Bernard Pierce totaled 65 rushing yards on 24 carries and added a touchdown in the Ravens' 30-9 victory over the Texans.
Bernard Pierce scores a touchdown in fantasy spot start
Bernard Pierce shouldered the load in Ray Rice’s absence in the Ravens’ 30-9 win over the Texans. We break down the fantasy implications.
Patrick McDermott
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With Ray Rice sidelined with a hip injury, Pierce anchored the Ravens backfield for the majority of the game. It was not without its share of bumps and bruises, as the Texans defense did not allow Pierce much room to run. Pierce eventually cashed-in on a touchdown run after receiving consecutive handoffs on first-and-goal at the 1-yard line, which accounted for the only Ravens touchdown on offense.
Fantasy Spin: In a close game that got out of hand toward the end, Pierce was the prime candidate to receive a big workload for the Ravens offense. In a spot start, his double-digit output is surely welcomed by his fantasy owners, who may feel inclined to start him once again since there's a chance Rice could miss next week's bout with the Bills. Though Pierce averaged just 1.7 yards per carry if his 25-yard run is taken out of the equation, his volume of touches will be enough to put him in RB2 consideration once again if Rice misses more time.
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