There were 22 running backs chosen in the 2022 NFL Draft and the University of Florida's Dameon Pierce was the seventh one off the board, picked No. 107 overall by the Houston Texans. Pierce might be the only member of his rookie class to be his team's clear-cut featured back in Week 1 after a terrific camp/preseason, and bettors at Caesars Sportsbook have been heavily wagering Pierce this month to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He's a +1300 fourth favorite.
Pierce has now gotten the second-most money to win OROY at Caesars, a total of 10.9% of the handle. That's behind only Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (12.4%), the +900 favorite but himself not expected to start Week 1. In August alone, Pierce is first in handle at 16.2% and third in tickets at 10.6%. His odds have swung from +2500 to the current number.
Last year with the Gators, Pierce wasn't even the featured back as he shared carries with a few others. Pierce saw action in every game but only started vs. Vanderbilt. He finished with 100 carries for 574 yards and 13 touchdowns while catching 19 passes for 216 yards and three scores. The 13 rushing touchdowns and 16 total TDs tied for fifth and tied for sixth, respectively, in a single season at Florida.
Pierce entered Texans camp behind veterans Marlon Mack and Rex Burkhead on the depth chart but has since passed both. Pierce carried 11 times for 86 yards and a TD in the preseason – he didn't play in Houston's second game as Coach Lovie Smith said that he wanted to see more from the other running backs. The Texans had the worst running game in the league last season, finishing with 1,442 rushing yards and 3.4 yards per carry.
NBC Sports' Peter King wrote this about Pierce: "I don't think RB Dameon Pierce will be a Top-15 back, but if he gets pushed down far enough, the Houston rookie is good value. Watch the way Pierce runs—tough, gritty, can run out of tackles. For a growing team with a questionable line like Houston, and with a coach, Lovie Smith, who values the run hugely, Pierce will get a chance to be the top back for a team that will need to run a lot."
Houston has had two Defensive Rookies of the Year but never an Offensive winner. The Texans open Sept. 11 at home vs. Indianapolis. The Colts were good against the run last year, allowing 109.1 yards per game, but may not have Pro Bowl middle linebacker Shaquille Leonard as he had shoulder surgery earlier this summer. The SportsLine Projection Model forecasts Pierce to have 10.7 carries for 46 yards and 0.34 TDs.
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