Houston Texans running back Woody Marks had a breakthrough game in Week 4, dominating the Titans for 69 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards, and a pair of touchdowns. He looked every bit the part of an every-down feature back, but then against the Ravens in Week 5, he only had 24 yards on seven carries and no catches, while Nick Chubb took back over the lead role. After the team's bye week, Marks has the potential to emerge as the top option this week against the Seahawks in Seattle for Monday Night Football's late game. He has shown a very high ceiling, but he remains a risky flex or RB3 option since his workload is uncertain from week to week. He's high-risk but also brings a very high ceiling as the RB33 in RotoBaller's Week 7 rankings.
Oct 18, 2025 5:25 PM EST
ESPN's Dan Graziano writes that the Houston Texans still view rookie running back Woody Marks as "predominantly a passing-game back," and one who "had a bit of an injury history in college." It was looking like Marks was taking over the backfield from veteran Nick Chubb when he had a season-high 17 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown while adding four catches for 50 yards and another TD in the Week 4 win against the Tennessee Titans. However, he was a disappointment in last week's blowout win over the Baltimore Ravens, handling seven carries for 24 yards and failing to reel in his only pass-game target. It means that when Houston is up big, like they were in Baltimore, Chubb will continue to have the playing-time advantage. Marks is still worth rostering in all fantasy leagues, but his backfield takeover in Houston appears to be a little premature.
Oct 8, 2025 6:07 PM EST
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks had a breakout week last week in his team's victory over the Titans, and he looks to further establish himself as a regular fantasy option to count on in this week's favorable matchup against the Ravens. Marks stepped into a larger role with his snapshare climbing to 56% in Week 4, and he delivered 69 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, while adding a second touchdown and 50 receiving yards on four catches out of the backfield as well. He has the potential to emerge as the clear No. 1 option in the backfield ahead of Nick Chubb, and his third-down abilities give him both a high ceiling and a high floor. Marks is in a great matchup against the Ravens this week, who have been the best matchup of the season for running backs. He is the No. 18 RB in RotoBaller's rankings and is a strong RB2 with RB1 upside this Sunday.
Oct 4, 2025 9:54 AM EST
Houston Texans rookie running back Woody Marks is coming off the best game of his young career, and head coach DeMeco Ryans is excited to see how much more he can handle. Marks ran for 69 yards and a touchdown while adding 50 yards and another score through the air in the team's first win of the season on Sunday. For the first time this year, Marks handled the majority of the team's rushing work, seeing 17 carries to Nick Chubb's 13. Having seemingly passed that test, a pleased Ryans suggested to reporters that more will be put on his young back's plate. Marks was a prolific pass-catcher in college, keeping his fantasy floor high even in less favorable matchups. Now, with an increased workload on the horizon and no timeline for Joe Mixon's return, Marks becomes a high-priority waiver add wherever he is still unrostered.
Sep 29, 2025 2:31 PM EST
Houston Texans rookie running back Woody Marks had a breakout game in Week 4 against the Tennessee Titans, recording 119 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 21 total touches. The 24-year-old now has 209 yards from scrimmage and two scores on 35 total touches through the first four games of his NFL career. Marks earned more carries and more catches than veteran Texans back Nick Chubb in Week 4. The 29-year-old Chubb is averaging just four yards per rush attempt so far this season for a struggling Houston offense, so Marks could emerge as the team's lead back if he continues to produce. Additionally, Texans running back Joe Mixon (foot/ankle) is on the Non-Football Injury list and remains without a clear return timeline. Marks is the number one priority waiver-wire addition for fantasy managers heading into Week 5 and should be rostered in all league formats.
Sep 29, 2025 10:36 AM EST
Houston Texans rookie running back Woody Marks had a huge game versus the Tennessee Titans in Week 4. Marks has been watching his role increase each week, but got a huge opportunity this weekend. The rookie back rushed 17 times for 69 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He wasn't finished there as he hauled in four of his five targets for 50 yards and another score. This was an awesome performance by Marks, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect this every week. Marks figures to continue splitting up the backfield duties with Nick Chubb. The rookie back is certainly worth rostering after this performance, but his ceiling is limited at the moment.
