Will Joe Mixon return from injury in Week 4 against Jaguars?

Game status: Joe Mixon is INACTIVE for Week 4 vs. the Jaguars.

Game day update: Joe Mixon is a game-time decision, according to Ian Rapoport. His situation has been described as “an uphill climb to play”, but “he hasn’t given up trying” and will see how he feels in pre-game workouts.

The Houston Texans will hope to have starting running back Joe Mixon back in the fold in Week 4 as they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mixon injured his ankle in Week 2 against the Bears which forced the Texans running back to miss last week’s game.

According to ESPN’s Field Yates, Mixon is being listed as questionable to play against the Jaguars. However, there was a positive development on Mixon’s status for Week 4. On Friday, the Texans running back practiced for the first time since injuring his ankle. Mixon was limited, but him practicing in any capacity should be seen as a good sign.

While Mixon practicing is certainly a good thing, it is far from a guarantee that he will play. Mixon was off to a strong start in his debut season with the Texans. In Week 1, he had 30 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown. Against the Chicago Bears, linebacker TJ Edwards rolled on Mixon’s ankle and was fined for a hip-drop tackle.

If Mixon is unable to go in Week 4 against the Jaguars, it will once again be the Cam Akers show for the Texans in the running game. Mixon’s backup Dameon Pierce has already been ruled out. Akers had just nine carries for 21 yards last week against the Minnesota Vikings, but did add a receiving touchdown.

So far this season, the Vikings have had one of the better run defenses in the NFL. Akers should have a much easier matchup against the Jaguars. The Jaguars defense has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs this season. They’ve also given up four rushing touchdowns in three games while allowing 109.3 rushing yards per game.

If you are a fantasy team with a hurt Christian McCaffrey or even Mixon and were able to pick up Akers last week, he isn’t a bad play in Week 4. The Texans offense is one of the more talented groups in the NFL and Akers is a good fit in offensive coordinator Bobby Slowick’s run scheme. At the very least, Akers should be considered as a flex play with RB2 upside.

However, in the case that Mixon does start, that would significantly limit Akers’ fantasy upside. In that scenario, even if Mixon does have a lighter workload, he would be the Texans running back to start.