Who Should I Start? Joe Mixon or Tony Pollard

Thursday, February 5, 8:40 AM

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said on Thursday that running back Joe Mixon (foot, ankle) will attempt to play in 2026, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. "Joe (Mixon) worked really hard to get himself ready. He's committed to trying to be able to play football this year. We'll see if he's physically able to do it or not. It's a little bit of a moving target," Caserio said. The GM said late last month that Mixon's foot/ankle injury last year was a "freak thing" that ended up keeping him out all year. The 29-year-old will attempt to play in 2026, but Caserio admits that it's no sure thing. Mixon has one year left on the three-year, $25.5 contract restructure that he signed in March of 2024, and the Texans can clear $8 million in salary cap space this year by cutting him. Even if Mixon sticks on Houston's roster, they could add to the RB position after Woody Marks took over as the primary back in 2025.

Thursday, February 12, 7:11 AM

Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard didn't quite live up to expectations during the 2025 season, finishing the year with 1,082 rushing yards, 206 receiving yards, and five touchdowns. He did still manage to finish as the RB23 in full-PPR leagues, but his fantasy scoring was a bit skewed due to a three-week stretch during which he exploded for 367 yards and three touchdowns. It seemed like Pollard's 2025 fantasy value would hinge on whether Tyjae Spears played well, but in reality, both Pollard and Spears saw their outputs depend on the state of the Titans' offense. Tennessee limped to the finish line with the second-worst offense in terms of total yards, making it difficult for either running back to make much of a fantasy impact. Heading into 2026, we can't rule out a shakeup to the Titans' backfield. The Titans structured Pollard's three-year deal to give them a potential out prior to the third season, and the clock is now ticking on that decision. The Titans could be incentivized to release the veteran running back; doing so would create $7.25 million in cap savings with just $2 million in dead money. If he does hit the open market, Pollard would likely be viewed as a 1B running back -- someone who can join a backfield with another average ball-carrier. Of course, fantasy managers would prefer that team to be a contender so that Pollard can consistently handle valuable and meaningful touches in 2026. With so much uncertainty, dynasty managers might consider selling high on Pollard and using his RB23 finish to tempt other managers into a deal.