David Johnson Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Texans RB David Johnson (quad) missed his 2nd straight practice on Thursday. His absence vs. the Chargers this weekend would be a slight boost to RB Rex Burkhead's stock. We'll get another update on Johnson tomorrow.

Texans RB Rex Burkhead (hip, quad) is active for today’s game vs. the Jaguars. It’s a slight surprise after HC David Culley said early in the week that Burkhead would miss this one. He figures to continue splitting backfield duties with RB David Johnson. RB Royce Freeman might also stay involved.

Texans RB Rex Burkhed (hip) won't play vs. the Jaguars on Sunday, HC David Culley said. It'll be David Johnson and Royce Freeman in the backfield for that one. Johnson is the better fantasy bet, but it's a situation to avoid if you can.

Texans RB David Johnson has been activated from the COVID list. He landed there on Sunday morning and missed the Seahawks game. RB Rex Burkhead is reportedly dealing with a minor hip injury, so Johnson could take on a significant role in Week 15 vs. the Jaguars.

Texans RB David Johnson has been placed on the COVID list. He's out for today's game vs. the Seahawks. That should again leave Rex Burkhead as Houston's clear lead back, with Royce Freeman behind him. Burkhead, of course, is an unexciting fantasy option in this crappy offense.

Texans RB David Johnson (thigh, illness) practiced in full all week and isn’t listed on the final injury report. He’ll return to a timeshare with RB Rex Burkhead against the Seahawks on Sunday.

Texans RB David Johnson (illness, thigh) has put in 2 full practices to open the week. He's on track to return for Sunday's game vs. the Seahawks. Johnson figures to re-form a committee with RB Rex Burkhead, leaving both guys as just desperation fantasy plays.

Texans RB David Johnson (illness, thigh) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Colts. RBs Rex Burkhead, Royce Freeman and Jaylen Samuels are dressed for Houston today. Burkhead should see most of the backfield work and is a viable (if disgusting) RB3 option.

Texans RB David Johnson (illness, thigh) is "unlikely" to play vs. the Colts today, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. We'll find out for sure around 11:30 am ET. Johnson and Rex Burkhead have been splitting backfield work lately, so Johnson's absence would be a boost to Burkhead's projected volume. Houston also has RBs Royce Freeman and Jaylen Samuels on the active roster.

Texans RB David Johnson (illness, thigh) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Colts. He didn’t practice all week, although it’s unclear if that was because of the illness, the thigh or both. We’ll get Houston’s inactives around 11:30 am ET on Sunday. If he’s out, RB Rex Burkhead becomes a slightly more palatable fantasy play.

The Texans released RB Phillip Lindsay. He finishes his 10-game Houston tenure with 50 carries for 130 yards -- 2.6 yards per carry. We'll see where Lindsay lands, but he's a long shot to be a fantasy factor the rest of this season. The Texans seem content to split backfield duties between David Johnson and Rex Burkhead the rest of the way. Even in a plus Week 12 matchup vs. the Jets, the situation should be avoided in fantasy lineups.

The Saints acquired RB Mark Ingram from the Texans. Ingram, of course, spent the first 8 years of his career in New Orleans. He'll return as RB Alvin Kamara's backup and just a handcuff in fantasy football. Ingram only figures to siphon a few carries per game from Kamara. Ingram led Houston with 92 carries through 7 games, so his departure leaves behind a decent amount of work for RBs David Johnson and Phillip Lindsay. We'll see exactly how the workload is divvied going forward, but you'll still be better off avoiding the Texans backfield.

The Texans are carrying RBs Phillip Lindsay, Mark Ingram, David Johnson, Rex Burkhead and Scottie Phillips on their 53-man roster. Based on preseason usage, we expect Lindsay and Ingram to share early-down work, with Johnson and possibly Burkhead playing on passing downs. It's a situation in avoid in fantasy football.

Texans RB David Johnson played behind RB Phillip Lindsay in Week 1 of the preseason, getting out-snapped 8 to 2 with the 1st-team offense. Both of Johnson's snaps came on 3rd down, while Lindsay played all the 1st- and 2nd-down snaps. Johnson seems to have accepted that he'll be playing a reduced role this season. “Obviously, as it’s going on, in the moment it’s tough,” Johnson said. “But I think in the long run, it will just help out the team as a whole.” We're still expecting Johnson to handle the majority of the pass-catching work out of Houston's backfield, which gives him some PPR value. But Lindsay looks like the favorite to lead in carries.

Texans OC (and play-caller) Tim Kelly talked up a higher volume run game at OTAs. “I’ve got to do a good job calling more runs and letting our backs and line get into a rhythm as far as how that game’s being played out up front,” he said via the Houston Chronicle. “Each year you go into the offseason looking at different schematic ways and personnel ways you can improve, and we feel like we’ve done that.” RB coach Danny Barrett called the backfield a “healthy competition,” with presumed starter David Johnson, Mark Ingram, Phillip Lindsay and Rex Burkhead in the mix for touches. Houston clearly has room to run more after ranking 29th in run rate last season. Still, it’s tough to get behind any piece of this backfield — especially if Deshaun Watson isn’t under center.