The Texans have a history in the NFL Top 100.
J.J. Watt took home the 1-spot in the latest iteration of the honors, and it's the third straight summer he's made the list. He was ranked 5th in 2013, and dropped to 13th last summer.
The rankings are made up of a poll of current NFL players. The list began in 2011, and has aired on the NFL Network each May, June and July.
Watt's teammate Arian Foster has been on the list four times. The running back clocked in at 25th in 2011 and 2012, 8th in 2013, and 80th this year.
Left tackle Duane Brown has made it twice, as he was 48th in 2013 and 86th last year.
In 2012, cornerback Johnathan Joseph was ranked 73rd, while linebacker Brian Cushing was 54th. Former Texans receiver Andre Johnson made the list four times, while former Texans defensive end Mario Williams was on the inaugural list in 2011, along with fullback Vonta Leach.
Defensive lineman Vince Wilfork, who signed with the Texans this offseason, made the NFL Top 100 the first three years. As a Patriot, he checked in at 35th, 81st and 30th in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively.
TEXANS IN THE NFL TOP 100 RANKINGS
| YEAR | PLAYER | RANK |
| 2015 | DE J.J. WATT | 1ST |
| 2015 | RB ARIAN FOSTER | 80TH |
| 2014 | DE J.J. WATT | 12TH |
| 2014 | WR ANDRE JOHNSON | 21ST |
| 2014 | LT DUANE BROWN | 86TH |
| 2013 | DE J.J. WATT | 5TH |
| 2013 | RB ARIAN FOSTER | 8TH |
| 2013 | WR ANDRE JOHNSON | 14TH |
| 2013 | LT DUANE BROWN | 48TH |
| 2012 | WR ANDRE JOHNSON | 15TH |
| 2012 | RB ARIAN FOSTER | 25TH |
| 2012 | LB BRIAN CUSHING | 54TH |
| 2012 | CB JOHNATHAN JOSEPH | 73RD |
| 2011 | WR ANDRE JOHNSON | 7TH |
| 2011 | RB ARIAN FOSTER | 25TH |
| 2011 | FB VONTA LEACH | 65TH |
| 2011 | DE MARIO WILLIAMS | 71ST |
Defensive end J.J. Watt's 2014 was one to remember. Game-by-game, a Texans' opponent shared his thoughts on the Defensive Player of the Year.
1 sack, 5 QB hits, 2 TFL, 1 FR, 1 blocked extra point "Of course J.J. Watt is going to make some plays. He's going to do that."- Washington OT Trent Williams
1 QB hit that caused an INT, 1 TD reception on offense "We knew we wanted to try to make sure we knew where he was on every play."- Oakland head coach Dennis Allen
7 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFL and 1 batted pass"Every time I got an interview last week it was, 'What's J.J. Watt going to do?' I was overthinking it the first play I went out there, so obviously I wish I could get that back."-New York OT Jordan Pugh
9 QB hits, 1 INT returned 80 yards for a TD"When you see something like that happen, you just have to sit back and tip your hat to a guy like that. They didn't pay him all that money for no reason."- Buffalo RB Fred Jackson
4 tackles"He's the best player in the NFL. I believe that."-Dallas Owner Jerry Jones
2 sacks, 3 TFL, 1 FR for a TD. "He'll go down as one of the best defensive players probably when it is all said and done to play the game."- Colts HC Chuck Pagano:
1 sack, 1 FR, 2 QB hits "He's a good player. You all know that. It's a dog fight in there."- Pittsburgh C Maurkice Pouncey
2 sacks, 1 FF, 1 batted pass "You got 99 over there, you got to get the ball in your hand quick." -Tennessee QB Zac Mettenberger
1.5 sacks, 7 tackles, 5 QB hits "Watt and Mercilus and those guys we talked about earlier in the week, they're the real deal."
1 sack, 3 TFL, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 TD catch on offense "He's a great player and he's the type of player that makes the players around him better, too."- Cleveland QB Brian Hoyer
7 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit "He's a great player. He makes you honest every play, every snap in the first, second, third and fourth quarter."-Cincinnati offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse
2 sacks, 6 QB hits, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 TD catch on offense "He's putting a good case for himself to be MVP this year."- Tennessee QB Zac Mettenberger
3 sacks, 4 TFL, 5 QB hits "Great football player and is one of those guys that have the ability to just to make plays, create turnovers, create havoc."- Jacksonville OT Luke Joeckel
2 sacks, 6 tackles and 1 batted pass "He's a heck of a player. He's going to make plays, we knew that."- Indianapolis QB Andrew Luck
1 sack, 3 TFL, 8 total tackles, 4 QB hits"I respect the heck out of him. He's very savvy and smart."- Baltimore receiver Steve Smith, Sr.
3 sacks (1 for a safety), 4 TFL, 1 FF "He's got what, 20 sacks? He is a very, very dominant player and he is going to get some opportunities."- Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley
