Joe Mixon had been enjoying a successful first season with the Houston Texans entering Week 15, averaging 88.7 rushing yards per game. Unfortunately, he was hurt against the Miami Dolphins and had to leave the game.
Let’s examine what happened to Mixon and what it means for the Texans and fantasy football managers going forward.
What Happened to Joe Mixon?
Mixon was hurt on a run that cost the team two yards during the second quarter of the Week 15 game against Miami. He remained on the field and was treated by the trainers before leaving under his own power.
Mixon headed to the bench instead of the blue tent, which is a positive sign for his potential return.
#Texans running back Joe Mixon on bench now after walking off under his own power @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/R334JvqvDZ
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 15, 2024
According to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle, Mixon’s injury was caused by a hip-drop tackle. Mixon was hurt back in Week 2 of the season by a hip-drop tackle, which cost him three games earlier in the season.
Fortunately, Mixon was able to return to the game at the start of the next drive, suggesting that the injury was not that serious. However, he’s a player that fantasy managers and Texans fans will be monitoring closely.
Mixon entered Sunday third in the NFL in rushing yards per game at 88.7. If he can sustain a similar pace across the final four weeks, this would be the best year of his career in that statistic. He’s also added 244 receiving yards on 27 receptions for 40 targets.
Mixon entered this week 113 yards short of his fifth 1,000-yard season. However, this injury will likely make Houston a little cautious.
There’s a chance that the Texans could clinch the AFC South this week. If they do, it may make sense for them to limit Mixon over the final three weeks of the season. Having a fully healthy Mixon in the playoffs is crucial for this offense.
What Is the Fantasy Impact of Mixon’s Injury?
Analysis by Kyle Soppe
Mixon has been nothing short of special this season, with seven top-10 performances on his résumé. This makes this injury impactful, given that he is a driving force behind many strong fantasy performances during the regular season.
Dameon Pierce (traditional role) and Dare Ogunbowale (third downs) profile as the fill-in options, though neither would assume anything close to Mixon’s status as a locked-in starter.
Should the veteran back miss time, I’d feel better about upgrading the pass-game pieces than overreacting to the backfield. Nico Collins is as good as it gets, but this situation would give me more confidence in Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz, two players who have been on the fringes of starter-worthy.