The banged-up Houston Texans will likely not have their rookie sensation at quarterback this week, as C.J. Stroud remains in the league’s concussion protocol. This could be an opportunity for Devin Singletary or Dameon Pierce to shine against the Tennessee Titans. So, which back should fantasy football managers start this week?
Should You Start Devin Singletary or Dameon Pierce This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, our Consensus Rankings say Singletary is the player to start. His projected 8.3 points include 33 rushing yards, two receptions, and 15 receiving yards. That projected stat line outperforms Pierce’s projected 6.2 points.
My ranking for these two running backs aligns with the consensus. Singletary has simply been more productive over the course of this season.
Fantasy Outlook for Singletary This Week
Singletary is coming off his best game since before Thanksgiving, rushing for 65 yards and a touchdown on just 13 carries. That was more yards than he had over the previous two weeks combined (54).
With six straight starts, Singletary is clearly the man in the backfield for the Texans’ offense. And the Texans need a workhorse in the backfield right now, with so much uncertainty in Houston’s offense.
Along with Stroud possibly missing Week 15, the Texans are dealing with injuries to wide receivers Nico Collins (calf) and Noah Brown (knee), offensive tackles Laremy Tunsil (knee) and George Fant (hip), and guard Shaq Mason (calf).
The running game could be an important element for Houston in this game, and giving Singletary the ball could be key as well. The Texans are 4-1 this season when Singletary has more than 10 carries in a game. Of course, that one loss did occur just last week to the New York Jets.
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As a team, the Texans are 6-2 on the season when they have 25+ rush attempts in a game, but just 1-4 having fewer than 25 carries.
So, given the current state of the Texans’ offense, from a health standpoint, it figures that someone is getting the ball a lot for Houston this week.
And I’m figuring it to be Singletary.
Fantasy Outlook for Pierce This Week
Since returning from injury three games ago, Pierce has carried the ball 24 times for a grand total of 64 yards. That’s 2.7 yards a carry.
Pierce has somehow managed to get in the end zone once over this span — Week 13 vs. the Broncos. Last week, he had just five touches and was on the field for all of eight offensive snaps.
It’s difficult to have much confidence in a player with these kinds of numbers.
The PFN Optimizer projects Pierce to finish with 31 rushing yards, one reception, and eight receiving yards.
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