What We Learned in 2021: AFC South

Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel, USA Today Sports

Links to other divisions:

Houston Texans

• Davis Mills looked like at worst a replacement-level starter as a rookie in an empty cupboard offense
• Brandin Cooks proved his fantasy value is indestructible
• Rex Burkhead was a Week 16 hero
• Nico Collins had moments as a rookie and there could be something there
• The Texans fired head coach David Culley and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, so there will be more transition

Heroes: Brandin Cooks
Zeroes: Mark Ingram

You Might Have Missed: Brevin Jordan was targeted 28 times on only 232 snaps and finished tied for second on the team in receiving touchdowns

Biggest Offseason Questions: How will the team use their draft capital to improve the offense? And what about Deshaun Watson?

Bottom Line: They should have pride in how they played, but this is going to be one of the worst teams in the league for a while.

Indianapolis Colts

• Jonathan Taylor had a true break out season and put together a 100 scrimmage yard + a score streak to rival LaDainian Tomlinson. He defied Carson Wentz’s poor play and will be the #1 pick in many 2022 drafts
• Wentz’s ups (a six-game multi-touchdown pass streak) and downs (losing to Jacksonville with the playoffs on the line) got more dramatic and there was little confidence in him by the end of the season. He stayed healthy, so the Colts have to give up their 2022 first-round pick as part of the trade for him
• Michael Pittman became the team’s #1 receiver in a lost year for T.Y. Hilton, but he was more fantasy WR3/Flex than WR2 by season’s end

Heroes: Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman
Zeroes: Nyheim Hines, T.Y Hilton, Carson Wentz

You Might Have Missed: Wentz finished with a 27/7 TD/INT ratio

Biggest Offseason Questions: How aggressive will the team be in bringing in competition for Wentz? What will the wide receiver depth chart look like beyond Pittman?

Bottom Line: This offense turned into Tennessee north in 2021

Jacksonville Jaguars

• Urban Meyer is a joke and the team’s offense was too, except for James Robinson, who proved that he should be a starting running back in the NFL
• Laviska Shenault looked ordinary and probably isn’t a long term piece of this offense
• D.J. Chark’s walk season was ended prematurely by injury

Heroes: James Robinson
Zeroes: Chark. Marvin Jones, Laviska Shenault, Trevor Lawrence

You Might Have Missed: Robinson actually had a higher yards-per-carry average (4.7) and more rushing touchdowns (8) than he had in his rookie year

Biggest Offseason Questions: Can Doug Pederson fix this organization and Trevor Lawrence in the process? What will the new coaching regime want to do with Marvin Jones? What happens to a wide receiver group led by a lame-duck Marvin Jones and underperforming Shenault with Chark entering free agency?

Bottom Line: Does any of this even matter as long as Shad Khan is the owner?

Tennessee Titans

• Derrick Henry reached a new level with 725 rushing yards and 10 scores during a five-game stretch that also included 15 catches for 135 yards in a welcome change. Then he broke his foot and didn’t return until the playoffs
• Julio Jones couldn’t stay healthy and didn’t look like his old self when he played
• A.J. Brown had a disappointing season because of injuries
• Ryan Tannehill’s efficiency took a nosedive in an injury-riddled offensive season
• DOnta Foreman was part of the Achilles injury is no longer a death knell for running backs trend and he looked like he’s going to stick in the NFL in some way after admirably filling in for Henry

Heroes: Derrick Henry until the foot injury, D’Onta Foreman
Zeroes: Ryan Tannehill, A.J. Brown, Julio Jones

You Might Have Missed: Henry was on pace for 465 carries before he got hurt (219 carries through 8 games)

Biggest Offseason Questions: How do the Titans improve the pass offense? Will they keep Jones with an 11.5 million dollar price tag? Will they start to plan seeds for a post-Tannehill plan at quarterback?

Bottom Line: Maybe this team missed Arthur Smith?