Arian Foster

Foster had trouble staying healthy for a second straight season in 2014, with groin, hip, knee and multiple hamstring injuries slowing him throughout the year and in August reports surfaced that he would require groin surgery after sustaining a training camp injury. In 2014, Foster still recorded impressive numbers, but after 11 missed games over the last two seasons, it's clear the Texans' hard-nosed, between-the-tackles ground game has taken its toll on Foster. When he plays, he still possesses the vision and burst that made him such a perfect fit for Houston's offense, and his combination of power and elusiveness in close quarters helped him average 2.83 yards after contact, second in the league among running backs behind only Marshawn Lynch. His receiving and pass protection skills also remain strong, and he's worked hard over the years to improve his ball security after developing a reputation as a fumbler in college. Despite all he can still do on a football field, though, the end may be drawing nigh for Foster. Depending on which study you choose to credit, running back performance tends to fall off a cliff at either 1,800 carries or 29 years old, and while Foster's late emergence as a starter has him well short of the former mark, he'll turn 29 just before the Texans' third preseason game, and now he's injured again.

Foster's 2013 was cut short by a ruptured disc in his back that required surgery and essentially limited him to six games, though he took a total of nine snaps in the two other games for which he suited up. However, offseason reports on his back have been quite positive, which bodes well for the elusive, touchdown-hawking back. A big load at 6-1, 227, Foster is more about making people miss than breaking tackles, but he's a multifaceted offensive weapon who had scored 41 touchdowns in three years entering last season. Unfortunately, the Texans – thanks to a combination of QB trouble and a seeming attempt to keep Foster's back healthy by curbing his goal-line usage – only let him carry three times inside the five in the injury-shortened campaign. But now Foster's seemingly healthy, while Ben Tate is out of town. The bigger team-context issue is quarterback – despite a depth chart full of backups, Houston didn't draft a signal-caller until the fourth round. Of course, that could result in a run-heavy approach and a bounce-back season for Foster even if he doesn't hit double-digit touchdowns.

The smooth, long-striding Foster is a perfect fit for the Texans' zone-blocking system, which takes great advantage of Foster's ability to make effortless jump cuts and slip to the second level of a defense. That system has helped him hit at least 1,600 total yards each year as a starter. But what really sets Foster apart are the touchdowns. In three years as a starter Foster has racked up a league-high 47 scores in 45 regular-season games, with no fewer than 12 in any year (Adrian Peterson is a distant second among running backs with 39 over this period). This is a direct result of Houston's heavy preference for rushing inside the red zone and in particular the 10-yard line. Foster led the league for the third consecutive year in red-zone carries with a career-high 80 last year, and his 42 carries inside the 10-yard line were 11 more than the next closest running back's. Foster does not come without risk, however. He piled up 405 carries last season, including the playoffs, and his three-year total of 956 regular-season rushes is 100 more than that of any other back. Moreover, he saw his YPC drop last season to a career-low 4.1, and after consecutive years with 600-plus receiving yards, he totaled only 217 last season. Foster is also dealing with an irregular heartbeat that could flare up at any time, as it did in Week 16 last year. On the plus side, he looks good to go after calf and back issues slowed him in training camp. The Texans also have another capable tailback in Ben Tate -- who likely will pilfer some touches -- but in doing so, the team hopes to keep Foster intact and as fresh as possible as the season rolls along.

Foster got off to a slow start last year, as he suffered a hamstring injury in the preseason that ultimately limited him to just 10 carries over the first three games. He returned with a vengeance after that, as his 1,841 yards from scrimmage was the third most in football, despite him missing 3.5 contests. Foster fumbled five times over the final four games (including another in the playoffs), but there’s little else to question about his skills, and few backs are as active as receivers. He plays in the NFL’s premier run scheme, and with Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson returning to health and an upstart defense that’s suddenly among the best in football, Foster’s situation looks even better entering 2012. Ben Tate has emerged as a more than capable backup, but the Texans tied for the NFL lead with 34.1 rushing attempts per game last season, and there’s little doubt Foster is their workhorse. Moreover, Tate’s presence could be viewed as a positive, as Foster owners who make sure to secure his services in the middle rounds would see little drop off if their top pick went down with a serious injury. Foster’s excellent vision and one-cut ability is a perfect fit for Houston’s zone-blocking scheme, so more big production should be in store.

Foster came seemingly out of nowhere to become the No. 1 fantasy back by a wide margin last year, which shows just how much opportunity and context matter when it comes to running backs. Entering the year with just 54 career carries, Foster led the NFL in rushing yards (1,616), rushing touchdowns (16) and also finished first among RBs with 604 receiving yards. It’s important to note the Texans had one of the best run blocking units in the NFL, which benefitted Foster greatly. His 22 goal-line carries were the second-most in football, though he deserves credit for converting them at a strong rate (45 percent). He broke 49 total tackles, which ranked sixth in the league, but it required a lot of volume, as his per-touch missed tackle percentage (12.5) was well outside the top-15 RBs. While Houston projects to field a strong offense in 2011, the offensive line will have to remain dominant for Foster to reprise anything approaching last year’s massive success. Foster had minor knee surgery in February but is expected to recover for the start of training camp.

Foster didn’t receive his first NFL carry until Week 14 last year, but he made the most of his opportunity, totaling 242 yards with three touchdowns over the final two games of the season. Foster’s an undrafted back with no qualities that stand out, but he was still running with the first team in May minicamp. So even with heavy competition from Steve Slaton and rookie Ben Tate, Foster belongs on the radar. Foster plays in a terrific offensive environment in Houston and has his coaches’ trust, so if another opportunity presents itself, he would fast become a major force.

Texans general manager Rick Smith bypassed taking a running back in the draft, when much pre-draft analysis viewed it a position of need. Smith viewed it that way, too, but opted for what he perceived were better-value value picks, and was left to sign undrafted free agents. After an early injury during training camp, Foster got some looks late in the preseason, but will open the season on the practice squad. He's learned the offense and should be available if injuries hit.