Houston Texans DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) is still not practicing just three days away from the Week 5 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The third-year man out of Florida is dealing with a strained hamstring and has not played since Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts. Starter Joe Mixon (ankle) has missed each of the last two games and has not practiced this week, so Pierce is missing a chance to see extra touches. If both backs are out again in Week 5, Cam Akers would be in line to earn another start, but he will likely share touches with Dare Ogunbowale and J.J. Taylor. The Bills have surrendered the most fantasy points per game to running backs this season, so although Akers has struggled, he is in consideration for a flex spot if he's again the RB1 for Houston.

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (ribs) missed the Week 4 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a rib injury, but he practiced on Wednesday and is back on the field on Thursday ahead of the Week 5 showdown with the Buffalo Bills. His practice status this week is a good sign for him to return, but fantasy managers should follow his injury destinations for the rest of the week. In three games this year, Dell has caught just nine of his 17 targets for 99 yards and no touchdowns. It's early in the season, but it looks like he's the clear WR3 behind Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs in CJ Stroud's offense. The Bills have surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points per game to wideouts this year, so even if Dell is back in action on Sunday, he's riskier to start than ever. Fantasy managers in deep leagues might want to roll the dice on him in the flex spot, but managers in traditional setups can probably find a better option until Dell shows signs of life.

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is missing yet another practice on Thursday. Mixon injured his ankle in the Week 2 win over the Chicago Bears and hasn't played since. The fact that he has yet to practice this week means he's trending toward missing a third straight contest in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills. Dameon Pierce (hamstring) hasn't played since the season opener and was also a DNP on Wednesday, so Houston's backfield could once again be split this Sunday among Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale. Mixon is going to have to get on the practice field on Friday to even have a shot at returning against Buffalo. As of right now, fantasy managers should keep Mixon on their benches. Akers hasn't exactly excited fantasy managers that have streamed him the last two weeks, as he's racked up 74 rushing yards and no touchdowns on 22 carries while catching one pass for an eight-yard touchdown.

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (chest) was listed as limited in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday. Dell is reportedly expected to return in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills this Sunday after missing the Week 4 win over the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. The fact that the 24-year-old is already back at practice is a great sign. Through the first four weeks of his second year in the NFL, Dell has been the clear No. 3 wideout in Houston behind Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs, which has limited his fantasy upside considerably as a WR4/flex. The former third-rounder in 2023 out of Houston has nine catches on 17 targets for 99 yards and no scores through his first three games in 2024. The Week 5 contest against Buffalo lines up as a potential shootout, so Dell will have boom/bust appeal if he returns on Sunday.

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.