The Texans have placed Joe Mixon on the reserve/non-football injury list to start the season. Mixon will miss at least the first four games of the season, but at this point, that seems optimistic. The 29-year-old running back has been sidelined since early OTAs with an ankle injury. His lack of progress and the team’s unwillingness to commit to his status long-term make this seem like a precarious situation.

I’ve been fading Mixon in redraft leagues and suggest you do the same. 2022 breakout Dameon Pierce is still with the team and earned first-team snaps in the team’s final preseason game. He and Nick Chubb seem to be in line to carry the workload early on. Rookie 4th-round pick Woody Marks might have the highest upside and is a name that’s been whispered by fantasy savants since the beginning of Best Ball season.

Figuring out this backfield early could lead to fantasy glory. The Texans have a top-5 defense and what should be an above-average passing game. Mixon was electric last year. If one of the three candidates can emerge as a workhorse, he could be a league winner. My gut tells me to trust Chubb at ADP and fade Marks’ rise in the coming week of so before the season starts.

–Blake Stachel (@bllakkay)