Houston Texans DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

In a positive development for the Houston Texans, running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) is expected to return for a Week 4 matchup against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday, according to league sources. Pierce has been sidelined the last two games with a strained hamstring, but he figures to lead the backfield if Joe Mixon (ankle), who is regarded as week-to-week, misses his second straight game. With both Mixon and Pierce out in the Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Cam Akers played a team-high 43% of the offensive snaps and carried the ball nine times for 21 yards, adding an eight-yard touchdown reception. Pierce is currently rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues, so he's certainly an interesting waiver-wire pickup ahead of Week 4 for fantasy managers in a pinch at the RB position if Mixon is eventually ruled out.UPDATE: Pierce wasn't seen at practice on Wednesday in the session open to the media.

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is still regarded as week-to-week due to an ankle injury that kept him out of the Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, according to sources. It's no lock that Mixon is able to return to action in Week 4 versus the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. We'll have a better idea of Mixon's status for this Sunday's game later in the week. Dameon Pierce (hamstring) hasn't played the last two weeks, but he's trending in the right direction and is expected to return in Week 4. So if Mixon misses a second straight game, both Pierce and Cam Akers figure to split Houston's backfield against the 0-3 Jaguars. Fantasy managers that used Mixon in their starting lineups the first two weeks of the season need to plan as though he'll miss another game this weekend. This is your cue to check the waiver wire and add Pierce if you're in dire straights at the RB position.UPDATE: Mixon did not practice on Wednesday.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk was the team's best performer in an otherwise rough night in a 47-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Jaguars put up a stinker on Monday Night Football, but fantasy managers who kept faith in Kirk should be happy with an eight catch, 79 yard performance, especially in PPR leagues. That led the team in both categories, a drastic turn from his two catches for 29 yards in the first two games. Despite the good performance, it will still be hard to trust Kirk going forward giving how bad the Jaguars offense has looked so far. The matchups will also not get any easier over the next few weeks, so expectations should remain low for Kirk and the Jaguars offense. However, the former Arizona Cardinal could maintain a WR3 level in PPR leagues if he continues to earn targets. Kirk will look to build on this bounce back performance in Week 4 against the Houston Texans.

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (ribs) was dealing with soreness on Monday after taking a hit to his ribs in the Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Dell isn't dealing with any structural damage, though, according to a league source. In addition to taking a hard hit to his ribs, Dell injured his hand/wrist late in the blowout loss to the Vikings. The 24-year-old could very well find himself on this week's injury report, but none of his injuries seem to be serious enough to keep him from playing in Week 4 versus the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite the injuries on Sunday, Dell had his best game of the year, catching five of six targets for 62 yards after going for four catches for just 37 receiving yards in the first two weeks of 2024. Dell proved last year that he has high-end playmaking ability, but so far this year, he's been more bust than boom while sharing targets with Stefon Diggs and Nico Collins.

According to NFL Media's Tom Pelissero, Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) won't play in Sunday's game against the Vikings. The 28-year-old had a massive Week 1 performance versus the Colts. Unfortunately, he injured his ankle in Sunday night's clash with the Chicago Bears. The former Bengal was listed as doubtful, so the latest update won't surprise fantasy managers. However, with NFL Media's Ian Rapoport also reporting Mixon is "week-to-week," nobody can say for sure if he'll return when the Texans play the Jags in Week 4. For those fortunate to have claimed Cam Akers off the waiver wire, he's a must-start in any fantasy format. While there's a chance Dare Ogunbowale gets Akers' leftovers out of the backfield, he doesn't offer the same upside for fantasy managers.