in college with South Carolina. He was rewarded with being named the first overall pick in 2014. It took Clowney a few years to not only recover from some injuries but also adjust to the level of competition in the NFL. He always flashed destructive abilities though, and in 2016 he developed into a Pro Bowl edge defender, making plays in all facets of the game and forcing offenses to account for him on every snap.

Deshaun Watson, Quarterback (OVR 83)

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Age: 22

Development Trait: Star

Contract: 3 years/$10.54 million

2018 Cap Hit: $3.35 million

Best Stats: Break Sack (95), Throw Power (90), Throw Under Pressure (89), Short Accuracy (86), Speed (84)

Deshaun Watson led Clemson to back-to-back National Title games, winning the second before taking off for the NFL. Houston traded up to #12 in 2017 to take Watson and soon named him their starter. Watson's athleticism and playmaking ability turned the Texans fortunes around, but it didn't last long as a torn ACL in practice ended his season after just seven games.

Depth Chart & Full Roster

QB
OVR
Speed
Throw Power
Short Accuracy
Medium Accuracy
Deep Accuracy
Throw Under Pressure
Play Action
Deshaun Watson
83
84
90
86
83
80
89
82
Joe Webb III
68
88
89
74
68
68
66
60
Brandon Weeden
62
74
90
80
73
73
67
72
HB
OVR
Speed
Agility
Elusiveness
Carrying
Juke Move
Catching
Lamar Miller
86
92
94
84
89
89
70
D'Onta Foreman
75
90
87
73
83
79
60
Alfred Blue
72
86
80
68
89
80
65
Buddy Howell
64
87
82
73
80
78
62
WR
OVR
Speed
Agility
Catching
Short Route
Medium Route
Deep Route
Catch In Traffic
Spectacular Catch
Release
Jumping
DeAndre Hopkins
96
92
92
98
95
95
91
98
99
96
93
Demaryius Thomas
85
91
90
83
85
84
81
88
93
89
95
Will Fuller V
83
95
92
87
81
83
85
82
84
77
86
Keke Coutee
74
92
88
81
78
75
83
75
78
70
83
Sammie Coates
67
91
86
77
62
63
64
81
79
76
93
DeAndre Carter
65
91
94
76
70
72
66
71
71
57
91
Vyncint Smith
63
93
87
78
62
67
68
70
73
57
93
TE
OVR
Speed
Agility
Catching
Short Route
Medium Route
Deep Route
Run Block
Ryan griffin
75
74
81
80
73
68
61
62
Jordan Akins
72
75
73
79
64
66
68
64
Jordan Thomas
70
80
73
79
66
63
59
54
Jon Weeks
41
69
68
64
41
36
31
47
OL
OVR
Speed
Strength
Pass Block
Run Block
Lead Block
Impact Block
Zach Fulton
78
67
85
80
74
79
80
Senio Kelemete
75
64
86
78
74
57
82
Nick Martin
72
65
85
76
76
77
80
Seantrel Henderson
69
70
83
74
75
82
81
Greg Mancz
68
70
87
73
73
77
79
Kendall Lamm
68
63
77
75
78
75
74
Julie'n Davenport
67
57
85
72
72
82
81
Martinas Rankin
67
72
81
72
76
86
84
DE
OVR
Speed
Agility
Power Moves
Finesse Moves
Block Shedding
JJ Watt
98
78
85
97
93
90
DJ Reader
81
61
67
84
68
84
Christian Covington
77
76
65
90
61
83
Carlos Watkins
72
74
76
68
75
73
Angelo Blackson
72
73
66
78
58
76
Joel Heath
71
72
70
76
63
67
DT
OVR
Speed
Strength
Power Moves
Finesse Moves
Block Shedding
Impact Block
Brandon Dunn
73
67
79
75
68
76
85
Tenny Palepoi
72
70
89
74
50
73
84
OLB
OVR
Speed
Agility
Tackle
Hit Power
Play Recognition
Pursuit
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Jadeveon Clowney
91
87
87
85
86
94
93
54
64
Whitney Mercilus
82
82
80
85
85
85
84
61
70
Duke Ejiofor
72
78
80
78
80
70
78
48
56
Peter Kalambayi
66
86
78
77
76
54
78
49
58
MLB
OVR
Speed
Agility
Tackle
Hit Power
Play Recognition
Pursuit
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Benardrick McKinney
80
84
80
87
88
86
91
53
63
Zach Cunningham
77
83
87
82
78
82
84
63
65
Dylan Cole
75
85
82
80
82
71
79
69
79
Brennan Scarlett
72
80
78
79
76
74
83
54
68
Brian Peters
65
84
84
74
76
69
76
58
69
CB
OVR
Speed
Acceleration
Agility
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Press
Kareem Jackson
77
79
81
85
84
88
81
Johnathan Joseph
83
89
88
88
85
81
81
Kayvon Webster
81
90
92
88
81
79
79
Aaron Colvin
78
89
90
89
79
81
78
Shareece Wright
74
89
88
88
77
72
75
Kevin Johnson
73
88
89
92
70
68
80
Johnson Bademosi
72
90
88
88
70
75
70
Jermaine Kelly Jr
67
88
91
82
75
71
57
Natrell Jamerson
66
92
92
81
68
73
63
Deante Burton
63
88
91
90
69
66
67
FS
OVR
Speed
Acceleration
Agility
Play Recognition
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Justin Reid
84
92
91
88
78
79
83
AJ Moore
67
92
92
81
57
67
72
SS
OVR
Speed
Acceleration
Tackle
Play Recognition
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Tyrann Mathieu
91
90
93
74
88
87
89
Andre Hal
85
92
90
61
83
83
86
Mike Tyson
67
88
90
74
58
64
64
K
OVR
Kick Power
Kick Accuracy
Ka'imi Fairbairn
76
95
82
P
OVR
Kick Power
Kick Accuracy
Trevor Daniel
71
92
74

