Woody Marks’ Late-Season Surge Has Texans Thinking Bigger in 2026
For the first half of 2025, Woody Marks was just another name on the Houston Texans’ depth chart - a backup behind veteran Nick Chubb, getting limited touches and fewer headlines. But from Week 10 onward, Marks didn’t just earn more carries - he earned the trust of the Texans’ coaching staff. And by season’s end, he looked every bit like a lead back ready to take the next step.
Let’s break it down.
A Tale of Two Halves
From Weeks 1 through 9, Marks was firmly in the backup role. In that span, he logged:
- 67 carries for 241 yards (30.1 yards per game)
- 1 rushing touchdown
- 13 catches on 21 targets for 165 yards (20.6 yards per game)
- 2 receiving touchdowns
Solid numbers for a change-of-pace back, but nothing that screamed “feature back.” That changed in the back half of the season.
Once Marks was handed the keys to the backfield in Week 10, everything shifted:
- 129 carries for 462 yards (57.8 yards per game)
- 1 rushing touchdown
- 11 catches on 15 targets for 43 yards (5.4 yards per game)
- 1 receiving touchdown
The uptick in volume was clear - nearly double the carries, nearly double the rushing yards, and a noticeable jump in his per-game production. The receiving numbers dipped, but that had more to do with how the Texans deployed him. They leaned on Marks to grind out tough yards between the tackles, control the clock, and help close games - and he delivered.
More Than Just a Change-of-Pace Option
What stood out wasn’t just the numbers, but how Marks got them. His vision in the zone run game allowed him to find cutback lanes that weren’t always obvious. His lateral quickness made defenders miss in space, and when the Texans needed him to finish off drives, he showed the kind of physicality you want from a lead back.
He brought a level of versatility that reminded some around the league of what Joe Mixon used to bring to the table - a back who could run between the tackles, catch passes out of the backfield, and wear down a defense over four quarters.
Eyeing the 1,000-Yard Mark
Marks finished 2025 with 703 rushing yards. But if you extrapolate his second-half pace (57.8 yards per game) over a full 17-game season, that projects to 982.6 yards - just shy of the 1,000-yard milestone. And that’s without factoring in any potential improvement in Houston’s offensive line or overall run-game efficiency.
In other words, if Marks gets a full season’s worth of starter-level touches, the 1,000-yard plateau is well within reach.
That’s a big deal for a Texans offense that struggled to find consistency on the ground. Last season, Houston’s rushing attack ranked near the bottom in several key categories - including total touchdowns (31st) and overall yardage - though they did manage to protect the football well (eighth in turnovers). For a team looking to take the next step in the AFC, improving the run game is a must.
What’s Next in Houston?
With free agency looming on March 11, the Texans have decisions to make. There’s buzz around potential additions like Tyler Allgeier, Breece Hall, David Montgomery, and even Travis Etienne - all backs who could bring depth and competition to the room.
The draft is another option. Some mock drafts have linked Houston to Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price, a dynamic prospect who could complement or compete with Marks for touches in 2026 and beyond.
But no matter what direction the Texans go, Woody Marks has earned a place in the conversation. At the very least, he’s proven himself as a capable 1B option - someone who can carry a significant share of the workload and close out games with authority.
In a league where running backs often come and go, Marks made the most of his shot when it mattered most. And if his second-half surge was any indication, the Texans may already have a key piece of their backfield puzzle in place.