Woody

Marks

Ryans said the team will monitor Marks’ injury this week, but this doesn’t appear to be too big of an issue. Ryans said after Sunday’s game that Marks could have returned against the Cardinals if needed, so his comments on Monday aren’t too surprising. Fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on his practice status throughout the week, but Marks has a nice Week 16 matchup against the Raiders on tap if he is able to go.

It sounds like with a 17-0 lead, Ryans prioritized Marks’ health — this is the third week in a row where he has been pulled mid-game with a nagging lower body injury. Sensible. Not fun for fantasy managers, but sensible. Marks enters Week 16 on the questionable line, with a big game possible against a Raiders defense that allowed 31 points to the Bad Vibes Eagles in Week 15.

Marks had seven carries for 30 yards before leaving, adding a “fumble recovery” touchdown in the box score. Marks is on the sideline jogging and doesn’t seem like he is certainly done for the day, though he doesn’t have his helmet. Jawhar Jordan has been Houston’s main changeup back today with Dare Ogunbowale also mixing in behind Marks.

Chubb practiced just once this week, in a limited fashion on Friday. The 29-year-old running back is still listed as questionable with a rib injury, but isn’t expected to play, according to Schefter. Woody Marks is set up nicely for a bell cow role in a good matchup against the Cardinals. Marks is a solid RB2 in Week 15.

That makes two weeks in a row where Marks has been a Wednesday DNP and then gone full on Friday — the Texans are likely just managing his workload given how many snaps he’s taken the last few weeks. Marks has 79 carries and 84 total touches over the last four games. He’ll be on the RB2 line against the Cardinals despite the lack of touchdown equity inherent to the Texans’ red zone offense.

Outstanding. The Texans’ featured rookie running back, once viewed as simply a pass-catching specialist, is tentatively on track to play in Week 15 against the Cardinals. Marks’ 84 touches over the last four weeks tie for the position’s fourth-largest workload during that span. He should handle another hefty workload with Chubb (ribs) on the wrong side of questionable.

Marks was held out of last Wednesday’s practice with the ankle issue but returned on Thursday and was cleared from the injury report entirely before the weekend. He briefly left the Texans’ win over Kansas City late in the game with what was eventually called a knee issue on today’s injury report. His absence allowed Dare Ogunbowale to take over for a short touchdown plunge, but Marks never received an official injury designation during the game. Today’s DNP could just be maintenance for a workhorse running back. Marks ran 26 times on Sunday and is set up for another high-volume day versus Arizona if he can play.

Marks served as a workhorse following the second quarter departure from veteran Nick Chubb, the latter of whom would not finish the game after only one touch. The budding rookie’s fantasy day could have been even bigger had he not been subbed out inside the five following a hard hit half way through the fourth quarter, resulting in a Dare Ogunbowale touchdown on his only touch of the game. Fantasy managers had already enjoyed lead back status for Marks the previous month of the season, but he could be set up for true workhorse status ahead of a Week 15 meeting with the Cardinals should Chubb be unable to go.

He practiced in full on Friday for the first time this week. The rookie back can be started as a low-end RB2 — he has a good role, but the Chiefs are a good enough run defense that they create a pass funnel, and the Texans have struggled to give him any touchdown equity with a rough red zone offense.

Marks missed Wednesday’s practice, but DeMeco Ryans noted that he would be “fine.” Marks returning to practice on Thursday, even in what is likely a limited capacity, is proof that those words were not without meaning. The team also updated Marks’ injury from a foot to an ankle. Assuming he can go against the Chiefs, he’ll be a low-end RB2.