2021 NFL Power Rankings: Houston Texans

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Houston Texans rank in terms of average, best and worst:

Average ranking: 28.0 (T-27th)
Best ranking: 27th (Multiple)
Worst ranking: 29th (Multiple)

Below you will find a Week 2 roundup for the Texans in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 29

Top rookie: WR Nico Collins

The Texans have five rookies on their roster and two -- TE Brevin Jordan (inactive) and QB Davis Mills (backup) -- did not play in Houston's 37-21 victory over Jacksonville. The best rookie performance came from Collins, a third-round pick. Collins played 55% of Houston's offensive snaps and had one catch for seven yards. Head coach David Culley said Collins "did a nice job in the run game," and that they'll need the physical Collins to continue to make plays down the line. -- Sarah Barshop

NFL.com -- Rank: 29

The Texans were viewed, almost universally, as the worst team in football on Sunday morning. They certainly didn't play like that in an impressive 37-21 win over a Jaguars team that looked overmatched and unprepared by comparison. Houston was led by Tyrod Taylor, who finished with 331 total yards, two touchdowns and zero turnovers. It was a great start to the season and a welcome change of conversation after a summer of Deshaun Watson uneasiness. Said Taylor of the performance: "It means everything to me and I know it means a lot to the guys in the locker room."

CBS Sports -- Rank: 28

Give coach David Culley credit. Through all the offseason adversity, he got his team to play hard and they blew out the Jaguars. They are in first place. Can you believe it?

USA Today -- Rank: 27

Nice to see rookie coach David Culley and QB Tyrod Taylor, neither exactly flush with good NFL luck, break from the gate with such a decisive victory in their Houston debuts.

The Athletic -- Rank: 27

Overreaction: Well, look who's definitely no longer the unanimously worst team in the NFL? Even against the Jaguars, a 34-7 lead is impressive, and Tyrod Taylor, Mark Ingram and Brandin Cooks showed the team might win enough to miss out on a top-three quarterback in next year's draft. These are the first-place Texans, yes, but they don't get Jacksonville again until the week before Christmas. -- Auman

Reality check: Coach David Culley has been in a near-impossible situation in Houston. Who knows how long the good vibes will last in Houston, so might as well enjoy it for now. -- Jones

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