Houston Texans DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Houston Texans running backs Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Mixon suffered an ankle injury during Week 2 and has not returned to the field since. Pierce suffered a hamstring injury following Week 1 and has also remained sidelined. As a result, Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale have served as the top backs over the past two weeks. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Mixon's and Pierce's status before their Week 5 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Even though Akers has averaged just 37 yards on the ground while serving as the starter, he could be a solid flex option if Mixon and Pierce remain out this weekend.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Justin Watson could find himself with a larger role on offense going forward. The Chiefs are going to be shorthanded for some time after Rashee Rice (knee) went down on Sunday. The expectation is that rookie Xavier Worthy and tight end Travis Kelce are going to be the focal points in the receiving game. However, Watson might end up seeing more work as well. He hauled in two of his three targets for 27 yards during Sunday's win. Watson knows the offense well and finished with nearly 500 yards in a part-time role last season. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Chiefs give Watson more responsibility with the team limited on offensive weapons. Fantasy managers shouldn't rush to add Watson, but keep him on their radar, especially in deep leagues.

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (chest) is expected to play in Week 5 versus the Buffalo Bills, barring a setback this week, according to a source. Head coach DeMeco Ryans said on Monday that Dell will be "day-to-day" this week. "We'll see this week with a week of practice," Ryans said. Dell suffered a chest injury late in the Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and was held out of the Week 4 win over the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars, mostly as a precaution. The 24-year-old second-year wideout also suffered a hand/wrist injury, but it's believed to be minor. We'll have a better idea of Dell's status later this week after a few practices, but fantasy managers should be getting him back this Sunday. Dell had a season-best 62 receiving yards before getting hurt in Week 3, but he has been the clear No. 3 so far behind both Nico Collins and newcomer Stefon Diggs in 2024. In Weeks 1 and 2, he had four catches for 37 yards.

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said that running back Joe Mixon (ankle) will be "day-to-day" this week. "We'll see this week with a week of practice," Ryans said. Mixon injured his ankle in the Week 2 win over the Chicago Bears and has missed the last two games as a result. Dameon Pierce (hamstring) has missed the last three games, so it has forced Cam Akers into a starting role of late for the Texans' backfield. The Texans continue to say that Pierce is getting closer to a return, so it seems probable that Houston will at least have one of Mixon or Pierce available in Week 5 versus the Buffalo Bills. The 28-year-old Mixon looked good in his first two games with Houston before getting hurt, averaging 4.7 yards per carry with 184 yards on 39 attempts while also scoring a TD. We won't have a better idea about what the Texans' backfield will look like against Buffalo until later this week when we see if Mixon and Pierce have returned to practice.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk had another great performance in Week 4 against the Houston Texans in a 24-20 loss. Kirk finished with seven catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. The former Arizona Cardinal only had two catches in the first two games, but now has 15 receptions in his last two games. His touchdown was also his first of the season. Kirk in past seasons has been a great volume guy which conveys well to PPR leagues, and after two hiccups to start the year, it seems he is back on track. With the Jaguars offense slowly getting better and the potential return of Evan Engram soon, the offense should only get better. Kirk and Brian Thomas Jr. each scored touchdowns against the Texans, seemingly a potential dynamic duo going forward. The Jaguars face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5, where Kirk will once again look to lead the team in targets and catches.