Card: Fleer 2006
Acquired: TTM 2009, Texans Blitz
See Also: Daniels, Owen (2) 

Owen Daniels was originally a quarterback at Wisconsin, but was moved to tight end where he became one of the Big 10s best receivers. The Houston Texans, always looking for tight ends in head coach Gary Kubiak‘s system drafted Owen Daniels in the 4th round of the 2006 draft. At 6″3’ and 245, Owen was an ideal fit for the Texans tight end heavy system.

He’d start 12 games his rookie season and be named to the All rookie squad at the end of the season after making 34 receptions for 352 yards and 5 touchdowns.  Daniels would follow his 2006 up with a full 2007 making 63 receptions for 768 yards.  In 2008 Owen would make the Pro Bowl after making 70 receptions for 862 yards thus indeed proving what a key cog he was to the team. However in 2009, Owen would be shelved after 8 games after sustaining a knee injury during a game against the Bills. (Owen was on pace for 80 receptions and over 1000 yards receiving at the time of his injury.)  He’d miss a good portion of the 2010 season but return to the lineup starting 10 games and make 38 receptions.  Although financial negotiations between the Texans and Daniels had been acrimonious at one point,  he finally was rewarded with a long term contract in 2011 at the end of the season, after nearly 2 years. Since joining the Texans Owen has moved into 3rd all time in receptions and yards behind current players Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter and is the franchises’ all-time leader at tight end.

A solid receiver that causes mismatches against most linebackers with his speed, hands, and ability to locate the soft spot in a zone, the knock on Owen is that he still needs to improve on his blocking and overcome his injury prone reputation. Daniels is expected however to return to form in 2011 and will make an excellent late round addition to most fantasy owners’ teams. Admittedly he has a track record of blowing out his legs in some capacity, but he has an almost bionic approach to rehabilitation.

G/Gs 65/62   Rec  245    Yds  2972   Avg  12.1    Td   17   Lg 44