Is Joe Mixon Injured or Playing In Week 5? Should I Start Cam Akers For Fantasy Football?

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon looked like a slam dunk of a draft pick when he gashed the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1 for 26.80 PPR fantasy points. Indy didn't have an answer for Mixon's blend of power, change-of-direction skills and speed, and he rushed for 159 yards and a touchdown.

He averaged 5.3 yards per carry and added three receptions for 19 yards, providing week-winning upside for fantasy managers. The Texans seemed to have worked him into their offense perfectly, and he was utilized heavily. Unfortunately, Mixon picked up an injury in Week 2 and was pulled from the game.

Is Joe Mixon now healthy or is he hurt for Week 5? Will he play in the upcoming game, and if not, should you start Cam Akers in your fantasy lineups? Let's dive in.

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Is Joe Mixon Playing In Week 5?

He will not play. Mixon was officially declared as "Out" on Friday for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. The Texans have claimed that he did not re-aggravate his injury, but he just hadn't recovered enough to take the field. It's interesting that he logged a limited practice Friday but wasn't able to practice at all this week.

#Texans injury report for Sunday’s matchup against the #Bills.

Joe Mixon officially out.

Worry early in the week was about LT Laremy Tunsil’s ankle injury. But after a hamstring popped up on Thursday, Houston may be without C.J. Stroud’s pass-side protector RT Tytus Howard. pic.twitter.com/RKbyDyL9j8

— Sam Warren (@samwarren_3) October 4, 2024

The practice situation should probably be some cause for alarm, though. It can be frustrating for fantasy managers to be kept up in the air about a player's true status, and it's likely Houston isn't being entirely forthcoming about the severity of the injury. Why would he have practiced last Friday, then not at all since?

Joe Mixon logging a limited practice last Friday just to miss all of practice the next week and not be expected to play?

Hm. My panic meter is starting to beep.

— Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge) October 4, 2024

It's possible that his injury could be worse than originally reported, but the good news is that he hasn't been placed on IR, so it may take only a few more weeks for him to return.

Should I Start Cam Akers for Fantasy Football Week 5?

Akers has been mostly ineffective this year, and really ever since his 2022 streak of good games with the Los Angeles Rams, he hasn't been fantasy-relevant. He has two torn Achilles tendons in his past and is the third-string running back for a reason. The only reason he would start is if both Mixon and backup Dameon Pierce are out.

Last week, Pierce didn't play due to a hamstring injury, but he's now listed as questionable. Akers wasn't worth starting the past two weeks other than the touchdown he got saved his fantasy day in Week 3. Even then, he couldn't crack double-digit fantasy points. He has just 3.7 yards per carry-on limited volume.

There are some who believe that the Buffalo Bills defense - who was just gashed by Derrick Henry and the Baltimore Ravens - will be run roughshod on by every subsequent RB they face, but if anyone isn't able to do that, it would be Akers. Even if Mixon and Pierce are out, he's an RB3/FLEX play in deeper leagues at best.

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