While the Houston Texans made a deep 2025 playoff run, they fell short of their championship goal. As the franchise assesses the results, it is clear that without a viable rushing attack, the offense will continue to struggle against high-end opponents.
Texans Could Turn to Draft for Backfield Help as Joe Mixon’s Future Remains Uncertain
Entering the 2025 season, the stage was set for Nick Chubb to take the reins as part of his post-injury comeback. Joe Mixon started the campaign on the NFI list but remained out for the entire season. 2025 fourth-round pick Woody Marks became the leading rusher for the team, but the running game was a weakness throughout the year.
Marks rushed for 703 yards but scored only twice and averaged 3.6 yards per carry. Chubb had 506 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns but never regained the pounding, downhill pace that made him a violent threat with the Cleveland Browns. Between the two backs, there was a single 100-yard game, which came against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round.
In his seven-round mock draft, PFSN’s Jacob Infante has the Texans hoping to find some running back stability by spending one of their two second-round picks on Emmett Johnson out of Nebraska.
“The Texans have a confusing running back room. Both Nick Chubb and Joe Mixon are in the twilight of their respective NFL careers, but both are decent contributors when healthy. Woody Marks fared well as a rookie, too. That said, I think Emmett Johnson would have the highest ceiling of the bunch by far. He’s an explosive, shifty runner with very good breakaway speed and big-play value written all over him.”
When it comes to running backs in the NFL, the endurance factor and wear on the tires have a large impact on a team’s willingness to invest in them long term. That is where Johnson might have an edge, because while there will be NFL GMs who shy away from his one year of true production, others will see fresh legs and a player on the rise.
In 2023 and 2024 combined, Johnson rushed for 1,009 yards and three touchdowns with a 4.9-yard average. In 2025, however, he exploded onto the scene with 1,451 yards and 12 scores to pair with 370 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Johnson went from a role player to the leader of Nebraska’s backfield, and that ascension may catch the eye of the Texans and quite a few other NFL scouting departments.
Chubb counts $10 million against the cap for Houston in 2026. Despite Texans GM Nick Caserio giving his backing to him following the injury, that is an easy cut if any space is needed. Bringing Johnson into an underperforming running back room could be the spark it needs.
The bottom line is that CJ Stroud would benefit greatly from a reliable, consistent rushing attack compared to what he had to work with in 2025. Whether Johnson or someone else, the Texans need more from their backs than they saw last season if they want to compete deeper into the playoffs.
