David Montgomery
Running Back #5
David Montgomery News
David Montgomery Extremely Inefficient for the Third Week in a Row
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery rushed for just 24 yards on 10 carries during Sunday's Week 4 loss against the Dallas Cowboys. He was also credited with 19 receiving yards (but not a reception) on a hook-and-ladder play. The veteran running back's Week 1 performance, in which he scored three touchdowns, seems to be an anomaly. He hasn't scored a touchdown since then, nor has he posted double-digit fantasy points. The worst part of Montgomery's fantasy profile is his extreme inefficiency, as he has averaged just 2.8 yards per carry this season. Week 4 was particularly bad for Montgomery, who averaged just 2.4 yards per carry against Dallas and has averaged 3.0 or fewer yards per carry in every game this year. As long as the Texans' offense continues to underperform and Woody Marks vultures carries, Montgomery belongs outside the top-36 running back tier for fantasy football.
Oct 4, 2026 6:44 PM EST
David Montgomery Is a Low-End RB2 vs. Dallas
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery started his season with a massive three-touchdown performance against the Bills, but he has struggled in his last two games and could be on the verge of losing some work. The veteran had just six carries for 10 rushing yards against the Bengals in Week 2 and 11 carries for 33 yards against the Colts in Week 3. He wasn't able to get back to the end zone in either game, although he did have multiple catches in each contest as well. Montgomery could be losing work to Woody Marks this week, according to reports from ESPN's Dan Graziano. The veteran still has touchdown-dependent potential, though, and he's in a favorable matchup against the Cowboys, who have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to RBs this season. Overall, Montgomery lines up as a low-end, high-risk RB2 this week in standard-sized leagues. He's the No. 20 RB in RotoBaller's Week 4 rankings, so he can be started with caution if you don't have better options.
Oct 3, 2026 5:29 AM EST
Disappointing Week For Texans RB David Montgomery
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery had a forgettable day on Sunday against Indianapolis, rushing 11 times for 33 yards and catching both of his targets for another 15 yards in his team's 19-17 defeat. Most notably, the Texans opted for fellow running back Woody Marks on the goal line late in the fourth quarter, and Marks went on to score Houston's only rushing touchdown of the day. Montgomery led the team in rushing, but that isn't saying much on a day when the Texans gained only 223 yards of total offense and lost their third straight to start the season. Montgomery now has 43 rushing yards in his past two games combined. He and the Texans' struggling offensive line will take on Dallas next week.
Sep 27, 2026 6:00 PM EST
David Montgomery Set Up in a Strong Matchup vs. Indianapolis
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery came back to earth in Week 2 after flying high with three touchdowns in his Texans debut in Week 1. The Bengals held him to just 10 rushing yards on six carries and two catches for 14 more yards, after he racked up 79 rushing and receiving yards in Week 1. The Texans went extremely pass-heavy in Week 2, leaving Montgomery with limited work, even though he continues to split snaps evenly with Woody Marks. Montgomery is the preferred option in scoring situations, though, which could help him bounce back with a big week against the Colts in Week 3. Indy has allowed the third-most fantasy points to running backs this season, giving up huge games to Derrick Henry and Kenneth Walker III in their two losses to start the year. Montgomery is the RB17 in RotoBaller's Week 3 rankings as a result of that juicy matchup, and he can be a solid RB2 in most leagues this week.
Sep 26, 2026 3:02 AM EST
David Montgomery Facing Workload Concerns in Houston?
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery put together a huge fantasy day in Week 1, scoring three touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills. However, the 29-year-old was unable to get anything going in his team's Week 2 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, rushing for 10 yards on six carries and recording two catches for 14 yards. While Montgomery's three touchdowns prop up his overall stat line, he's averaged just 2.7 yards per carry while rushing behind a struggling Texans' offensive line. Perhaps most concerningly for fantasy managers, Houston has split its backfield snaps almost exactly evenly between Montgomery and second-year back Woody Marks. If that continues, Montgomery will likely be highly reliant on touchdowns for fantasy production. Heading into Week 3, Montgomery's status as a no-doubt top-24 running back looks a little less certain.
Sep 25, 2026 5:11 PM EST
David Montgomery Is a Solid RB2 in Week 2
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery had a huge debut for the Texans with three touchdowns, 60 rushing yards, and 19 receiving yards in Week 1 against the Bills. This week, he'll look to keep rolling against the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Texans may have to rely even more on the run game in the absence of WR Nico Collins (hamstring). Montgomery actually played one snap fewer than Woody Marks, but got 23 touches compared to just 10 for Marks. Montgomery also got all six RB opportunities in the red zone, making him the much stronger fantasy option. This week, he's the No. 15 RB and the No. 21 overall player in RotoBaller's rankings, making him a very strong RB2 with a good ceiling since he is lined up for such a significant workload.
