Dare

Ogunbowale

Asked in a mailbag column if the Texans would pursue a veteran back in free agency, Alexander noted that he believes Dare Ogunbowale could return to the Texans, but flatly said Chubb won’t. The 30-year-old vet will try to catch on elsewhere in a short-yardage role in 2026. The Texans could make an offseason move to sign or draft a back to split time with Woody Marks. Or perhaps both.

He added three catches for 32 yards on four targets. Ogunbowale received 21 snaps and was involved on travesties such as “Dare Ogunbowale, wildcat goal-to-go running back” that limited his offensive ceiling. The 31-year-old backup had one red-zone first down on a catch. It’s hard to say how Houston’s running back room will shake out with two injuries in front of Ogunbowale, but any running back with touches against the Raiders in Week 16 has a chance at fantasy value.

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.

Marks benefited from the Texans’ trailing game script, but RB Dare Ogunbowale is still rotating in, which hurts Marks’ upside. The rookie running back is far and away the most explosive player in the Texans’ backfield, and he was encouragingly on the field for third and fourth downs, the two-minute drill and in the red zone. Late in the game, Marks was involved on three straight plays in scoring position. On the first, Texans QB CJ Stroud targeted Marks just inside the end zone, but Seahawks LB Drake Thomas knocked the pass out of Marks’ hands. Marks was bottled up for a one-yard loss on the second play, but Stroud looked his way after escaping pressure and the two successfully connected in the end zone thanks to a diving catch by the rookie running back. Marks seemingly winced in pain after securing the diving catch, so his Wednesday practice participation is worth monitoring. He is a low-end RB2 against the 49ers in Week 8.

He fumbled away the Texans’ last gasp effort to score offensive points as Nate Landman punched the ball out of his arms on what was setting up to be a second-and-3 inside the red zone. Ogunbowale did operate as the primary third-down back for the Texans, receiving 17 of Houston’s 63 snaps. Given how bad this offense has looked since 2023, it’s probably not enough of a role to do anything but PPR scam in a blowout situation.

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.

Marks entered the game on the Texans’ second drive, which started in the second quarter, and was eventually pulled during the third quarter. Veteran passing-game specialist Dare Ogunbowale got the start. Marks return one kickoff for a team-best 26 yards but unfortunately failed to earn a target. Marks will have to up his game if he wants to remain on the late-round radar.

Ogunbowale will continue special teams work and backing up Joe Mixon in the backfield in 2025. The nine-year NFL veteran — entering his fourth year with Houston — had 112 yards on 30 rushes last season. He also had 19 catches for 198 yards and a touchdown, with most of the production coming when Mixon was sidelined with injury.

The Texans and fantasy managers continue to await the return of Mixon, who was once believed to have a chance to play in Week 4. Mixon will reportedly meet with trainers after practice to determine whether or not he’ll have a chance to play in Week 6 against the Patriots. We’ll wait with bated breath for the decision, but if he’s unable to go, we could be looking at another week of Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale splitting touches.

Pierce missed Week 5 with the hamstring issue but returned to practice on Friday. He was a limited participant and was given a questionable tag, though he never looked likely to suit up on Sunday. We will assume he was limited in Wednesday’s practice as well. With Joe Mixon still on the sidelines, Pierce could serve as Houston’s top back if he is able to play this week. He is worth an add in most fantasy leagues, though we would project this backfield as a committee in Pierce’s first game back.