The Houston Texans continue dealing with a massive void in their backfield as their star running back remains absent from action. Joe Mixon has been sidelined for the entire season with a foot injury that has shown no signs of meaningful progress. With the season now at its halfway point, should fantasy football managers abandon hope for his eventual return?
Check out the FREE Start/Sit Optimizer from PFSN to ensure you are making the right decisions for your fantasy lineup every week!
Joe Mixon Injury Update
Mixon has remained on the reserve/non-football injury list since July, missing all of training camp, the preseason, and now eight full weeks of the regular season without any concrete return timeline. The injury occurred during the offseason while he was conducting training sessions away from Houston’s facility, affecting his foot and ankle region.
General manager Nick Caserio’s recent comments provide little optimism for fantasy managers hoping for clarity. During the team’s bye week, Caserio stated there is no timetable for Mixon’s return, saying “we won’t put a particular timetable on it” and that they will “take it one day at a time”.
Most concerning is Caserio’s admission that Mixon’s status for the remainder of the campaign is “in limbo” and that they have not fully determined his long-term availability. The fact that the Texans have yet to provide any concrete date for when the veteran running back may return to practice suggests he still has an extensive recovery ahead of him.
Aaron Wilson reported that sources describe Mixon’s injury as a “tough, complicated situation,” with uncertainty remaining about whether the veteran running back will take the field at all this season. This aligns with injury analysis that suggests the current issue represents an aggravation of prior ankle problems rather than a completely new injury.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans previously made concerning statements that seemed to discuss Mixon in past tense, declaring “We’re rolling with the guys that are here” and referencing what Mixon “brought to the team”. These comments continue to raise red flags about his potential return.
With Week 8 upon us, Mixon has officially missed half of the fantasy football regular season. There is absolutely no indication he is close to returning. Our position since August has been that Mixon will not play this year. That remains unchanged.
Mixon Fantasy Outlook
With Mixon sidelined indefinitely, the Texans have established a backfield rotation between Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks. Chubb has emerged as the clear leader through seven games, pacing the team in carries, rushing yards, touchdowns, and snaps.
Caserio praised Chubb’s efficiency during recent interviews, noting he is “a very efficient runner” with “good vision” and “good balance,” while adding there “haven’t been a lot of negative runs with him on the field”. The former Cleveland Browns standout has recorded 58 carries for 249 yards and two touchdowns so far this season.
Marks has shown flashes of potential and could eventually work his way into the lead role over the course of the season. Through six weeks, the rookie logged 233 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 42 total touches, providing more upside in PPR formats due to his pass-catching ability.
The backfield dynamics may continue evolving, but the expectation should be that Chubb and Marks form a committee approach for fantasy purposes. Chubb operates as a touchdown-dependent RB3 option, while Marks provides more upside due to his receiving skills.
Should Mixon eventually return to full health, he would theoretically resume his workhorse role given his three-year contract extension. However, that possibility grows increasingly unrealistic with each passing week. Fantasy managers who drafted Mixon should maintain zero expectations that he will contribute fantasy value in 2025.