Sep 28, 2025 6:13 PM EST
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks had his most involved game in the NFL last week against the Jaguars, and he could be in for a breakout game in a favorable matchup against the Titans, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to running backs this season. The fourth-round pick from USC is a proven producer as a receiver out of the backfield and took over more responsibility from Dare Ogunbowale in Week 3, serving as the clear second option in the backfield behind Nick Chubb. Marks played 11% of snaps in Week 1, 27% in Week 2, and then his playing time jumped to 48% in Week 3. Marks had six carries for 27 yards and one catch for nine more yards, but he has flashed a higher upside than those totals indicate. He could pass Chubb for playing time sometime this season, and even if it's an even split this week, he has enough upside to potentially have a breakout performance. He's only the RB31 in RotoBaller's rankings this week, so he still is high-risk as a flex play, but he's definitely one of the top rookies to watch this weekend if you're expecting one to break through with a big game.
Sep 26, 2025 7:37 PM EST
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks was more involved in Week 2, and he could play even more moving forward, according to reports from Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. In Week 1, he played 11% of snaps, and in Week 2, he played 27% of snaps. He had three carries each week, but he was more effective with 14 rushing yards in Week 2 while also adding a 37-yard reception. Dare Ogunbowale has been mixing in as a receiving back along with Marks and Nick Chubb, but the fourth-round pick from USC is expected to play a larger role as he continues to flash more potential upside than Ogunbowale moving forward. Marks is the RB46 in RotoBaller's rankings for Week 3, so he's still not quite a flex play in standard leagues at this point.
Sep 19, 2025 9:06 PM EST
Houston Texans rookie running back Woody Marks carved out a role in Monday night's 20-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The rookie logged three carries for 14 yards and added a splash play through the air with a 37-yard reception. Notably, Dameon Pierce was a healthy scratch despite being listed as the RB2 on the depth chart. Marks played the second-most snaps (27%) among Houston backs, trailing Nick Chubb (53%) but ahead of Dare Ogunbowale (20%). With Joe Mixon (IR, no timetable) sidelined and Chubb carrying a lengthy injury history of his own, Marks has legitimate handcuff value and should be rostered in deeper formats. If his usage continues to trend upward, Marks could emerge as a meaningful fantasy contributor later in the season, if Mixon doesn't return.
Sep 16, 2025 10:50 AM EST
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks was part of the rotation in the team's backfield in Week 1, but the rookie played a very minimal role. He played just seven snaps (11%) against the Rams and took his three carries for three yards. The fourth-round pick showed some upside this training camp and preseason, but is clearly behind Nick Chubb and Dare Ogunbowale on the depth chart, and got the same amount of snaps and carries as Dameon Pierce as well. Down the road, Marks still has the potential to contribute if he can earn more work in the load sharing, but for Week 2 against the Buccaneers, he's a very high-risk play and should be left on the bench in almost all formats. He's the RB63 in the RotoBaller rankings for Week 2.
Sep 14, 2025 6:41 AM EST
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks will make his NFL debut on Sunday afternoon when the Texans head to SoFi Stadium to take on the Rams. Marks is expected to be the team's top receiving-down back and could play his way into a larger role with Nick Chubb and Dameon Pierce also expected to be involved while Joe Mixon (ankle) is on the reserve/non-football injury list. Marks was a fourth-round pick for the Texans out of USC, and he racked up 63 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, along with four catches for 20 yards this preseason. He worked mostly behind Pierce and Chubb, but depending on the game script, he could be a sneaky FLEX play down the road. In Week 1, he's the RB60 in RotoBaller's rankings, so he isn't a good start just yet, although he's a strong stash based on his long-term outlook and potential upside.
