All 32 NFL teams (including Texans) ranked by their RB room

   

How bad was the Houston Texans’ rushing attack in 2023? Outside of Devin Singletary, the three other running backs averaged less than 3.2 yards per attempt.

Houston might have won the AFC South, but it was primarily due to the heroics of rookie sensation C.J. Stroud. Sure, Singletary rushed for nearly 900 yards, but those were the expected numbers of the No. 2 runner in Bobby Slowik’s offense, not the leading man.

While the Texans aren’t ready to pull the plug on Dameon Pierce entering Year 3, but they’re not turning to him as the leading rusher. Instead, Houston added Pro Bowler Joe Mixon from the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for a seventh-round pick following the start of free agency.

Mixon spent seven seasons with the Bengals after being drafted out of Oklahoma in 2017. Seven years feels like an eternity for the lifespan of running backs these days, yet Houston believes that Mixon is only entering his prime, as evident by the recent three-year, $27 million extension signed this offseason.

Pierce should add value as a third-down runner in short-yardage situations. The Texans also drafted speedster Jawhar Jordan out of Louisville to enhance the special team’s unit. It’s not the most eye-popping trio, but the Texans see upside in both Jordan and Pierce, especially the latter with another season under his belt in the zone-based offensive approach.

ESPN’s Mike Clay has released his 2024 projections, including ranking every running back room in the NFL. Where do the Texans’ running backs rank among the rest of the league? Here’s a look:

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 11: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs with the ball in the fourth quarter a game against the Houston Texans at AT&T Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Royce Freeman

Colts running back Zack Moss (21) goes up against Bengals corner back Chidobe Awuzie (22) during the Bengals vs. Colts game at Paycor Stadium on Sunday December 10, 2023. The game was tied 14-14 at halftime.

Zack Moss, Chase Brown, Trayveon Williams, Chris Evans

Jan 7, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) gains yardage against the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Zamir White, Ameer Abdullah, Alexander Mattison, Dylan Laube

Sep 20, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards (35) runs with the ball as Houston Texans outside linebacker Brennan Scarlett (57) attempts to make a tackle during the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Isaiah Spiller, Kimani Vidal

Sep 18, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams (33) prepares to jump over Houston Texans safety Jonathan Owens (36) in the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime

Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans running back Devin Singletary (26) runs with the ball as Tennessee Titans cornerback Roger McCreary (21) attempts to make a tackle during the second quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Devin Singletary, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Eric Gray, Gary Brightwell

Oct 29, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) with the ball as Houston Texans linebacker Blake Cashman (53) defends in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Jonathon Brooks, Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, Rashaad Penny

Nov 27, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) runs with the ball as Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Mike Edwards (32) defends during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, Nyheim Hines, D’Onta Foreman

Sept 26, 2019; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) points to the sky as he celebrates scoring a touchdown with fans against Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin via USA Today Sports

Aaron Jones, Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu, Myles Gaskin

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) finds a hole at the line of scrimmage.

James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Darrynton Evans

dJan 15, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (1) fends off Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox (29) during the second half of a 2024 NFC wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Rachaad White, Bucky Irving, Chase Edmonds, Sean Tucker

Dec 11, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (20) runs past Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre (5) for a 11-yard touchdown during the first half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports

Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Julius Chestnut, Hassan Haskins

Oct 3, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) runs the ball against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

James Conner, Trey Benson, Michael Carter, Emari Demercado

Nov 12, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Houston Texans in the second half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Mixon, Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale, Jawhar Jordan

Nov 26, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) breaks out for a 1st down run against the New York Giants in the 1st half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, Kevin Harris, Jamycal Hasty

D'Andre Swift

(Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports)

D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, Khalil Herbert, Travis Homer

Oct 29, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) runs the ball as Denver Broncos safety P.J. Locke (6) defends in the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Keaontay Ingram, Deneric Prince

Dec 21, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) reacts after a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Ronnie Rivers, Boston Scott

HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 01: Travis Etienne Jr. #1 of the Jacksonville Jaguars rushes for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second quarter of the game at NRG Stadium on January 01, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Travis Etienne, Tank Bigsby, D’Ernest Johnson, Keilan Robinson

Oct 2, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (30) scores a touchdown on a run as Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre (5) attempts to make a tackle during the second quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Austin Ekeler, Brian Robinson Jr., Chris Rodriguez, Jeremy McNichols

Josh Jacobs

(Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

Josh Jacobs, AJ Dillon, MarShawn Lloyd, Emanuel Wilson

Oct 1, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) rushes against Houston Texans linebacker Christian Harris (48) in the second half at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Cordarrelle Patterson, Aaron Shampklin

Dec 25, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) is defended by Minnesota Vikings cornerback Jeff Gladney (20) in the second half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams, Kendre Miller, Jordan Mims

Jan 7, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane (28) runs with the football for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, Jeff Wilson Jr.

jeff-saturday-colts-play-intensity-texans

Sep 11, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) runs with the ball during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Jonathan Taylor, Trey Sermon, Evan Hull, Tyler Goodson

texans-lovie-smith-healthy-defense-contain-derrick-henry

Oct 30, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Derrick Henry, Keaton Mitchell, Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali

Saquon Barkley

(Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

Saquon Barkley, Kenneth Gainwell, Will Shipley, Tyrion Davis-Price

oJan 7, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New York Jets running back Breece Hall (20) runs against the New England Patriots during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Breece Hall, Israel Abanikanda, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis

Dec 24, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and running back Kenneth Walker III (9) before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet, Kenny McIntosh, George Holani

(John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)

Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Jase McClellan, Avery Williams

Lions running back David Montgomery runs against 49ers during the first half of the NFC championship game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.

Jan 14, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) looks for a touchdown signal in the third quarter of a wild card game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium. Officials called him short of the goal line. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, Isaac Guerendo