WoodyMarks

News: 4 hours agoMarks (knee) didn't practice Thursday, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Spin: Marks was limited Wednesday, so his 'DNP' on Thursday is concerning, though it could be more of a workload management situation, as opposed to a setback-related downgrade, a notion supported by Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston's report that the running back dealt with mild knee discomfort in Wednesday's practice and didn't finish the session for precautionary reasons. Meanwhile, fellow backfield member David Montgomery (groin) -- who hasn't played since Week 5 -- returned to a limited session Thursday. Valuable context regarding the duo's statuses will arrive Friday, when the Texans have their final practice before Sunday's road game against the Browns.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Marks, a fourth-round NFL draft pick in 2025, played a substantial role as a rookie, soaking up 220 touches (22nd among RBs), but he struggled with efficiency (his 3.59 yards per carry and 1.61 yards after contact both ranked near the basement) and found the end zone only five times. The result was 9.4 fantasy points per game and one top-10 fantasy outing. Marks appears ticketed for a lesser role in 2026 now that David Montgomery was brought in to serve as the likely leader of a backfield committee. Especially in an offense that doesn't use backs in the passing game very much, Marks is no more than a bench/insurance stash.