The Houston Texans have really struggled to get production from their running backs while Joe Mixon has been out with a sprained ankle. Compounding the problem has been the absence of their primary backup, Dameon Pierce. With Pierce seemingly close to a return, possibly as soon as this week, should fantasy football managers pick him up off the waiver wire?
Should Dameon Pierce Be Added From the Fantasy Waiver Wire in Week 6?
Entering the season, Pierce was no lock to be the clear backup to Mixon. Pierce was especially awful in 2023. He averaged 2.9 yards per carry, 3.3 yards per touch, and was outside the top 40 in evaded-tackles-per-touch rate and yards-created-per-touch rate. He looked nothing like the guy who burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2022.
Pierce’s struggles contributed to the Texans’ decision to pursue Mixon. Make no mistake about it: When Mixon returns, he will go right back into his bell-cow role. This is Mixon’s backfield.
With that said, we have no idea when Mixon is going to be back. Before Week 4, Mixon got in a limited practice on Friday, drawing a questionable tag. That prompted everyone to believe he was going to return in Week 5. Instead, Mixon didn’t practice at all and was ruled out on Friday. That doesn’t sound like a player anywhere close to returning.
Reportedly, Mixon did not suffer a setback, but color me skeptical.
No setback for Joe Mixon, per sources, just original ankle injury suffered on the hip drop tackle against #Bears that drew an #NFL fine. Status hasn't changed as far as always been a week to week injury @KPRC2 https://t.co/ClB8L24iQP
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL)
At this point, I’d be surprised if Mixon returned this week.
In Mixon’s absence, the Texans experimented with Cam Akers as the lead back. After seeing one game of Akers, the team quickly began reducing his snap share. Akers just isn’t it. However, neither is Dare Ogunbowale, who carried the ball 15 times for an ineffective 30 yards against the Indianapolis Colts.
Nothing the Texans have done at running back without Mixon has worked. That has me extremely confident in Pierce assuming the lead-back role if he can make it back before Mixon. Based on last week’s practice progression, I would, in fact, bet on Pierce to return first.
The Texans have three average matchups upcoming. That’s about the maximum we could project Pierce to start. As strange as this Mixon situation is, it would still be very surprising if he didn’t return by Week 9 at the latest.
If Pierce does end up starting, it’s important to remember that he would be a two-down back with goal-line carries. That’s valuable for sure, but Ogunbowale is not about to lose his role as the primary passing-down back. Pierce is not going to do much in the receiving game, as his 3.9% target share from 2023 indicates.
Even so, Pierce is very much worth picking up. While I do have several talent questions, he can’t possibly be worse than Akers, who was able to provide two passable performances on touchdowns alone.
Pierce might end up being startable for a couple of weeks, but even if Mixon is back this week, Pierce still has value on fantasy rosters as a handcuff.
Given Pierce’s extended absence, the whole “out of sight, out of mind” thing might make him relatively cheap to add. I wouldn’t drop anyone startable for Pierce, but if you have the room, he is worth picking up.