Sep 19, 2026 3:04 AM EST
David Montgomery Scores Three Times in First Game with Texans
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery had a debut to remember with his new team. The 29-year-old totaled 20 carries, 60 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns. He also contributed in the passing game with three catches, 19 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown. The Texans came up short against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1, but Montgomery certainly isn't to blame. He consistently found ways to get into the end zone when the Texans were in scoring range, allowing the score to stay close throughout the entire second half. Perhaps even more notable is the fact that Woody Marks had just nine carries, which means Montgomery finished with more than two-thirds of the Texans' running back carries in this game. The yardage efficiency numbers weren't great, but none of that matters if he can continue to be a surefire threat to score around the goal line. After proving himself with his new team, Montgomery has jumped to the mid-to-high RB2 tier for Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Sep 13, 2026 8:36 PM EST
David Montgomery a Strong Flex Play vs. Buffalo
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery is ready for his debut with his new team against the Bills in Week 1, and it will be exciting to see how the team rotates him and Woody Marks in the backfield. Montgomery is expected to handle most of the early-down work, and the always valuable touches near the end zone. The Texans struggled in the red zone last year, so they added Montgomery from the Lions this offseason. The veteran is expected to serve as the closer, while Marks is a home-run threat and third-down specialist. The uncertainty of the timeshare keeps Montgomery from ranking even higher, but for Week 1, he's the No. 21 RB in RotoBaller's PPR rankings. While he can be a low-end RB2 in many leagues, he's a very strong FLEX play, since the Texans will look to rely on the running game and their defense in Week 1.
Sep 11, 2026 5:06 PM EST
David Montgomery a Safe RB2 with Predictable Goal-Line Usage
In his three years with the Detroit Lions, running back David Montgomery finished no lower than the RB27, twice cracking the top 20 despite sharing a backfield with one of the league's most dynamic players in three-time Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs. Following an offseason trade to the Houston Texans, the eighth-year veteran finds himself once more atop the depth chart. While recent buzz has suggested that 2025 fourth-round pick Woody Marks could still see a prominent role after leading the team with 703 rushing yards as a rookie, Montgomery is expected to see the bulk of the early-down work and the most valuable touches around the goal line. The Texans ranked 29th in the NFL in 2025 by converting fewer than 46% of their red zone trips into touchdowns, while Detroit was a top-eight team in that category, with Montgomery scoring five of his eight touchdowns from within the five-yard line. No longer splitting goal-line work with Gibbs, who has averaged 19 touchdowns over the past two seasons, Montgomery is a safe bet to reach double-digit scores and should provide a predictable weekly floor as RotoBaller's RB20.
Sep 4, 2026 10:04 AM EST
David Montgomery Could Be a Steal in Texans Offense
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery looks like a mid-tier running back draft candidate but has the potential to really reward his drafters this season. Coming over in the offseason from Detroit where he split time with Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery has the ability to take over the Texans lead rushing role. The Texans do have Woody Marks as a backup running back who will likely take away some of Montgomery's carries and passing down work but Montgomery looks locked and loaded as the lead back. NFL.com's Kevin Patra, did an article where he picked one new Pro-Bowler from each AFC team and listed Montgomery as his candidate for the Texans, saying, "The 29-year-old is in line for a significant workload increase in Houston, and his ability to punch in scores from short range will be a boon to the offense."
Sep 1, 2026 6:43 AM EST
David Montgomery Carries Strong RB2 Appeal
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery has strengthened his redraft outlook as the regular season approaches. Head coach DeMeco Ryans has called Montgomery a "number one back," and Houston has spent much of camp managing the veteran's workload to keep him fresh. When the Texans turned him loose during an August 18 joint practice with Las Vegas, team analyst John Harris called Montgomery the story of the day after he repeatedly found room between the tackles and broke into the second level. The 29-year-old is coming off a career-low 158 carries with Detroit, but he still produced 716 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per attempt. Woody Marks remains a real part of the backfield after rushing for 703 yards as a rookie, and his receiving ability should earn him passing-down work. Nothing from camp suggests Montgomery has lost the primary rushing role, though, and he was still taking first-team carries during Houston's final joint practice with Carolina. RotoBaller currently ranks him RB21. With the Texans clearly valuing his physical running style, Montgomery looks increasingly secure as a redraft RB2 with strong touchdown upside.
