5 Best Running Backs in Houston Texans History

Synonymous with the Bill O’Brien coaching era in Houston, Blue spent just one year as the featured back in the Texans offense. But during his five NFL seasons, all with the same team, he helped the team to three postseason appearances and four winning seasons.

Blue’s best year came in his second year, 2015, when he led the team in carries (183) and yards rushing (698). The numbers don’t jump off the page, but he started just nine games, and ultimately it was enough, as the Texans made the playoffs for just the third time in team history after debuting in 2002.

His other four seasons resulted in a total of 1,709 yards rushing and six scores. For his career, Blue ranks fourth in franchise history in ground yardage.

4. Steve Slaton (2008-2011)

Slaton burst on the scene as a rookie in 2008 and probably should have earned some Rookie of the Year votes. Not the win, granted, but it was a heck of a season that he could never seem to follow up. 

Slaton’s 1,282 yards rushing that season ranked sixth in the NFL and set the franchise single-season record. He also ran for nine touchdowns and caught 50 passes as his career looked potentially atmospheric.

Slaton led the team in rushing again in 2009, but gained fewer than 500 yards on the ground that season. It was the beginning of the end as the No. 1 player on this list took control in 2010, leaving Slaton to serve as a reserve who played in just 15 more games with 113 yards rushing afterward.

3. Lamar Miller (2016-2020)

Miller arrived in 2016 and immediately put up a 1,000-yard season, his second after doing so in Miami back in 2014. He spent the next two seasons as the Texans’ No. 1, as well.

And while that first year in Houston was his best statistically, Miller made his one and only Pro Bowl in 2018, running for 973 yards and five touchdowns. Things were looking up after that, but he tore his ACL in the preseason and never picked up another carry.

Still, Miller ranks third in Texans history in yards rushing and fourth in rushing touchdowns.

2. Domanick Williams (2003-2007)

Known as Domanick Davis during his NFL days, Williams might have ended up being the best back in Texans history had a knee injury not ended his career prematurely.

Williams ultimately played just three NFL seasons. Really, just two-plus, as the knee limited him to just 11 games in 2005. He ran for 1,031 and eight touchdowns as a rookie, then 1,188 yards and 13 scores in his sophomore season. He would have hit 1,000 again in his third year – reaching 976 – before the injury struck.

He changed his name in 2006, but was cut by the Texans in 2007 and didn’t play again. Williams ranks second in Texans history in both yards rushing and touchdowns.

1. Arian Foster (2009-2015)

The clear-cut No. 1 on this list, Foster wasn’t just a good Texans running back, he was one of the best in the NFL in the early 2010s.

It’s kind of a wonder it happened. Foster went undrafted in 2009 as teams had reservations about his work ethic. Houston took a chance by bringing him to camp and didn’t see payoff until Slaton began to struggle in Foster’s second year. He never looked back after that.

Foster made four Pro Bowls (2010-2012, 2014) during his time with the Texans and led the NFL in rushing once and touchdowns twice. His best season came in 2010 when he earned first-team All-Pro honors and finished third in Offensive Player of the Year voting.

Injuries stalled him in 2015 and the Texans cut him after that season. But it was quite the – ahem – run.