Dameon Pierce DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce set a new career high in rushing yards Sunday in a 23-14 win at Tennessee, finishing with 176 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. The third-year pro did the most damage on a career-long 92-yard touchdown run in the first half, after Houston had pulled key offensive starters from the game. Sunday was the Florida product's first 100-yard game since midway through his rookie season in 2022. Though Houston already had locked down the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs and didn't have anything to gain with the win, Pierce certainly made use of his additional playing time. He and the Texans will be back in action with a to-be-determined Wild Card home game next week.

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce should not be started in any format on Sunday afternoon facing the Tennessee Titans. Last weekend, Pierce logged 14 offensive snaps, which was his second-highest total of the season. In this game, he ran the ball five times for 13 yards. He also ran six routes but was not targeted. While he did see a slightly increased role and logged more touches, Dare Ogunbowale has continued to see more offensive snaps over the past month. However, both running backs are being deployed as clear depth options as Joe Mixon is the lead workhorse in Houston. As a result, Pierce should not be started in any formats this weekend despite a favorable matchup against the Titans who have allowed the 12th-most PPR points to opposing running backs this season.

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (groin) has been removed from the injury report ahead of the Week 11 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Pierce is set to get back on the field for the first time since Week 8. He has been banged up this season and has only played in four games, but is expected to be the primary backup to Joe Mixon. The return of Pierce should take some of the workload off Mixon, but Pierce is unlikely to play enough to warrant starting in fantasy formats.

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (groin) was a full-go in Friday's practice session after being listed as a limited participant on Thursday. Pierce has missed the team's last two games with his groin injury, but barring a setback in Saturday's practice, he could be cleared to play on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys. The 24-year-old's return would push Dare Ogunbowale back to the RB3 role. If Pierce is able to return in Week 11, he'll return to backup duties in the backfield behind Joe Mixon, who has been excellent in his first year with the team. Pierce has been very efficient (career-high 7.0 yards per carry) in his four games in 2024 after a disastrous second season in 2023 that saw him average just 2.9 yards a tote. However, he hasn't seen enough volume behind Mixon when healthy to give him standalone fantasy value.

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (groin), who has missed the team's last two games due to a groin ailment, is close to returning to action, according to a league source. Pierce has only 14 rushing attempts on the year in four games played, but he's gone for 98 yards (career-high 7.0 yards per tote) and a touchdown and is averaging 40 yards per kickoff return. It remains to be seen if the 24-year-old will be able to do enough in practice this week to have a shot at playing on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys, but even if he does return in Week 11, he'll most likely be eased in and will work behind workhorse Joe Mixon. Dare Ogunbowale has been serving as Houston's RB2 behind Mixon with Pierce sidelined. At best, Pierce is a handcuff option for fantasy managers that have Mixon in their starting lineups on a weekly basis.UPDATE: Pierce returned to practice on Thursday.