I'm a Joe Mixon fan, and it's been an interesting week for him. On the one hand, there was a really positive report regarding his workload for this season. On the other, there's an injury situation to keep in the back of one's mind.
Mixon is sitting out practices, apparently due to an undisclosed injury, but DeMeco Ryans says "I'm not worried about Joe." Reasonable to take him at his word with nothing else to go on, though the team did sign veteran Cam Akers the other day. Akers was ineffective enough with the Rams and Vikings last year that I don't think he's of much interest even as a possible No. 2, but the prospect of him only needing to beat out Dameon Pierce should Mixon actually miss games at some point gives him some nominal value. Again though, Ryans isn't concerned about Mixon and I'll go along with that.
The more positive report came from offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik a couple of days ago. "Joe is an absolute workhorse, in every regard." Scha-wing! The Texans used Devin Singletary as a workhorse the second half of last year, and that worked pretty well for the team. Now it will be Mixon in that role.
First-half versus second-half numbers is something we look at each offseason, and Houston's past and present starters were two of the league's best in terms of improved production last season. This among all running backs with a leading role for at least five games in each half of the season. Singletary (who averaged just 4.2 PPR points the first half of the year, when Pierce opened as the main back) topped the list in second-half improvement (PPR scoring systems), while Mixon was 7th.
| RUNNING BACKS 2ND-HALF PER GAME, 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Run | Rec | TD | PPR | +/-% |
| Devin Singletary, Hou. | 76.6 | 16.8 | .44 | 14.3 | 212% |
| Isiah Pacheco, K.C. | 82.0 | 16.8 | 1.00 | 19.9 | 54% |
| James Conner, Ari. | 84.5 | 16.9 | .88 | 17.8 | 50% |
| Breece Hall, NYJ | 55.7 | 43.6 | .70 | 20.0 | 45% |
| Najee Harris, Pitt. | 72.6 | 7.7 | .67 | 13.6 | 44% |
| James Cook, Buff. | 77.0 | 29.3 | .50 | 16.4 | 39% |
| Joe Mixon, Cin. | 60.4 | 24.2 | 1.04 | 17.8 | 33% |
| Kyren Williams, LAR | 114.7 | 16.8 | 1.39 | 24.7 | 32% |
| Javonte Williams, Den. | 46.3 | 16.7 | .48 | 12.5 | 28% |
| Jaylen Warren (C), Pitt. | 57.9 | 17.9 | .33 | 13.1 | 28% |
| Rachaad White, T.B. | 68.0 | 30.0 | .67 | 17.2 | 18% |
| Bijan Robinson, Atl. | 57.4 | 36.3 | .63 | 16.9 | 15% |
| Chuba Hubbard, Car. | 63.8 | 15.4 | .44 | 12.8 | 13% |
| Brian Robinson, Was. | 47.7 | 38.5 | .33 | 14.3 | 10% |
| Jonathan Taylor, Ind. | 97.4 | 4.4 | 1.20 | 18.2 | 10% |
| Jahmyr Gibbs (C), Det. | 60.7 | 16.8 | 1.00 | 16.4 | 2% |
| Jerome Ford, Cle. | 43.1 | 20.0 | .56 | 12.3 | -1% |
| Tony Pollard, Dall. | 59.0 | 13.4 | .44 | 12.8 | -6% |
| Christian McCaffrey, S.F. | 100.9 | 34.0 | 1.00 | 23.9 | -7% |
| Saquon Barkley, NYG | 57.5 | 21.3 | .92 | 15.8 | -7% |
| Derrick Henry, Ten. | 62.9 | 5.4 | .89 | 13.3 | -10% |
| Aaron Jones, G.B. | 76.7 | 14.3 | .00 | 11.8 | -11% |
| Gus Edwards, Balt. | 41.5 | 9.1 | .75 | 10.3 | -14% |
| Raheem Mostert, Mia. | 67.8 | 4.0 | 1.33 | 16.2 | -16% |
| Kenneth Walker, Sea. | 53.3 | 21.1 | .43 | 12.0 | -17% |
| David Montgomery, Det. | 70.0 | 5.7 | .81 | 13.6 | -22% |
| Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 49.7 | 27.7 | .52 | 15.5 | -26% |
| Austin Ekeler, LAC | 40.3 | 26.2 | .22 | 11.7 | -34% |
| Travis Etienne, Jac. | 47.2 | 23.3 | .44 | 13.2 | -36% |
| D'Andre Swift, Phil. | 62.1 | 6.9 | .29 | 9.9 | -39% |
In any case, the quotes from both Slowik and Ryans about Mixon's role and health are very promising. I expect I'll be willing to draft him as a No. 1 back this season and be comfortable he'll serve as an offensive focus.
--Andy Richardson