Dameon

Pierce

Pierce was promoted to the active roster last week, but he won’t be active for the Christmas showdown against Denver as Kansas City looks to play out the string.

The team waived running back Elijah Mitchell in an associated move. Mitchell had been active in only once game this season, whereas Pierce can contribute to special teams on game day. The Chiefs enter “evaluation mode” for the first time in over a decade after being eliminated from postseason contention in Week 15.

Pierce will start out on the Chiefs’ practice squad, but the fourth-year back could eventually work his way to the 53-man roster given the current state of the team’s backfield. Kareem Hunt currently leads the Chiefs’ backfield this season with 116-457-7, while Isiah Pacheco is second on that list with an underwhelming 78-329-1 in eight games. Pierce hasn’t come close to replicating the 939 yards he ran for as a rookie in 2022 and has handled only 50 carries since 2024. It’s highly unlikely he steps into a role that proves meaningful for fantasy with just five weeks left in the fantasy regular season/playoffs. However, those in deeper leagues in need of a backfield boost could consider stashing Pierce to see how things develop over the next few weeks.

Pierce had only been active four times this season, taking merely 23 offensive snaps along the way while Woody Marks took over as the main early-down addition this year behind Nick Chubb. Pierce, still just 25, stands a good chance at being claimed. He nearly ran for 1,000 yards for the 2022 Texans and has proven to be a reliable kick returner as well.

Chubb is probably in line to remain the starter over Woody Marks for Houston’s do-nothing run attack in Week 10. Dameon Pierce (personal) was also limited today, and should that linger on it would likely force the Texans to get deeper into their bench if Chubb can’t go on Sunday.

All of these players are healthy scratches. The only players ruled out for Houston on Friday were placed on IR before the game or are designated to return players still in their 21-day window. Notably, Dameon Pierce is active as Houston’s third running back. Berrios missed the first two weeks with a hamstring injury and has not been active yet this season.

Pierce has been officially passed by Woody Marks and is a drop in 12-team leagues. With Jaylin Smith hitting IR before the game, this entire list is full of healthy scratches. Christian Kirk will officially be active and make his Texans debut. Berrios, who also was healthy for the first time all season, apparently has not cracked the rotation at wideout.

The Texans carried four running backs and a fullback on their active roster in Week 1, with Pierce now the lone man out in the equation for Week 2. Expect Dare Ogunbowale to serve as the third-down back while Woody Marks mixes in for change of pace duties behind lead rusher Nick Chubb. Also inactive for the Texans are WR Christian Kirk, WR Braxton Berrios, QB Graham Mertz, C Jake Andrews, and DT Tommy Togiai.

He was narrowly outrushed by Dameon Pierce (3/5) and each of them received seven snaps. It’s more of a role than some rookie backs got this week, but neither Marks nor Pierce is a must-hold ahead of Week 2 in shallow leagues.

We’re expecting to see Chubb take a majority of the early-down snaps and Dare Ogunbowale to be the third-down back for the Texans. The fact that Chubb will have the majority of the snaps makes him a worthwhile RB2/FLEX starter, and it makes Dameon Pierce and Woody Marks hard to play at this point. If Chubb is available in your league — he was a late riser due to Joe Mixon’s injury — he’s a worthwhile pickup ahead of the rosters locking.