Upon returning from a hamstring injury, Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce had his best game in more than a year during a 41-21 victory at New England, finishing with 76 rushing yards and a touchdown on just eight carries. The third-year back also added one catch for one yard, but compiled most of his fantasy points on a 54-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. Sunday marked the Florida product's highest rushing total since going for 81 yards in Week 4 of the 2023 season. Running back Joe Mixon is still the clear top option in Houston, so Pierce's usage with a big lead against a bad team could be an aberration. Houston will take on the Green Bay Packers in Week 7.
Oct 13, 2024 4:44 PM EST
Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) is off the injury report for Sunday's game against the Patriots. The 24-year-old has been sidelined since last appearing in Week 1 versus the Colts, when he finished with three carries for 16 yards. With Joe Mixon (ankle) potentially also returning for this one, Pierce's fantasy outlook isn't promising. However, even if Mixon misses another contest, Pierce will likely back up Dare Ogunbowale and Cam Akers, who have been handling things out of the backfield.
Oct 12, 2024 12:58 AM EST
Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) was upgraded to full practice participation on Thursday after being limited to start the week on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Joe Mixon (ankle) was limited after missing Wednesday's session. It appears that Houston could be getting both Pierce and Mixon back in Week 6 against the New England Patriots. Pierce hasn't played since the season-opening win over the division-rival Indianapolis Colts, but his fantasy outlook this weekend will all depend on whether Mixon returns as well as the lead back. The 24-year-old will only be worth a look as an RB3/flex option against the Patriots if he's active and Mixon is not. With both Pierce and Mixon out since Week 2, Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale have been splitting backfield work the last three weeks.
Oct 10, 2024 11:07 PM EST
Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) is expected to return this weekend, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. The 24-year-old has been sidelined since the opening week of the season with a hamstring injury. Cam Akers took over No.2 duties in his absence and eventually became the starter when Joe Mixon (ankle) suffered an injury following Week 2. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring Joe Mixon's status, as Pierce could be the top option out of the backfield if Mixon is kept out of action. Since breaking out in his rookie campaign with an impressive 939 yards, Pierce has been stuck in a reserve role. However, he is worth a speculative add this week as he could be a solid flex option if he gets the starting nod against the New England Patriots.
Oct 9, 2024 4:25 PM EST
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) isn't expected to suit up on Sunday versus the Bills. The 24-year-old is coming along, considering he practiced in a limited capacity on Friday. However, since he had only three carries for 16 yards in Week 1 versus the Colts, the last time he was on the field, there aren't many fantasy managers looking for an update, even with Joe Mixon (ankle) ruled out. In the meantime, the Texans will continue to roll with Cam Akers to handle the bulk of the work out of the backfield. While Akers hasn't done much with his enhanced role in Houston, he deserves some consideration for fantasy lineups due to the favorable matchup on the horizon versus a Bills defense that's struggled to stop the run this season.
Oct 6, 2024 12:38 AM EST
Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) is still not practicing just three days away from the Week 5 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The third-year man out of Florida is dealing with a strained hamstring and has not played since Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts. Starter Joe Mixon (ankle) has missed each of the last two games and has not practiced this week, so Pierce is missing a chance to see extra touches. If both backs are out again in Week 5, Cam Akers would be in line to earn another start, but he will likely share touches with Dare Ogunbowale and J.J. Taylor. The Bills have surrendered the most fantasy points per game to running backs this season, so although Akers has struggled, he is in consideration for a flex spot if he's again the RB1 for Houston.
Oct 3, 2024 2:17 PM EST
Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) missed practice all week and has officially been ruled out for the Week 4 contest on Sunday against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans were saying earlier this week that Pierce was making progress from his hamstring injury and was close to returning, but that won't happen this week. The 24-year-old will miss his third straight game after being injured in the Week 1 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Joe Mixon (ankle) is questionable and is danger of missing a second straight game as well, so Houston could be forced to use Cam Akers as their lead back once again. If Mixon is inactive on Sunday, Akers can be plugged in as an RB3/flex for fantasy managers looking for help at the position. Pierce's next chance to return will be in a Week 5 meeting against the Buffalo Bills.
Sep 27, 2024 6:28 PM EST
Despite missing his fifth-straight practice, Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) is expected to return to action in Week 4. It's excellent news for the team as first-string back Joe Mixon (ankle) is still considered week-to-week after missing Houston's Week 3 matchup -- a 34-7 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings. In that contest, running back Cam Akers led the team with a paltry 21 yards on nine carries. With the Texans mincing words, fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on the 24-year-old's status heading into Houston's home matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If Pierce can play, he'll be in store for a sizable workload against a Jaguars squad that just got torched by the Buffalo Bills, allowing 47 points on Monday Night Football.
Sep 25, 2024 9:58 PM EST
In a positive development for the Houston Texans, running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) is expected to return for a Week 4 matchup against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday, according to league sources. Pierce has been sidelined the last two games with a strained hamstring, but he figures to lead the backfield if Joe Mixon (ankle), who is regarded as week-to-week, misses his second straight game. With both Mixon and Pierce out in the Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Cam Akers played a team-high 43% of the offensive snaps and carried the ball nine times for 21 yards, adding an eight-yard touchdown reception. Pierce is currently rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues, so he's certainly an interesting waiver-wire pickup ahead of Week 4 for fantasy managers in a pinch at the RB position if Mixon is eventually ruled out.
Sep 25, 2024 1:06 PM EST
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.
Sep 18, 2024 6:28 PM EST
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.
Sep 15, 2024 7:56 PM EST
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.
Sep 15, 2024 7:14 PM EST
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.
Sep 13, 2024 4:54 PM EST
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.
Sep 12, 2024 6:18 PM EST
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.
Aug 27, 2024 2:46 PM EST
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.
Aug 19, 2024 10:12 PM EST
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.
Aug 10, 2024 11:36 AM EST
With the Hall of Fame game days away, backup running backs Dameon Pierce and Jawhar Jordan are expected to see a bulk of the carries in Thursday's game against the Chicago Bears. With Joe Mixon (hamstring) nursing an injury, it's likely Mixon's work would have been minimal at best even when healthy, but Pierce, last season's Week 1 starter, has been getting some good buzz in camp with his efforts thus far. Jordan, the team's sixth-round pick, is expected to compete with Pierce as the primary backup to Mixon. Pierce disappointed last season as the starting running back for the Texans and lost his job to Devin Singletary. As long as Mixon is healthy, the backup running back in Houston probably wouldn't be anything but a contingency-based handcuff for fantasy this season.
Jul 30, 2024 9:35 PM EST
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.
Jul 20, 2024 1:20 PM EST
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."
May 23, 2024 2:07 PM EST