Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is officially doubtful to play in Week 3 on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, while Dameon Pierce (hamstring) has been ruled out for the second straight week after not practicing at all. Mixon also missed practice all week after injuring his ankle in the Sunday night win over the Chicago Bears in Week 2. Fantasy managers can now shift the 28-year-old to their benches this weekend and hope he's able to return next week to face the Jacksonville Jaguars. For those hurting at the RB position in fantasy, Cam Akers is an immediate add and will now have flex appeal as Houston's lead back on Sunday against the 2-0 Vikings. Akers took first-team reps this week during practice and would likely be spelled by Dare Ogunbowale with the Texans' backfield beat up at the moment.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans running backs Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) were not at practice on Friday, according to DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. With both running backs in danger of potentially missing Sunday's game, Cam Akers could get the starting nod. Akers replaced Mixon last weekend when he exited the game due to an ankle injury. On seven carries, Akers tallied 32 yards and caught his lone target for three yards. However, he did lose a fumble. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the Houston injury report later on Friday, as it should provide more clarity on the situation. If Akers does suit up as the No.1 RB for Houston on Sunday, he should be viewed as a high-end RB2 simply due to the volume he is expected to see.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. The Texans are relatively banged up after their Week 2 game against the Chicago Bears. Starting running back Joe Mixon (ankle) was also a non-participant. Pierce already missed Week 2 after recording three carries for 16 yards in Week 1. He appears to be in danger of missing Week 3. If Mixon cannot go or is limited, the Texans will need to find depth at the running back position. Cam Akers appears to be next in line for increased opportunities. For now, fantasy managers should keep an eye on this situation.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) won't play against the visiting Chicago Bears on Sunday night. He didn't practice on Friday because of a hamstring injury, so fantasy managers already assumed he wouldn't be available for Week 2. However, with Joe Mixon coming off a 30-carry, 159-yard, one-touchdown performance in the Week 1 win over the Colts, Pierce wasn't expected to be a featured offensive option anyway. With Pierce out, Mixon should see another healthy workload, with Dare Ogunbowale and Cam Akers backing him up.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) won't play against the Houston Texans on Sunday. He didn't practice on Friday because of a hamstring injury, so fantasy managers already assumed he wouldn't be available for Week 2. However, with Joe Mixon coming off a 30-carry, 159-yard, one-touchdown performance in the Week 1 win over the Colts, Pierce wasn't expected to be a featured offensive option anyway.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) was listed as questionable on Friday's injury report with a hamstring injury, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of NFL.com. The 24-year-old hit the injury report on Thursday after logging a limited practice. He was kept entirely sidelined on Friday, which does not bode well for his status over the weekend. In Week 1, Pierce saw just three rushing attempts on nine snaps while Joe Mixon held the lion's share of work. If Pierce were to sit out on Sunday night, Cam Akers or Dare Ogunbowale should compete for the No. 2 role behind Mixon but should not be relied upon in any fantasy setting.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) was added to the team's Week 2 injury report after he was listed as limited at practice. Mid-week additions to the injury report are usually never a good sign, but at least Pierce was able to do something at practice. Still, the 24-year-old could have an injury designation heading into the Week 2 contest at home against the Chicago Bears, depending on how much he's able to get done on Friday. Pierce really shouldn't be in consideration for a starting lineup spot in fantasy as the backup to Joe Mixon, but Houston's RB rotation could be affected against Chicago if Pierce is out or limited. Pierce played just 11% of the offensive snaps in the Week 1 win over the division-rival Indianapolis Colts, which ranked third behind Mixon and Dare Ogunbowale. Pierce is currently rostered in just 5% of Yahoo leagues.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans running back Cam Akers made the team's final 53-man roster on Tuesday, signing just a week after training camp had started. Akers doesn't present much value on special teams, so that means if he's active, he will be pushing for carries on game days to spell workhorse starter Joe Mixon. If the Texans opt to trade away presumed No. 2 back Dameon Pierce as well, Akers would become Houston's preferred backup and fantasy's clear-cut handcuff to Mixon. It's hard to envision Akers, 25, having much upside or standalone value this season, after rushing for a mere 2.8 yards per carry over 60 attempts and coming off his second career Achilles tear in 2023, but the former second-round pick is at least trending up this summer over Pierce.

From RotoBaller

It was clear early last season that running back Dameon Pierce wasn't a fit in the Houston Texans' zone-blocking system, making Year 2 a frustrating one for the power back. Things haven't changed this preseason for Pierce, who won't start now that Joe Mixon is back at practice, and Cam Akers has impressed in recent action in his bid to make the roster. Dare Ogunbowale seems like a lock for his special-teams and third-down value, and Houston might still want to develop rookie Jawhar Jordan rather than lose him to the waiver wire. While it's unlikely the Texans would release Pierce, he remains a trade candidate and still could be a solid reserve. The 24-year-old was approaching 1,000 rushing yards as a rookie before his season-ending injury in 2022. If an RB-needy team such as the Dallas Cowboys offered a late-round pick for him, it wouldn't be shocking to see Houston pull the trigger.

