Fantasy Football Player Notes

With Joe Mixon's health up in the air, Nick Chubb could be Houston's lead back in 2025 if he can stay healthy. Last year, before he was lost again to a foot fracture, he looked like a shell of his former self. Chubb only had a 2% explosive run rate, a 10% missed tackle rate, and 1.96 yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). These numbers are all basement-level efficiency metrics. Hopefully, he improves upon these numbers in 2025, but with his lengthy injury history at age 29, it's far from certain. Chubb could easily be a weekly RB2/3 because of volume this season, even if he's inefficient along the way. Chubb is a decent late-round option in drafts this year if you're trying to catch up at RB.

Over the last four years, Joe Mixon has averaged 1,377 yards from scrimmage and 12.3 touchdowns per season. But Mixon is heading into his age-29 season and dealing with a foot issue that landed him on the reserve/non-football injury list, which means he'll miss at least the first four games of the season. It's also possible he'll cede some snaps to rookie Woody Marks on passing downs and to veteran Nick Chubb on early downs. Plus, the Texans have one of the league's worst offensive lines. There are a lot of storm clouds here -- probably too many to warrant spending a draft pick on Mixon.

The Texans added Marks to their backfield in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. he looks like a passing down back upgrade over Dare Ogunbowale, who can also take on some early down work to spell Joe Mixon occasionally. I wasn't high on Marks as a prospect. Since 2021, he never finished higher than 102nd in yards after contact per attempt or elusive rating (per PFF). He could siphon off some targets from Mixon, though. He has ranked 26th or higher in receiving grade in three of the last four seasons.