Who Should I Start? Joe Mixon or Austin Ekeler

Wednesday, July 23, 10:25 AM

According to ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime, the Houston Texans have transferred running back Joe Mixon (ankle) to the NFI list. The former Cincinnati Bengal was spotted in a walking boot earlier in the spring, though it appears to be unrelated to the issues he suffered in 2024. There doesn't seem to be much concern surrounding the ailment, as Houston is bringing him along slowly after he played a critical role for them in his first stint with the team. Mixon's absence will open the door for veteran rusher Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks to boast an increased workload early on in camp. However, the 28-year-old is the team's unquestioned No. 1 option when he's healthy. Mixon's ankle issue bears monitoring, but he presents as one of the more solid top 50 picks.

Sunday, January 26, 6:46 PM

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler tallied just 32 all-purpose yards during their loss in the NFC Championship game to the Philadelphia Eagles. Ekeler also lost a fumble. The Commanders were playing from behind throughout most of the contest, putting their rushing attack out of the game plan. However, even when Ekeler was given the ball through the air, he could not perform. He caught five of his seven targets but tallied just 17 yards. His seven targets tied him the second-most on the team, only behind tight end Zach Ertz. Throughout the season, the 29-year-old operated primarily as a change-of-pace option in the Washington backfield. Entering Sunday, Ekeler posted a strong 10.3 yards per catch and a 4.8 yards per carry. Ekeler will likely remain in this role next season as he enters the final year of his contract.