From RotoBaller

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein believes running back Dameon Pierce may struggle to make the team with several RBs on the roster having better one-cut feels. Pierce has struggled for the Texans during the preseason, allowing the door to open for Cam Akers, Jawhar Jordan, and Dare Ogunbowale to potentially end up with roster spots in Houston's backfield instead of him behind workhorse starter Joe Mixon. The 24-year-old former fourth-round pick was one of fantasy's breakout stars in 2022, rushing 220 times for 939 yards while totaling five touchdowns in 13 games, but he ceded lead-back duties to veteran Devin Singletary during the second half of last year. Teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers, and Cincinnati Bengals could give Pierce a look if we were cut, but his fantasy appeal is limited at the moment.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce started the preseason game against the New York Giants but struggled to make an impact, managing only four carries for five yards. Pierce averaged a disappointing 1.3 yards per carry, failing to show any improvement from his previous performance. In contrast, Cam Akers, serving as his primary backup, ran for 29 yards on six carries, including a long of 14 yards. Akers, who was signed at the beginning of training camp, has quickly emerged as a legitimate roster contender, transforming from a camp body into a potential backup to Joe Mixon. His familiarity with offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik's scheme has helped him catch up despite joining late. J.J. Taylor led the Texans' running backs with 36 yards on five carries, and rookie British Brooks scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns. However, with both Taylor and Brooks unlikely to make the final roster, the primary focus for the Texans will be the competition for Mixon's backup role.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce started the preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers but struggled to make an impact, managing just four carries for four yards. The team averaged only 3.1 yards per carry against primarily the Steelers' second-team defense. Receiver Xavier Hutchinson, known for his running skills, recorded the longest carry of the night with a 19-yard run. Without that carry, Houston would have accumulated just 61 rushing yards. Dare Ogunbowale added a touchdown following a muffed punt recovery in the second quarter, but it was his only significant play. Rookie Jawhar Jordan showed improvement from the Hall of Fame game, leading the Texans with 22 rushing yards. Cam Akers made a notable impact in the second half, with nine touches for 41 yards, displaying the burst that has generated preseason excitement. With vital offensive linemen Laremy Tunsil, Tytus Howard, and Shaq Mason sidelined the expectations for the running game were lower. Assessing the run game's potential without starter Joe Mixon in the lineup remains challenging.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce, who will enter the 2024 season as the backup to new lead back Joe Mixon, has looked good early on in training camp. Pierce was more decisive on his runs on the first day of camp on Saturday and could form a strong 1-2 punch with Mixon if he continues to look this good once the pads go on and to open the regular season. The 24-year-old former fourth-round pick in 2022 out of Florida nearly ran for 1,000 yards in just 13 games in his rookie season in 2022 before disappointing in his sophomore year in 2023 and losing the starting job to Devin Singletary. Pierce could excel with Houston moving to an outside-zone scheme, but as long as Mixon stays healthy, he probably won't be anything more than a handcuff option in fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

According to Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, running back Dameon Pierce will have a role this season. While Joe Mixon is believed to be the No. 1 option on the depth chart, it appears Pierce could have a bigger function than anticipated. "I see Dameon having a very clear headspace as we are out working, and I think that will allow him to have a really productive year this year, " said Ryans during an interview with the Houston Chronicle. "He has everything it takes to be a really good running back for us, and I think him and Joe as a one-two punch would be very beneficial for us all." Of course, it remains to be seen how things will work out for the revamped Texans' offense. However, it seems Mixon and Pierce could collectively remain productive enough to exceed expectations during the 2024-25 campaign, although it will be tough to tell which player will be the most productive from week to week.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce saw his numbers take a hit in his sophomore season in 2023 while being relegated to a complementary role behind Devin Singletary. Pierce rushed for 416 yards and only two touchdowns while averaging 2.9 yards per carry while also dealing with an ankle injury. He had 939 rushing yards and four TDs as a Pro Bowl alternate in his rookie season. The Texans traded for Pro Bowl RB Joe Mixon this offseason and signed him to a three-year, $27 million extension while also drafting rookie Jawhar Jordan, but they still have plans for Pierce in 2024. The 24-year-old figures to be a chance-of-pace option behind Mixon and on kickoff returns. Pierce has looked strong, compact and quick during OTAs this week. Head coach DeMeco Ryans said, "I think him and Joe as a one-two punch, would be very beneficial for us all."

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce had a notable rookie campaign after being selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In just 13 games before being sidelined with injuries, he racked up 939 yards and four touchdowns on 220 carries and caught 30 passes for 165 yards and one score. However, his role, production, and efficiency declined in 2023 after the arrival of Devin Singletary, as he posted just 517 total yards and rushed for 2.9 yards per carry. Singletary is now gone, but the team traded for former Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon. Despite this, Texans general manager Nick Caserio spoke highly of Pierce in a recent media availability. "He is going to be a big part of what we're doing. Watching him move on the field, he looks pretty good. Everybody's looking forward to the opportunity in front of them; you can't worry about what's happened in the past," Caserio said. "He's got as good an attitude as anyone on the team. We're glad DP is here." While you never know whether a head coach or general manager is being honest in these situations, Caserio's comments can only help his fantasy stock. Fantasy managers should go into the season with low expectations for Pierce, but he should at least be viewed as a high-end handcuff running back in what projects to be one of the league's best offenses.

From RotoBaller