Week 7 sets up as a prime spot for Houston Texans running back Woody Marks, who looks lined up for another heavy workload with David Montgomery expected to miss his second straight game.
Marks has already shown what his role can look like without Montgomery. Over the last two games, he’s logged at least 17 touches in each contest and finished as the RB22 in both Week 5 and Week 6.
He also played 84.8% of the offensive snaps in Week 5 and 77.7% in Week 6, a clear sign that Houston is leaning on him as the lead back. With little competition for touches behind him, he enters Week 7 with a real chance to blow past his ECR ranking of RB16.
The matchup only adds to the appeal. The Texans face the New York Giants, and while New York’s pass defense has been one of the league’s best through six games, the run defense has been a different story. The Giants have given up 120 rushing yards in each of their last three games, and opposing backfields have produced at least 19.1 PPR points during that stretch.
That opens the door for Marks to soak up the kind of volume that can swing fantasy lineups. He’s positioned as a strong RB2 or FLEX play, and there’s a path to a top-10 finish if the workload keeps climbing the way it has over the past two weeks. A big outing would also put him in a stronger spot on the trade block, especially with Montgomery’s possible Week 8 return looming.
Marks brings some receiving value too, which gives him appeal in both PPR and non-PPR formats. During his time as RB1, he has six catches on seven targets, another layer of production that should keep his fantasy floor steady this week.
In Other News...
Texans Defense Could Get A Huge Week 7 Boost
Azeez Al-Shaairs return to practice is a welcome sign for a Texans defense that has needed every bit of stability it can get through a 2-4 start. After dealing with a minor knee injury, the linebacker has moved into limited work, which at least puts him in position to be available when Houston hosts the Giants on Oct. 25.
For a defense that has leaned on him heavily, his presence would matter right away. Al-Shaair has been one of Houstons most active players through the first five games, piling up 49 tackles and two pass deflections, and the Texans would love to have that kind of production and leadership back in the middle of the unit for a game they badly need to control. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Suddenly Have A Trade Deadline Decision Fans Didn't Expect
Houston has already been active on the trade front this season, bringing in Kayshon Boutte and Marvin Harrison Jr. as injuries and roster needs pushed the front office to keep adjusting on the fly. Even with those additions, the Texans still find themselves in a familiar spot for a contending team: a deep wide receiver room, a tight roster picture and a deadline approaching fast enough to force some uncomfortable conversations.
With several players on expiring contracts, the next move may not be about adding help so much as protecting future value before the Nov. 10 trade deadline. Xavier Hutchinson and Boutte are the names most likely to come up if Houston decides to turn a crowded position into draft capital and more flexibility for the offseason, even if any such discussion remains firmly in the speculative stage for now. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Suddenly Have One Big Concern Despite Tank Dells Return
Tank Dell is back to full participation in practice, giving Houston at least one encouraging sign as it turns toward its matchup with the Giants. His return should help stabilize an offense that has been waiting for more juice from its receiving group, but the bigger picture around the Texans still looks unsettled as the week unfolds.
Seven Texans did not practice because of injuries, and the most troubling absences came in the secondary with Azeez Al-Shaair, Reed Blankenship and Jalen Pitre among those sidelined. Houston is also dealing with issues up front, with Trent Brown and Blake Fisher missing practice, so even with New York confirming J.J. McCarthy as its starter, the Texans are suddenly managing far more than one comeback story. [Read more 🡒]