Sep 5, 2025 10:23 PM EST
Houston Texans rookie running back Woody Marks is poised to have a role in the team's offense early on in his career. Marks, a fourth-round pick of Houston back in April's draft, spent four campaigns at the collegiate level with Mississippi State, but didn't break out as a rusher until 2024 during his time with USC. However, the 24-year-old's skill as a receiver is what sets him apart from the Texans' other options. Marks caught fewer than 47 balls just once in college, recording seasons with 60 and 83 receptions, too. With teammate Joe Mixon's (ankle) ankle injury clouding his status for 2025, the 24-year-old will be required to outwork Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale for backfield touches. Opportunities in the run game could be sparse with veteran Nick Chubb ahead of him in the pecking order, but Marks figures to get a chance to stand out in the receiving game. He's an intriguing late-round selection for zero-RB drafters and is a nice stash in dynasty formats.
Aug 30, 2025 12:01 PM EST
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks entered the final preseason game after Dameon Pierce got the start, but Marks scored Houston's first touchdown of the day on their way to a 26-7 win over the Lions. Marks finished the day with 19 rushing yards on six carries and three catches on three targets for 20 more yards through the air. He finished the preseason with 63 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, along with four catches for 20 yards. Marks could have a role early in the season if Joe Mixon (foot/ankle) is unavailable, as looks likely to be the case. The Texans will likely go with more proven options in Nick Chubb and Pierce as their primary replacements for Mixon, but Marks flashed enough potential that he could get a look early in the year as well. The rookie from USC is a flier in late rounds of standard leagues to see how his role shakes out.
Aug 24, 2025 8:33 AM EST
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans likes what he is seeing from the running back room with Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) still on the Non-Footbal Injury list during training camp. Ryans specifically praised veteran Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks on Saturday in the second preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. Marks had seven carries for a team-high 40 rushing yards on Saturday in the 20-3 win, and his fantasy stock is rising now that it's looking like Mixon could miss the first four games of the regular season. However, even if Mixon misses time, the 24-year-old rookie will be part of a committee backfield approach most likely, having to share touches with Chubb and Dameon Pierce. The most likely scenario is that Marks makes his mark in a passing-down role, which could make him worth a late-round flier for RB depth in PPR formats.
Aug 18, 2025 5:11 PM EST
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks totaled 40 rushing yards on seven carries on Saturday against Carolina, leading the team in both carries and rushing yards. The fourth-round rookie had the longest rush of the day with a 12-yard carry, but he worked with the second unit after Nick Chubb took the reps with starting quarterback C.J. Stroud. Demeon Pierce did not play, either, so it's still not clear exactly where Marks lands on the team's depth chart. At USC, Marks racked up 1,133 yards and nine touchdowns last season, and he also thrived as a receiver out of the backfield throughout his five-year college career. With Chubb and Pierce available, along with starter Joe Mixon (foot/ankle), Marks could have a hard time getting playing time in his rookie year. All three of those veterans have dealt with injuries this preseason, though, and Mixon is still uncertain for Week 1 on the Non-Football Injury list. Marks is a dynasty player to watch and could work his way onto the field at some point this season, but he isn't a consideration for standard re-draft leagues at this point.
Aug 18, 2025 8:36 AM EST
The Houston Texans have signed fourth-round rookie running back Woody Marks to a four-year, $5.2 million deal. Houston traded up to acquire the rights to the USC alum, sending a future third-rounder to the Miami Dolphins. Marks was a four-year player at Mississippi State and a prolific pass-catcher, particularly in his first two collegiate seasons when he totaled 143 receptions, 770 yards, and three touchdowns. He slowed down from there, but still caught at least 47 balls in two of his final three campaigns, including his last at USC. The 24-year-old isn't a burner, but don't confuse him with an early-down thumper. He's a decisive runner who trusts his blocking and possesses enough burst and shake to get to and through the second level consistently. Teammate Joe Mixon is the unquestioned RB1 in Houston, but there's little reason to think Marks couldn't challenge for backup duties. Due to his prowess as a receiver out of the backfield, seeing him garner snaps in those situations early on wouldn't be surprising.
May 11, 2025 9:02 PM EST
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