JoeMixon

News: 2 days agoMixon rushed the ball 25 times for 46 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 26-23 loss to the Lions. He added two receptions on four targets for 44 yards.

Spin: The Lions have boasted one of the better run defenses for much of the season, and the unit largely limited Mixon on the ground Sunday. The exception came on Houston's first offensive possession, which he capped with an eight-yard touchdown run. Mixon's notable production otherwise came as a pass catcher, when he ripped off a 36-yard catch-and-run late in the first quarter. While he was bottled up thereafter, Mixon has found the end zone in all but one game this season and has been among the most reliable producers at the position.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: After joining the Texans in March via trade, Mixon looks to bring his volume-driven, veteran appeal to an emergent Houston offense. While efficiency wasn't the hallmark of Mixon's final season with the Bengals, he did handle a massive workload en route to finishing sixth in total fantasy points among backs and ninth in per-game production in 2023. The Texans didn't pepper the backfield with many targets last season (28th in the league), but the team did rank 12th in both total carries and red zone totes allocated to backs. Without much competition for snaps, targets or touches present on the depth chart, Mixon is poised for another big role on a team flush with receiving weapons that could yield light opposing boxes.