Aug 28, 2026 7:59 AM EST
Texans Keeping David Montgomery Fresh Through Limited Touches
Throughout much of training camp, Houston Texans running back David Montgomery has had his workload managed, with the coaching staff aiming to keep him fresh for the regular season. During Tuesday's joint practice with the Raiders, however, he provided a reminder of what he can do when unleashed, with Texans analyst John Harris calling him the story of the day. Montgomery impressed with his combination of physicality and burst, taking a number of carries through the teeth of the Raiders' defense. In what was one of Montgomery's most active days of camp, it was still second-year running back Woody Marks who saw the majority of passing work, perhaps offering an indication of how offensive coordinator Nick Caley intends to deploy his backs in the regular season. Montgomery has topped 35 receptions only once in the past four seasons, averaging 27.5 catches per year over that span, but with an expectation to see most of the Texans' high-value red zone carries, he still offers spike week potential from the middle rounds of 2026 drafts, making RotoBaller's RB21 an attractive option as a second running back or flex play.
Aug 19, 2026 5:12 AM EST
HC DeMeco Ryans Views David Montgomery As Number One Back
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans considers running back David Montgomery the team's lead back this season. Ryans said on the SiriusXM NFL show last week, "I see David as a number one back. He's a really good runner; he's always been a runner whenever he touches the ball. Strong, runs low, runs behind his pads." Montgomery spent the past three seasons with the Detroit Lions, splitting carries with star running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Despite a timeshare, he averaged 75 scrimmage yards per game and scored 33 touchdowns in 45 games. Now he heads to Houston, where he expects to lead a committee with second-year back Woody Marks. Ranked RB21 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, the veteran back has a chance to be a solid RB2 in fantasy leagues this season.
Aug 16, 2026 7:11 PM EST
David Montgomery Still Has the Upper Hand in Houston's Backfield
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery is not taking over an empty backfield, but he still has the better path to fantasy points. The 29-year-old was squeezed down to a career-low 158 carries in Detroit last season and still produced 716 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 4.5 yards per attempt. Houston traded for him in March, then reworked his contract into a two-year, $16.5 million deal with $10 million guaranteed. Woody Marks is not disappearing. He led the Texans with 196 carries for 703 yards as a rookie, caught 24 passes for 208 yards and three scores, and has been preparing for a larger receiving role. Current camp reporting suggests the split will change with the situation. That still leaves Montgomery as the stronger bet for the physical early-down work, with Marks mixing in on passing downs and elsewhere. RotoBaller ranks Montgomery RB21 in PPR and RB26 in dynasty. That is a fair price for a back who has scored at least eight touchdowns in three straight seasons. He remains a solid redraft RB2 and a useful win-now piece. Rebuilding teams should be willing to shop him before the age discount gets any steeper.
Aug 6, 2026 11:00 AM EST
David Montgomery a Reliable Bell Cow Available Outside the Early Rounds of Drafts
For the first time since his final season with the Bears in 2022, Houston Texans running back David Montgomery enters the year as the unquestioned leader of his team's backfield. With the Texans thrown an offseason curveball last year by the mysterious foot injury of presumed starter Joe Mixon, they were forced to piece the position together with a combination of veteran Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks, neither of whom proved particularly effective for an offense built to play with a lead. Despite sharing the Detroit backfield with perennial Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs for the past three seasons, Montgomery has remained fantasy-relevant through his continued usage near the goal line, and as a player with a proven history of handling heavy workloads, he allows Marks to slip back into a more natural pass-catching role. With a defense that can help to create positive game scripts in a hurry, Montgomery should serve as the closer that this Texans offense was sorely lacking in 2025, and as RotoBaller's RB21, he represents reliable value often available in the middle rounds of drafts.
Jul 21, 2026 6:25 AM EST
David Montgomery a Running Back to Target in Zero-RB Builds
For the first time since 2023, Houston Texans running back David Montgomery projects to lead his team in carries. While he's now three years older than the player who finished that season as the RB13, and he no longer has the benefit of Ben Johnson drawing up plays for him, he still boasts tremendous upside for a player routinely slipping outside the first four rounds of 2026 drafts. While his usage has dipped in recent seasons, his efficiency has not. In his three seasons sharing a backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs, who is now comfortably in the conversation of the best backs in the game, Montgomery averaged .87 fantasy points per touch. In Houston, with one of the league's premier defenses allowing for a baseline of neutral or positive game scripts, the eighth-year veteran could see enormous volume. 2025 fourth-round pick Woody Marks was inefficient as a rookie after being thrust into lead back duty and figures to settle into a more natural pass-catching role, leaving the former Lion with the lion's share of the carries. At RotoBaller's RB21, Montgomery profiles as one of this year's safest RB2s but also has the upside to anchor a receiver-heavy build in a zero-RB strategy.
