Marlon Mack could be fantasy football gold in 2022 after recently signing with the Houston Texans. Yes, I know that the last sentence made some of you throw up in your mouth but hear me out on this.
Mack wasn’t completely healed from the torn Achilles he suffered in 2020. And while the running back did return last season, he only received carries in five games and wasn’t heard from after requesting a trade in November. He should be fully recovered heading into this year.
More importantly, Marlon Mack could be fantasy football gold in 2022 because he landed in a pretty good situation. Yes, the Houston Texans will likely be terrible once again. But their usage of running backs is extremely promising for his fantasy football outlook.
Rex Burkhead received 15 or more touches in seven of Houston’s final eight games in 2021. The former Patriot didn’t do much with these apart from a random breakout against the Los Angeles Chargers. But there are very few teams in the NFL giving running backs that kind of consistent volume regardless of performance.
The heavy usage pattern doesn’t stop there. Mark Ingram also received 15 or more touches in four of the Texans’ first six contests last season. For reasons no one will ever understand, David Johnson averaged 7.6 touches in the 13 games he featured in. Of course, this washed-up duo combined to do absolutely nothing with all these carries and catches.
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The case for Marlon Mack being fantasy football gold in 2022
Unlike Burkhead, Ingram and Johnson, Mack is still a capable running back with the ability to perform at the NFL level. His best season came in 2019 with the Indianapolis Colts when he put up more than 1,100 yards and scored eight touchdowns.
Let’s remember, that was not a particularly good football team. Jacoby Brissett was the starting quarterback for the Colts. Their passing attack could appropriately be described as anemic.
Now, he probably finds himself in an even worse situation with the Texans. However, the volume alone is enough to push him into the conversation as a viable RB2. It won’t always be pretty, but Marlon Mack just may be fantasy football gold in 2022.
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