Dameon Pierce 2023 Outlook
From a purely fantasy perspective, no single rookie running back may have been hyped more than Pierce last year. Not Breece Hall, not Kenneth Walker III. Pierce was an explosive and powerful runner entering a situation with the Houston Texans where he could easily win the starting job by the end of his rookie season. It didn’t even take him that long. The Florida product was the starter from Week 1 on and gained at least 69 rushing yards in seven of his first nine games -- including five games of 90 or more. After a few more disappointing efforts, an ankle injury ended his regular season prematurely. He was well on his way to surpassing 1,000 yards before missing the last four games. We’re less worked up over Pierce’s outlook in 2023. The Texans will be one of the worst teams in the league, and playing from behind means a ton of passing plays. A capable Devin Singletary comes in to split the workload with Pierce. And some of the best rushing defenses last year on a yards-per-carry basis -- the Colts (twice), Titans (twice), Ravens, Bengals and Jets -- load up Houston’s schedule.
Dameon Pierce 2022 Outlook
On Day 3 of the NFL Draft, Houston finally added a running back. As ESPN.com's Sarah Barshop reported it, the Texans, who averaged a league-worst 3.4 yards per rush and finished with eight rushing touchdowns (tied for worst), signed Marlon Mack this offseason but need more help at the position. Houston also had only 23 rushes that gained 10 or more yards in 2021, which was tied for the second-fewest in a season over the last 20 years. Pierce had 16 scrimmage touchdowns last year, the most by a Florida player since Percy Harvin had 17 in 2008. So Pierce is plenty capable. Better still, as CBSSports.com suggested, the Texans offer an incredible opportunity for Pierce to do something he never got the chance to under the Florida staff -- operate in a three-down role. CBS went on to advise readers that Pierce's underrated route running ability and his vertically-oriented running style make him a perfect fit to inherit a massive role in Year 1 if he can climb the depth chart in training camp and the preseason. Remember, the Texans added Marlon Mack to their backfield in free agency over the offseason while Rex Burkhead and Royce Freeman are among the holdovers. But even with the veteran presence, Pierce will likely be targeted as an RB3 with easy to see RB2 upside if he does start climbing the depth chart in August.
