Veteran WR Danny Amendola agrees to one-year, $2.5 million deal with Houston Texans

Veteran wide receiver Danny Amendola is returning home to sign with the Houston Texans.

Amendola signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Texans, his agent, Erik Burkhardt, told NFL Media. By signing before Week 1, the Texas native will have his salary fully guaranteed as a vested veteran player.

The #Texans are signing WR Danny Amendola to a one-year, $2.5 million deal, his agent @ErikBurkhardt tells me and @MikeGarafolo. Houston native comes home.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 8, 2021

Amendola, 35, caught 46 passes for 602 yards with the Detroit Lions last season, earning a 74.9 overall PFF grade in the process. His 13.1 yards per reception was a career-high.

The veteran pass-catcher, who spent five seasons with the Patriots, will reunite with Texans general manager Nick Caserio from their time together in New England. Houston runs a similar offense to New England’s under coordinator Tim Kelly.

Amendola joins Brandin Cooks, Anthony Miller, Chris Conley, Andre Roberts and rookie Nico Collins on the Texans’ wide receiver depth chart. Signing with Houston gives Amendola a good chance to start despite joining the team five days before Week 1 of the NFL season.

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FANTASY FOOTBALL IMPACT

Amendola was solid for the Lions last season, earning a 74.9 PFF grade that ranked 42nd among receivers and tallying 46 catches for 602 yards. Expect Amendola to be a low-aDOT chain-mover out of the slot. He registered 507 slot receiving yards last year, 11th at the position. Click here to find PFF's fantasy stats.

Amendola possesses minimal fantasy value as the third receiving option on one of the worst offenses in the NFL. His presence changes neither Brandin Cooks' nor Nico Collins' fantasy outlook, as neither pass-catcher was expected to play much out of the slot. Click here to find PFF's 2021 fantasy rankings.

BETTING IMPACT

Keep smashing the under: The Texans can't be touched in the betting market for several reasons, with their current roster moves leading to more questions about the front office's ability to dig the franchise out of a massive hole. Take the under on their win total — it's the only correct side to be on for Houston in 2021. PFF's Betting Futures Tool reveals betting opportunities within season win total and future markets.

Brandin Cooks Player Props: Amendola projects as the fourth wide receiver — at best — for Houston, with no one capable of challenging Brandin Cooks for targets. Positive game script should also be on Cooks' side in 2021, which is a big reason why PFF's fantasy projections see him hitting 1,085 receiving yards. This is well above his prop number, making the over a viable bet if you can't stomach heading into the season without some action on the Houston Texans. Click here for PFF's player prop tool.

NFL IMPACT

Amendola was still an effective slot receiver in 2020: Amendola's 1.79 receiving yards per route run when lined up in the slot last season ranked fifth out of 27 receivers with at least 250  slot routes run.

Few receivers are as productive as Amendola this late into a career: Amendola racked up 602 total receiving yards in his 13th NFL season. The only other player in the NFL to record 500-plus receiving yards in their 12th year or later was Jared Cook with the New Orleans Saints (504).

Danny Amendola: PFF receiving stats when lined up in the slot (2020, ranks among WRs with at least 40 slot targets)

The addition of Amendola continues slot overhaul in Houston: The Texans have parted ways with Randall Cobb and Keke Coutee this offseason to add Anthony Miller and Amendola. Both Miller and Amendola have run over 80% of their routes from the slot over the past three seasons.

Click here to view Danny Amendola's career in PFF Premium Stats…