Houston Texans RB Dameon Pierce’s inefficiencies resulted in Devin Singletary taking the lead in Houston last season and making the second-year back an afterthought by the end of October. Over the final month of the regular season (five games), the former Gator had 19 touches and zero rushes, gaining more than five yards.
Singletary is out, and Joe Mixon is in at the top of this depth chart. At very little cost, is now the time to buy some Pierce fantasy football stock?
Should You Select Dameon Pierce at His Current ADP?
ADP: 200th Overall (RB56)
My concern with Pierce is less about Mixon and more about the Texans already giving up on him. By the end of last season, he was being used on special teams, often a nail in the coffin of fantasy assets.
Furthermore, Pierce and I finished last postseason with the same number of yards gained. That wouldn’t be a major concern if the Texans had failed to qualify for the playoffs, but they played a pair of games and totaled 55 points.
Fantasy managers should be ahead of the NFL team in giving up on a player. Pierce may have already sailed, which is why I’m shooting my darts elsewhere. Instead, give me handcuff running backs in better situations: Elijah Mitchell, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Keaton Mitchell types.
The idea of getting cheap exposure to an elite offense is sound, but you can do better in terms of a profile — this is a pass-centric offense that brought in a reliable veteran RB to help them win now. Outside of an injury, Pierce doesn’t have much of a path to meaningful work.
Pierce’s Fantasy Profile for the 2024 NFL Season
Why is it that we spend so much time cautioning fantasy football managers about investing with confidence in the running back position?
Just ask anyone who bought into Pierce after an encouraging rookie season (1,104 total yards).
The 2022 fourth-round pick had a significant role before September ended as a rookie and posted nine games with over 20 carries or at least three receptions that season. He wasn’t overly efficient, but he did enough to be Flex-worthy with a reasonable weekly floor.
Bounce back year coming for Dameon Pierce?
Texans HC DeMeco Ryans recently said that he believes Joe Mixon and Pierce will combine to be a good one-two punch in ‘24. 😈
(Via @NFL / @HoustonTexans) pic.twitter.com/OH5PyWxyiL
— Nick Schwager (@NickSchwagerNFL) May 27, 2024
In Year 1, Pierce was a version of Mixon. Now, Mixon is the RB1 in this upward-trending offense—without much question.
The veteran is coming up on his 2,000th NFL touch, something that brings Father Time into play. But with just four missed games over the past three seasons, I’m not comfortable in assuming Mixon falls completely off a cliff this season.
On the bright side, there isn’t a ton of competition for Pierce in the RB2 role outside of the newly signed Cam Akers. That at least keeps Pierce on our radar.
The Texans finished 13th in scoring a season ago, a ranking we universally believe will improve in the second season of C.J. Stroud’s career. Taking that to be a fact, cheap exposure to Houston’s offense isn’t a bad way to spend a late pick.
The primary five weapons all have ADPs in the first 5-6 rounds, so if you’re looking to buy late, Pierce is your only other chance … unless you’d like to join me on Dalton Schultz Island.
