Who Should I Start? David Montgomery or James Cook
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5 | 37.1 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 4.6 | 0.0 |
David Montgomery News
Wednesday, March 11, 8:47 AM
ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime writes that running back David Montgomery will enter the 2026 season as the "No. 1 back" for the Houston Texans after they acquired him from the Detroit Lions for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and two draft picks. Montgomery had 2,506 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns in his three seasons with the Lions. The Texans were led last year by fourth-round rookie Woody Marks and veteran Nick Chubb and ranked 22nd in rushing yards per game (108). Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) missed the entire season and is expected to be released soon. Marks led the Texans with 703 rushing yards in his first year in the NFL, but it sounds like he'll take on more of a complementary role going into Year 2. Montgomery was unhappy with his role in Detroit last year behind Jahmyr Gibbs, as he had his fewest carries (158) and touches (182) in a season in his career despite playing in all 17 games. The 28-year-old should see more opportunities in Houston, although Marks won't suddenly go away, and Houston's offensive line was a weakness last year.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18.2 | 77.7 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 22.8 | 0.1 |
James Cook News
Friday, February 13, 7:31 AM
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III solidified himself as one of the NFL's best running backs in 2025, racking up 1,621 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 309 carries across 17 games. The 26-year-old also impacted the game as a receiver, hauling in 33 receptions for 291 yards and two scores. Cook III has always been an efficient player, but he was able to reach new production heights in 2025 thanks to an increase in workload. After logging 239 touches across 16 games played in 2024, Cook III recorded 342 touches in 2025 and still averaged a highly efficient 5.6 yards per touch. Cook III signed a four-year extension with Buffalo before the start of the 2025 season, so he's locked in as the team's lead rusher for the foreseeable future. The Bills also promoted former offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach, so it seems unlikely that the team would radically shift its offensive approach going forward. Now that he's proven he can handle a significant workload, Cook III profiles as a high-end running back option for fantasy managers in dynasty formats.
David Montgomery vs. James Cook
Still trying to decide between Montgomery and Cook? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that David Montgomery is projected to score 7.5 points this week while James Cook is projected to score 18.2 points.
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