Jul 2, 2026 5:26 AM EST
Texans Hoping to Build Punishing Running Game With David Montgomery
The Houston Texans traded for former Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery in the offseason and signed him to a two-year, $16.5 million extension. KPRC 2 Sports' Aaron Wilson writes that the arrival of Montgomery in Houston "should allow the Texans to build a punishing run game and become a better red-zone and play-action offense." "He's all-day tough," offensive coordinator Nick Caley said of Montgomery. "His body of work will speak for itself. Runs behind his pads, stays grounded. Arm tackles aren't getting it done. He's going to try to run through you every single chance. He can set guys up. He understands how to set blocks and to deliver and help deliver defenders to the blocker." The lack of a consistent ground game was one of the big reasons the Texans offense sputtered in 2025. Gone are Joe Mixon (foot) and veteran Nick Chubb. Monty will provide a bruising complement to the more shifty Woody Marks, who should work in more of a pass-catching role in Year 2. After being the clear lead back to Jahmyr Gibbs last year in Detroit, Montgomery should be Houston's RB1 in 2026, giving him clear RB2 upside again in fantasy football.
Jun 27, 2026 6:52 AM EST
David Montgomery to be Three-Down Back for Texans?
The Houston Texans acquired veteran running back David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions in an offseason trade, and he's set to be the lead RB this year in Houston. The Texans ran the ball 387 times a year ago, but they just weren't very effective after not having Joe Mixon (foot) for the entire season. Monty has already been receiving "rave reviews" from offensive coordinator Nick Caley, and the Texans think that Montgomery could be a "potential three-down back" in 2026 as they look to create more physicality in their running game, according to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network. Woody Marks took over lead-back duties for the team a year ago in his rookie season out of necessity, and he's not guaranteed to have a big role in his second season as long as Montgomery stays healthy. A lot depends on the progress of Houston's offensive line and quarterback C.J. Stroud's ability to bounce back after several disappointing seasons. If those two things align, Monty could emerge as a solid RB2 for fantasy managers after seeing his role decline in 2025 in his final year in Detroit.
Jun 9, 2026 10:16 AM EST
Can Managers Look to Sell High on David Montgomery This Year?
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery is a dynasty hold for now, but a strong start to the 2026 season could position him as an intriguing sell-high candidate. Montgomery has maintained his ranking as the overall RB29 in dynasty leagues, but now that he's 28 years old and was shipped off to the Texans in an offseason trade, managers might be hesitant to trade for him. With that being said, a productive start to the 2026 season would make him a top target for dynasty managers looking to win now. We fully expect to see Montgomery have a significant role in Houston after Woody Marks showed that he probably can't handle an every-down role. If Montgomery gets short-yardage situations (including goal-line snaps) and even some early-down work, he'll increase his trade value, becoming a midseason sell-high candidate for managers looking to stock up draft picks. On the other hand, if Montgomery's current managers are in a win-now position, he'll remain a "hold" with RB2 upside. After all, he had 900+ scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns last season, even though he was the clear No. 2 behind Jahmyr Gibbs.
Jun 3, 2026 9:22 AM EST
David Montgomery Escapes NFL Draft Unscathed
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery was acquired this offseason when the team sent a package including their 2026 fourth-round pick to the Detroit Lions. Montgomery joined a backfield that was owned, largely out of necessity, by 2025 fourth-round pick Woody Marks, and with the Texans entering the NFL Draft with few glaring needs, there was a thought that they could add an additional body to the room. That did not come to pass, and Montgomery escaped the weekend as the clear top back on the depth chart. While splitting time with former first-round pick and three-time Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery averaged more than 70 yards and .73 touchdowns per game in their time together. Marks is a reliable pass catcher who will prevent him from taking on a full bellcow role, but Montgomery is in a position to handle his largest workload since his time in Chicago, and at RotoBaller's dynasty RB31, he is a smart buy for contending managers.
Apr 26, 2026 5:26 AM EST
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