Who Should I Start? Duke Johnson or David Montgomery

Sunday, May 5, 1:51 PM

Running back Duke Johnson announced his retirement from professional football on Sunday. Johnson was originally taken in the third round (77th overall) by the Cleveland Browns in the 2015 NFL draft out of Miami. He spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Browns before spending two years with the Houston Texans. Johnson played for the Miami Dolphins in 2021 and the Buffalo Bills in the final year of his career in 2022. The 30-year-old wraps up his career having recorded 2,265 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 532 carries, adding 311 catches on 405 targets for 2,870 yards and an additional 12 touchdowns in 97 games (21 starts) covering eight seasons. Johnson had a career-high 410 rushing yards on 83 attempts in his first year in Houston in 2019.

Tuesday, October 21, 1:40 PM

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery had a rough game in Week 7 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, recording 13 carries for 21 yards and two catches for 18 yards. 15 total touches is a positive sign for Montgomery after he saw just six in Week 6, but the 28-year-old has now been held under 25 rushing yards and out of the end zone in three out of the last four weeks. Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs dominated in Week 7, recording 218 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 20 total touches. With Detroit not having as much success in the power-run game as in years past, it appears Montgomery could be sliding into a true RB2 role behind Gibbs. At best, Montgomery profiles as a touchdown-dependent flex option for fantasy managers as the Lions head into their Week 8 bye.