By MARK SIMON

Of the top six quarterbacks in our Total Points stat, four of them are on first-place teams. One is on a team that is a half-game out of first place.

And the other is Deshaun Watson.

Yes, Watson is there tied for second place, one spot behind Josh Allen and ahead of Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson (one fewer game), Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers (also one fewer game). If we look at quarterbacks on a per-snap basis, Wilson slides ahead of Watson by a smidge, but Watson still stands a strong third.

Most Total Points by QB – 2020 Season

Name	Team	Total Points
Josh Allen	Bills	64
Russell Wilson	Seahawks	56
Deshaun Watson	Texans	56
Patrick Mahomes	Chiefs	52
Tom Brady	Buccaneers	47
Aaron Rodgers	Packers	45

Why does Watson rate so well in spite of the Texans’ struggles? Simply put, many of their issues are not his fault. He’s completed 68.5% of his passes, which ranks 10^th in the league, with an average depth of target (ADOT) of 8.5 yards.

The only quarterback in that group of six with a higher completion percentage than Watson has been Wilson (73%). The only one in the group with a higher ADOT is Rodgers, by one-tenth of a yard (8.6).

Watson has gotten good value when he’s thrown the ball at least 15 yards downfield, even though he’s tied for the NFL lead with five interceptions on those throws. He’s completed 28-of-45 such passes, with 34 being on target. The 62% completion percentage ranks fourth among quarterbacks with at least 20 such attempts, and the 76% on-target percentage ranks second.

Watson’s numbers spiked after his most recent game, a loss to the Titans in which he threw four touchdowns and no interceptions. He went 5-of-7 for 127 yards and a touchdown on those passes. He totaled 18 Passing Points Earned, the most by a quarterback in Week 6. In fact, he has the most Passing Points Earned in the NFL since Week 3.

Watson and Aaron Rodgers meet this week as the Texans face the Packers. As my colleague Corey March points out in his weekly fantasy notes ($), Watson has the most Total Points when passing from a clean pocket this season and the Packers rank last in the NFL in pressure rate. We’ll see if Watson can build on a good year for him even as the Texans struggle.

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By JOHN VERROS, Injury Information Coordinator

After losing players like Saquon Barkley and Nick Bosa to ACL tears early in the season, it raises the question: Are the circumstances of the 2020 season causing an increase in ACL injuries?

In Weeks 1 and 2 we have recorded a total of 10 ACL tears that occurred during a game. This is approximately twice as many as we observed in the first two weeks of 2018 (5 injuries) and 2019 (4 injuries). Without knowing what the future of the 2020 season holds, I am inclined to look at everything leading up to the season in a skeptical lens.  

From the get-go, players had limited access to the advanced training facilities and injury prevention programs due to quarantining. The majority of NFL players treat their bodies with exceptional care. After all, their health is their livelihood. From dieticians, track coaches, physical therapists, strength coaches and chiropractors – NFL athletes need to take the offseason months seriously in order to prepare for the rigors of August  through January. Although I’m positive that players were able to stay in shape, it was almost certainly not at the same level as previous years.

Following the theme that this offseason was unlike any other, players may not have known if there would be a delay to the start of the season due to COVID-19. While it may not seem like a big deal to some, having a set date of when to be at peak performance is crucial to elite athletes.

Periodization is the term used to describe the systematic planning of athletic training. The aim for NFL players is to reach their best possible condition by the time the season starts. It involves progressive cycling of various aspects of a training program during specific time periods throughout the offseason. This includes the proper timing of aerobic endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, speed and other body maintenance techniques. 

I hope that this unique offseason did not interfere with the normal cycle and rhythm of these elite NFL athletes.  I expect to see fewer ACL injuries and other major injuries as the season progresses.