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The Houston Texans selected running back Dameon Pierce in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Pierce landed in a great spot for fantasy football and put together a solid first season in Houston, rushing for 939 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie.
With the Texans only adding veterans Devin Singletary and Mike Boone to the backfield this offseason, the second-year running back should be in store for another solid fantasy campaign.
So, should I start Pierce in Week 1? Let's take a closer look.
Dameon Pierce 2022 Fantasy Season
Despite being a later pick in fantasy drafts last year, Pierce exceeded all expectations as a rookie and was a consistent fantasy RB2 throughout the season. The 23-year-old running back finished the year as the RB29 in PPR formats while averaging 12.8 PPR points per game.
If Pierce didn't miss the last four games of the season with an ankle injury, he was on his way to a top-24 running back finish. His 12.8 PPR points per game also ranked top-20 at the position and third-highest among all rookie runners behind Kenneth Walker III (13.5) and Breece Hall (16.4).
Pierce was a nice set-it-and-forget-it starter last season, and fantasy managers benefited from it. He scored over 11 PPR points in nine of 13 games and saw over 19 touches a game in 2022.
Should I Start Dameon Pierce In Week 1?
The second-year running back went in the fourth or fifth round of your fantasy drafts this season, meaning you likely drafted Pierce as your RB1 or RB2 this season. Even in a challenging matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, Pierce should be in your starting lineup.
He showed last year that he can still be a viable fantasy option -- even in a tough matchup. Pierce scored over 14 PPR points against a dominant Titans' run defense and ran 27 times for 139 yards against the Eagles the following week. Despite reports of Houston possibly going with a platoon approach at running back, there should be enough volume for him every week.
However, you should temper expectations for Pierce in the season opener. The Ravens allowed just 3.9 yards per carry in 2022, and Houston is a 10-point underdog on the road in Week 1. So if the Texans fall behind early on Sunday, the 23-year-old back could see fewer opportunities on offense.
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