Fantasy Insider Report: Even With More Weapons, Texans Will Get Dameon Pierce Plenty of Carries

Plus, a receiver who missed all of his rookie season could make an impact.

The Athlon Sports 2023 Fantasy Football Annual magazine reached out to team insiders at all 32 NFL clubs to ask them three key fantasy questions heading into the season. As we count down to training camp, Sports Illustrated will publish their answers here. Today’s team: Houston Texans 

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What can we expect from C.J. Stroud this season?
The Texans needed a quarterback with precision and a knack for good decision-making. Stroud called himself a “ball placement specialist” at the NFL Scouting Combine, and the Texans should expect him to maintain the accuracy that made him a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist at Ohio State. There isn’t much established firepower on the roster, but Stroud should break the team’s rookie record for passing touchdowns (19) while keeping his interception total down.

• SEE ALSO: Houston Texans 2023 Team Outlook

With the signing of free agents Devin Singletary and Mike Boone, what kind of
workload can we expect from second-year RB Dameon Pierce?
Pierce exited the season after 13 games with a high ankle sprain, and he still finished with 55.3% of the team’s rushing attempts. Pierce will still be the team’s go-to running back. But expect new Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans to manage Pierce, Singletary and Boone in the same way the 49ers spread out snaps between Christian McCaffrey, Jeff Wilson Jr. (before he was traded) and Elijah Mitchell last season. That won’t preclude Pierce from being a 1,000-yard rusher. But he shouldn’t get near 250 carries again.

What role will second-year WR John Metchie III play after missing his rookie season while dealing with cancer?
It would be too much to expect Metchie to become Houston’s leading receiver after spending the 2022 season battling leukemia. But he was a full participant for the team’s voluntary minicamp in early May, and if all things go well, he should start for the Texans in 2023. He’s a dynamic receiver who can play inside and outside, and if he’s indeed back to his full former self, there could be major upside.

—Brooks Kubena, Houston Chronicle

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