Texans RB Dameon Pierce (ankle) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Chiefs. RBs Dare Ogunbowale and Rex Burkhead are on the active roster, with RBs Royce Freeman and Gerrid Doaks on the practice squad. We’ll see if Houston makes an elevation on Saturday, but you should try to avoid this backfield in fantasy lineups.
Texans RB Dameon Pierce is expected to miss "at least" 1 game with a "relatively mild high-ankle sprain," a source tells insider Aaron Wilson. It sounds like Pierce could end up missing a couple of games but is expected back this season. Houston released RB Eno Benjamin on Tuesday, leaving Dare Ogunbowale and Rex Burkhead as the healthy RBs on the active roster. RB Royce Freeman is on the practice squad. Hopefully you don't need to mess with this situation in Week 15 fantasy lineups.
Texans RB Dameon Pierce managed a paltry 17 total yards in Sunday's loss to the Commanders. He carried 10 times for just 8 yards, adding 9 more on 2 receptions. He did dominate backfield playing time, at least. Rex Burkhead and Dare Ogunbowale combined for just 13 snaps, 1 target and 0 carries. Friendlier rushing matchups lie ahead, with the Dolphins, Browns, Cowboys and Chiefs the next 4 weeks. The top-rated Titans run defense looms as a potential problem in Week 16, though.
It wasn't surprising to see Texans RB Dameon Pierce log 20 carries in Sunday's loss to the Raiders. Pierce's 92 rushing yards marked his 3rd straight game of 90+ and 4th straight of 80 yards or more. He has also collected 20+ rushing attempts in 3 of the past 4 contests. Pierce also caught all 4 of his targets for 25 yards, and that was only good enough for 3rd among Houston RBs in receiving. Dare Ogunbowale led all Texans with 7 looks, catching 5 for 54 yards. Rex Burkhead checked in next with a 5-11 receiving line on 6 targets. WR Brandin Cooks slotted between Burkhead and Pierce, going 4-46 receiving on 5 targets. The RBs combined for 41.5% of Houston's targets in the game. Throw in 3 combined carries for Burkhead (2) and Ogunbowale (1), and the RBs controlled 62.5% of the team's total opportunities (carries + targets). That's well above what's been the norm for Houston -- especially Ogunbowale's involvement. He had played just 1 offensive snap through the 1st 5 games. Don't read too much into that change, though. All 7 of Ogunbowale's targets came on the team's final possession, which started with just 3:26 left and Houston trailing by 18.
The Texans list rookie RB Dameon Pierce #1 on their initial regular-season depth chart. Although "unofficial," this matches up with all other indicators from the team through preseason. Pierce carries upside from RB3 range in fantasy football drafts.
The Texans have cut RB Royce Freeman. With Marlon Mack on the practice squad, Houston’s depth now turns up Rex Burkhead and Dare Ogunbowale behind rookie Dameon Pierce.
Texans rookie RB Dameon Pierce ran for 37 yards and a TD on 6 carries in Thursday night's preseason finale against the 49ers. Pierce started the game and handled Houston's first 4 RB carries before giving way to Rex Burkhead for a 2nd-down run on the opening possession. Pierce then converted the 3rd-and-1 play that followed and later scored the 1-yard TD run to close the drive. That marked the end of Pierce's night, with Burkhead, Marlon Mack and other playing on. HC Lovie Smith tried to temper the buzz on Pierce ahead of the game. “We’re talking a lot about Dameon, but I’m going to say the same thing for, we like what Marlon has done, Royce, Rex, Dare," he said Wednesday, per Texans Wire. "We have a good group. We have a good strong running back room.” It's pretty clear that the rookie will lead that room into the season. Just how much work Pierce gets will be the question we can't answer. And it's worth keeping in mind that no one expects this offense to rank in the top half of the league. Still, there's a case to be made for Pierce anywhere beyond the top 24 RBs in fantasy football drafts right now. The rookie moved up our RB rankings a little this morning.
The Texans elected not to play rookie RB Dameon Pierce in Saturday night's 2nd preseason game against the Rams. HC Lovie Smith said afterward that it was because they didn't need to see him, according to Pro Football Talk. Marlon Mack started the game, with Rex Burkhead, Dare Ogunbowale and Royce Freeman all working in as well. This doesn't necessarily mean that Pierce will lead the Week 1 backfield, but it sure seems to indicate things are heading in that direction. Pierce should certainly be the 1st Texans RB drafted (and the only one picked in many leagues). But be wary of chasing him too early. We still don't expect this to be a good offense, and the veteran RBs do figure to work in for touches. Smith said recently that all the RBs "have a certain strength."
ESPN Texans reporter DJ Bien-Aime believes "it's only a matter of time" before Houston OC Pep Hamilton makes rookie RB Dameon Pierce the "lead back." Bien-Aime believes the takeover could happen by sometime in September, pointing to the rookie's "explosiveness" edge over Marlon Mack and Rex Burkhead. Pierce worked behind others in the 1st preseason game but certainly showed best among what we all knew to be a lackluster group. Pierce has been our highest-projected Texans RB all along.
Jaguars RB James Robinson has a torn Achilles, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. That not only ends Robinson's 2021 season but also puts his status for the start of 2022 in question. We'll track his rehab this offseason. It looks like Dare Ogunbowale will close out the season as Jacksonville's lead back.
Jaguars RB James Robinson was carted to the locker room after suffering a non-contact left leg injury in the 1st quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Jets. We'll update his status when we know more. Dare Ogunbowale has stepped in as Jacksonville's lead back.
Update: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that it's a torn Achilles' tendon for Robinson. That not only ends his season but potentially challenges his start to 2022. We'll see how he progresses through the offseason.
Jaguars RB Carlos Hyde is a healthy scratch for tonight's game vs. the Bengals. It's a surprise considering Hyde played 31% of Jacksonville's offensive snaps and totaled 19 carries and 4 targets over the first 3 games. Dare Ogunbowale will serve as the Jaguars' #2 RB tonight, but RB James Robinson should be in for an expanded role.
Update: ESPN's Michael DiRocco reports that Hyde's shoulder "didn't feel right" when he got to the stadium.
As expected, Jaguars RB James Robinson (ankle) is inactive for today's game against the Bears. His absence leaves Jacksonville's backfield to Devine Ozigbo and Dare Ogunbowale. Neither is a bankable fantasy play.
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