Houston Texans Top Free Agent Running Back Options

Potential new faces to pound the rock in Caley’s offense.

The Houston Texans run game was analogous with the team’s season; incredibly inconsistent. While much of the blame can be pointed at the big guys up front, the team leaned entirely on Joe Mixon. The Texans won six of the seven games when Mixon ran for over 100 yards. He will be 29 when the season starts in August and shouldn’t be counted on to carry the ball 245 attempts again.

Beyond Mixon, whose contract runs through 2026, Dameon Pierce leads a set young options in waiting including Jawhar Jordan and British Brooks. It’s been two seasons since Pierce’s phenomenal rookie season and we simply may not see him return to glory. That means if Houston wants a reliable second running back option, they’ll need to look into free agency or the draft.

While this may be a generational draft for running backs, Houston has multiple long-term needs that supersede selecting a running back early enough to contribute right away.

As for free agency, this RB class lacks the smelling salt of last year’s bunch. Aaron Jones, Najee Harris, and J.K. Dobbins headline a group of mostly rotational backs and unproved understudies. The Texans need a Moneyball strategy to land a free-agent running back, but several veteran options are worth considering.

Nick Chubb, 29 years old – (via Cleveland)

Projected deal: 1 year, $3.3M

Chubb is parting ways with Cleveland after eight highly productive seasons laden with recent and serious injuries. The mere fact that Chubb debuted in the 2024 season illustrates his humanoid-like capabilities. At 29 and with 1,340 rushing attempts to his name, there isn’t much Chubb can offer long-term. However, the upside is highly mesmerizing. Chubb can be a cheap roll-of-the-dice and an ideal fit in the new run scheme offensive coordinator Nick Caley will debut.

Jordan Mason, 25 years old – (via San Francisco)

Projected deal: 2 years, $4.5M

The San Francisco 49ers had a rolodex of RB options but almost all suffered critical injuries. Jordan Mason was a fantasy football revelation before suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 13 which ended his season.

The 25 year old back went undrafted in 2022 and since has been highly effective in a replacement role. He’s averaged 5.3 yards per carry thus far in his career. Mason is also from the Shanahan offense, which will bode well for his theoretical transition to the Texans.

Cam Akers, 25 years old – (via Minnesota)

Projected deal: 1 year, $1.1M

The quickest boomerang of all time, Akers was traded by Houston to Minnesota for a sixth round pick. Akers was fairly productive as a situational running back and red zone pass catcher. His speed and experience in a Los Angeles Rams system will bode well coming back to Houston. He potentially has a home in Houston if he’s willing to return to the team that traded him away less than a year ago.

Kenneth Gainwell, 25 years old – (via Philadelphia)

Projected deal: $2 years, $3M

Not only does this running back have an elite, fantastic first name, but he has a Super Bowl ring to boot, Gainwell was by far the RB2 behind Saquon Barkley in Philadelphia, but his best attribute was his pass catching acumen. Gainwell has always been a cast member behind an elite class of talent in the Eagles offense and could find a more solid situational role in Houston.

For being a smaller back, he is well versed at running between the tackles instead of bouncing everything outside. He’s only tallied 280 carries over four years and would be an experienced but fresh option to the Texans backfield.