2026 · WEEK 5 CLOSE
$1,485+51.2%1W+34%SINCE '26 DRAFTHIGH $1,485
AGE25Dec 29, 2000
EXP1 yrsince 2025
HEIGHT5'10"
inherits 11% of HOU carries (38% vacated, his claim 30%)
Marks is expected to handle a lead role out of the backfield during Sunday's game against the Jaguars in London after Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans announced Monday that fellow running back David Montgomery (groin) is viewed as week-to-week, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Montgomery logged just nine snaps in the Texans' 26-3 win over the Titans in Week 5 before departing with the injury, which cleared the way for Marks to see his heftiest workload of the season. The second-year player out of USC ended up taking the field for 56 of 66 snaps, finishing with 62 yards on 15 carries to go with four catches for 23 yards on four targets. With Montgomery on track to miss at least the London game and potentially additional contests beyond that, Marks should have a decent chance at replicating his Week 5 touch count. Beyond Marks, Dare Ogunbowale is the only other healthy running back on the 53-man roster, while Jawhar Jordan and Deuce Vaughn loom as potential candidates to be elevated from the practice squad to add depth to the position group amid Montgomery's expected absence.
Marks carried the ball 15 times for 62 yards and caught all four of his targets for 23 yards in Sunday's 26-3 win over the Titans.
The 19 touches and 85 scrimmage yards were season highs for Marks, and the added volume came after David Montgomery left the game in the second quarter due to a groin strain and didn't return. Marks has been trending toward taking on a larger share of the load anyway as a result of Montgomery's ineffectiveness, but if the veteran back is forced to miss any additional time, the decision on who the Texans' No. 1 RB is would be made for coach DeMeco Ryans. Through five games, Marks has 149 rushing yards and two TDs along with an 11-54-0 line through the air on 13 targets, but his 3.5 yards per carry is a reflection of the offensive line's struggles. If he does take on the top job in the backfield in Week 6, it'll come against a very stingy Jaguars run defense.
Everyone sharing the ball with Woody, most valuable first.
Above the line the plan was to throw; below it, to run.
Marks turned five carries into 15 yards and a touchdown and hauled in his lone target for six yards during the Texans' 19-17 loss to the Colts on Sunday. He also returned two kickoffs for 52 yards.
Marks and David Montgomery both averaged only three yards per carry during Sunday's loss, though the former found the end zone for the first time this season on a one-yard rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Marks' 20 snaps on offense was behind Montgomery's 34, though neither running back has found much success in the rushing attack in each of the Texans' last two games. Houston will look to avoid an 0-4 start to the season in Week 4 against Dallas.
Marks rushed eight times for eight yards in Sunday's 20-6 loss to the Bengals. He added five catches for 27 yards on six targets.
Neither Marks nor David Montgomery (6-10-0 rushing) could get anything going on the ground against Cincinnati, as C.J. Stroud was actually the team's leading rusher with three carries for 29 yards. In the passing game, Marks out-targeted Montgomery six to two, as Montgomery turned in a 2-14-0 receiving line. The backfield duo split snaps essentially right down the middle again for the second straight week, as Montgomery played 42 snaps to Marks' 38 against the Bengals. Marks is an RB3/4 headed into Week 3 against the Colts. Montgomery remains the favorite for goal-line work.
The RBs priced immediately above and below him.
