Sports Illustrated gives a respectable grade on Texans' offensive triplets for 2026

[ASFN Admin]

Everyone talks about team-level play, but what would happen if fans only looked at trifectas?

Let's just say those who make fictional lists were to only take the top three players for a team and rank rosters based on the highest-graded players. Go a step further and say those same people make lists simply looking either the offensive or defensive side of the football.

Where would the Houston Texans' trifecta rank among the top offenses in the league? According to one publication, a top-half ranking with plenty of unknowns is actually a sign of respect for the franchise as it enters a crucial year of the C.J. Stroud era.

Sports Illustrated's Matt Verdarame recently dropped his best offensive triplets for the 2026 NFL season entering June. Given that there's plenty of unknown surrounding the Texans' offense entering Year 2 of the Nick Caley era, Verderame played it safe and chose running back David Montgomery and Pro Bowl wideout Nico Collins to pair with Stroud.

Overall, most would probably have a regresional quarterback, an aging running back and a wide receiver who can't stay healthy near the bottom of rankings, right? For the case of Verdarame, the Texans actually are in as a respected No. 14 overall.

"We’re putting our faith in Stroud, who, despite playing with porous offensive lines for much of his first three seasons, has helped the Texans reach the divisional round each year," Verdarame said. "However, Stroud has seen his yardage and touchdown numbers dip every season, and in the playoffs last year, he threw five interceptions and fumbled five times before losing to the Patriots. If Stroud can find the best version of himself, he and the Texans are Super Bowl-caliber."

Stroud took a jump forward last season under Nick Caley last season compared to his lulls of the 2024 campaign. His touchdown ratio was up while his turnover ratio diminished during the regular season. The reality was that his postseason play was so putrid, it outweighed the on-field success during the regular season.

Montgomery, whom the Texans traded a Day 3 pick for earlier in the offseason, has been a stable back while complementing All-Pro Jahmyr Gibbs, but has been the focal point of an offense since his days in Chicago. Given that his body could hold up through time, there's an expectation that Montgomery won't miss a beat while serving as the top back in Houston.

When on the field, Collins is a game-changer. He's totaled three straight 1,000-yard campaigns in the DeMeco Ryans era, but his career has been hindered at times by injuries. The good news? The Pro Bowl receiver might be on the league's contract among targets.

To read Verdarame's full list and see where the rest of the AFC contenders triplets rank, click here.

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Sports Illustrated gives a respectable grade on Texans' offensive triplets for 2026

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