Dameon Pierce

The 2023 season was a real bummer for Pierce, especially after he looked so great as a rookie fourth-round pick in 2022. Unfortunately for Pierce, his 2023 struggles were so profoundly bad that it's difficult to remember the 2022 version that ran for 939 yards in 13 games prior to a season-ending foot injury. Averaging 2.9 yards per carry will eventually get a running back sent to the bench, and possibly for good, so Pierce really needs a strong showing this summer if he's even going to earn the backup role to potential three-down workhorse Joe Mixon. A lack of sturdy competition in Houston's backfield -- rookie sixth-round pick Jawhar Jordan and passing-down back Dare Ogunbowale are the other main names -- doesn't mean Pierce will be safe in his backup role if he looks as bad as he did last year.

While the addition of Devin Singletary gives the Texans more than they had last year, the former Bill alone shouldn't be too threatening for Pierce, who was a revelation almost immediately when he arrived to the Texans. It's not often that a team quietly names a rookie, fourth-round-pick running back its starter in the early days of training camp, but it's easy to see why the Texans were convinced. Pierce caught fire between Weeks 3 and 10, running for 670 yards (4.8 YPC) and three touchdowns in seven games while adding 20 receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown on 25 targets. Eventually, the burden of single-handedly carrying the dreadful Houston offense caught up with him. Defenses knew Houston couldn't pass or give the ball to anyone else, so they sold out to stop Pierce and held him to just 167 yards rushing (3.0 YPC). A high-ankle sprain mercifully gave Pierce the final month off, but all in all it was a highly impressive rookie season and he came back healthy for spring practices. There's a good chance he's the focal point of Houston's offense again, considering the franchise is in the hands of a defensive-minded head coach (DeMeco Ryans) and a 21-year-old QB (C.J. Stroud) who is stuck with subpar receivers for his rookie year.

The second pick in the fourth round of this year's draft, Pierce has a chance to be the top guy in a Houston backfield that otherwise contains holdover Rex Burkhead and free-agent addition Marlon Mack as the top competition for snaps and touches. Pierce is the most physical runner of the trio, capable of using his impressive lower-body power to erupt through holes and attack would-be tacklers. He also showed flashes of agility and receiving skill in college that could allow him to become more than just a short-yardage specialist. What Pierce lacks is breakaway speed, though his refusal to go down on first contact could still lead to some chunk plays. Mack has just 32 carries the last two seasons and may start the year on the practice squad, while Burkhead, a jack-of-all-trades, has flopped before when given a chance to start. It appears Pierce will enter Week 1 as the starter, or at least the lead runner, with two excellent showings in the preseason solidifying his strong work from training camp.