The Texans roster has plenty of stars, but there are also a lot of holes, making them a nice test of your GM talents in Franchise Mode. The stars are all in the right spots to be impactful players. With Hopkins (99 spectacular catch, 98 catching) and Lamar Miller (92 speed, 89 carrying) providing the talent around Watson (90 throw power, 84 speed) to put points up. The defense can also pressure quarterbacks endlessly thanks to Watt (97 power moves, 93 finesse moves), Clowney (87 speed, 89 block shedding), and Whitney Mercilus (89 acceleration, 85 power moves). They also have playmakers in the secondary like Tyrann Mathieu (90 speed, 89 zone coverage) and Kareem Jackson (89 speed, 88 zone coverage) that can take the ball away.

The holes are clear and obvious though. Watson is not a polished passer, so if you are a classic drop-back passer in Madden 19 you may struggle to use him straight away. The offensive line is a horrific mess that will blow up at the worst time. There is little talent at tight end, often a key position in Madden, and if you lose Hopkins or Miller to injury, then things look bleak offensively.

Houston Texans Playbook - Offense

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I Form Pro

I Form Slot

I Form Tight

I Form Twin TE

Strong I Pro

Strong I Slot

Weak I Close

Singleback Ace Pair

Singleback Ace Slot

Singleback Bunch

Singleback Deuce Close

Singleback Dice Slot

Singleback Spread

Singleback Wing Pair

Singleback Wing Slot

Singleback Wing Tight

Singleback Y Off Trips

Pistol Full House Base

Pistol Strong Slot Open

Shotgun Bunch

Shotgun Doubles HB Wk

Shotgun Doubles Y Off

Shotgun Eagle H-Slot

Shotgun Empty Trey Stack

Shotgun Empty Y Slot

Shotgun Split Slot

Shotgun Spread Y-Slot

Shotgun Stack Y Off Wk

Shotgun Trey Open

Shotgun Trips HB Wk

Shotgun Trips TE Flex

Shotgun Wing Flex Offset

Shotgun Y Trips Wk

The Houston Texans offensive playbook is a relatively simple one on the surface, but there are several nice parts of it. If you like running the ball there are plenty of options with I form, singleback, and full house formations to mix up looks. If you want to take advantage of Watson's speed there are option plays, and when it comes to passing the ball there is plenty to like. Shotgun Bunch has been a powerful formation for a long time, and Post Cross is a particularly good play from that formation, while Corner Strike prevents defensives from overly adjusting to inside routes.

Houston Texans Playbook - Defense

3-4 Even

3-4 Odd

3-4 Over

3-4 Solid

3-4 Under

Nickel Normal

Nickel 3-3-5 Wide

Nickel 2-4-5 Double A Gap

Big Nickel Over G

Dime 2-3-6

Dime 2-3-6 Will

Quarter Normal

Quarter 1-3-7

Quarter 3 Deep

Goal line defense 5-3-3

Goal line defense 5-4-2

The Texans 3-4 defense is another pretty standard playbook. They have the usual 3-4 looks and no special front like some other 3-4 defenses, but they do have a few good sub packages. Big Nickel Over G is the star, but Quarter 1-3-7 and Dime 2-3-6 Will are also useful formations for bringing pressure and mixing up coverages.