Who Should I Start? Joe Mixon or Kareem Hunt

Thursday, November 20, 12:34 PM

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) is not expected to play this season as he deals with a foot injury from the offseason, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Mixon will likely stay on the Physically Unable to Perform list through the end of the 2025 season, while the Texans move forward with veteran Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks in their backfield. Things had been trending this way for a while, as the Texans haven't been giving any real updates on Mixon for pretty much the entire season. Fantasy managers who are still stashing the 29-year-old in redraft leagues should send him to the waiver wire now. Mixon's injury dates all the way back to spring workouts. One would think he'd be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign, but there has been little information about the exact nature of his injury. Marks, a fourth-rounder in April, has slowly started to see more work and should be the backfield leader over Chubb by the end of the year.

Friday, December 12, 4:07 PM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt handled 12 carries for 30 yards and a touchdown in last week's loss to the Houston Texans. The veteran back once again found the endzone, but was inefficient with his opportunities. Hunt averaged 2.5 yards per carry and failed to bring in his only target of the contest. Hunt has been the unquestioned lead back in the absence of Isiah Pacheco and retained that role in Pacheco's first game back from injury in Week 13, but things shifted last. Hunt had 12 carries for 30 yards, and Pacheco had nine carries for 30 yards (3.3 yards per carry). Pacheco's opportunities ticked up in his second week back from injury, putting Hunt's grip on the backfield in jeopardy. That said, Hunt should remain the back most likely to score a touchdown given the team's trust in him for goal-line chances. Hunt will have to fend off Pacheco for opportunities while taking on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15. The Chargers have been middle-of-the-pack in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season, so it should not be a difficult matchup. Splitting touches with Pacheco in a game with a 40.5 O/U may lead to a lower ceiling for both players. Hunt is ranked RB31 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a RB3/Flex option for this contest in the fantasy playoffs.