Will Texans running game finally get going against the Bills with Dameon Pierce?
Game status: Dameon Pierce is ACTIVE for Week 5.
Game day update: Dameon Pierce is not expected to play on Sunday, per Adam Schefter.
The Houston Texans backfield could see at least one running back return to action in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills. While running back Joe Mixon has already been ruled out for Sunday’s game, it’s possible that Dameon Pierce may return to the lineup after being sidelined with a hamstring injury.
According to the Texans final injury report, Pierce will officially be listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Bills. After not participating all week, there is some optimism for Pierce as he returned to practice as a limited participant on Friday.
The Texans will hope to have Pierce available and add a boost to what has been a struggling running game without Mixon. Over the last three weeks, the Texans have just a 23.2 percent rushing success rate on offense. However, that was with Cam Akers as the primary running back. Pierce has been unable to play since injuring his hamstring back in Week 1 against the Colts. He’ll be a player to monitor heading into Sunday.
Pierce had a strong rookie season, but only rushed for 416 yards last year while averaging 2.9 yards per carry. The Texans run game has struggled without Mixon in the lineup, but they will have a more favorable matchup with the Bills.
The Bills have allowed the most fantasy points per game to running backs so far this season. Last week, Derrick Henry had 199 yards and two touchdowns while Justice Hill added 78 yards receiving. Two weeks prior, Devon Achane had 96 yards on the ground and added another 69 yards and a touchdown receiving.
Through four weeks, the Bills haven’t been great defending the run, but some of their numbers are inflated due to the performance last week against the Ravens. Still, this is an opportunity for the Texans run game to find a spark.
The hope will be that Pierce is able to go, but hamstrings can be difficult to predict. Even if Pierce does play, he will likely share carries with Akers. If Pierce can’t go, it will continue to be the Akers show in the Texans backfield. Akers had 13 carries for 53 yards last week against the Jaguars. Along with Akers, the Texans will be relying on Dare Ogunbowale on passing downs. Ogunbowale has proven to be a good receiving option and had the game-winning touchdown reception in Week 4.
In the case that Pierce does play, it’s difficult to commit to one Texans running back as it is uncertain how the carries would be divided up. In deeper leagues or on teams in desperate need of a running back Ogunbowale does provide some receiving upside.
