Steve Slaton

Just two seasons ago, Slaton was one of the most productive backs in football, but that seems so long ago now. Even with presumptive starter Ben Tate going down with a season-ending injury in August, Slaton gave way to Arian Foster and was given just 19 carries last year. He's worth monitoring since we've seen him succeed before, and he's still young playing in a highly powerful offense that continuously produces big numbers from the running back position. But Slaton enters 2011 fourth on the team's depth chart. He's become something of an afterthought.

Slaton might have been the biggest bust in 2009, fumbling seven times over the first eight games while getting just 3.3 YPC. He gained no yards or lost yardage on 29 percent of his carries -- the second-worst rate in the NFL. Slaton remained heavily involved as a receiver, salvaging some value, but ultimately a neck injury ended his season in Week 12. The injury eventually required surgery called "cervical fusion," which is quite serious and leaves his future status in some doubt. Assuming Slaton makes a full recovery, he's talented enough to bounce back on the field, and it's possible all the fumbles were caused by the injury (his arm would go numb at times). Remember, he totaled 916 yards over the final seven games of his rookie year and plays in one of the most explosive offenses in football. Still, Houston never truly viewed him as more than a change-of-pace type runner and drafted Ben Tate in the second round with the plan of making him the team's feature back.

A late third-round pick in the 2008 draft, Slaton was impressive during his rookie season, compiling 1,659 yards from scrimmage with 10 touchdowns. He averaged 4.8 YPC and was a big threat in the passing game, catching 50 balls for 377 receiving yards. His five carries for 40-plus yards were tied for the most in football, and his 13 rushes for 20-plus yards were the third most in the league. Over the final seven games last year, Slaton racked up 916 yards -- a 2,094-yard pace over a full season. At 5-9, 201, Slaton isn't big, but he's quick and capable of gashing defenses for long gains. Houston has maintained a desire to get him a complement in the backfield, though the Texans did not address the position through the draft, and little competition remains on the roster. Slaton actually tied for the second-most goal-line carries in football last season with 18, but his conversion rate (22 percent) suggests he might not get all of the in-close work in 2009. However, he did convert 12-of-17 carries for first downs on third down and less-than-three situations, so he's not entirely inept in short-yardage. Moreover, for a smallish back, it's not like Slaton wore down, as his five fourth-quarter touchdowns were tied for the most in the AFC, and he also averaged a sparkling 5.6 yards per carry during the fourth quarter and 21.7 rushing attempts over the season's final six games. The Texans offense ranked third in the league last year, and with Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Owen Daniels, innovative head coach Gary Kubiak and offensive line genius Alex Gibbs, Slaton finds himself in a terrific situation. In fact, Schaub's 8.0 YPA was the second best in the NFL, so defenses must focus on stopping Houston's passing attack first and foremost, giving Slaton plenty of room to run.

The Texans want to use Slaton as a third-down, change of pace back in 2008. He's a burner and much quicker than Ahman Green or Chris Brown, the two backs considered be atop the running back pecking order. He'll be used out of the backfield as a receiver, but could also get a regular dose of carries when the Texans want a quicker back hitting the holes. Green is expected to be the lead back if healthy, but that's not a given and there's an opportunity for Slaton to emerge from a group of untested backs to become the team's second back if not the starter.