David Montgomery

David Montgomery enters the 2026 season in a much different spot than he did a year ago, and that change boosts his fantasy appeal. He was traded from Detroit to Houston in March, and the Texans paid real draft capital plus Juice Scruggs to get him, which is a strong sign that they plan to use him as a featured back.

That move matters because Montgomery should have a clearer path to volume than he had behind Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit. Recent projections and outlooks consistently describe him as Houston’s lead runner, with workhorse-style usage on early downs and near the goal line, which is exactly where he has made most of his fantasy damage in the past.

From a production standpoint, Montgomery still profiles as a strong touchdown-driven RB2 with weekly RB1 upside when Houston’s offense gets rolling. The range of recent 2026 projections places him around 165 fantasy points or better in PPR formats, with roughly 230 carries, around 30 catches, and 7-8 touchdowns as a reasonable expectation.

The good news for fantasy managers is that health has not been a major red flag entering 2026. He played all 17 games in 2025, and medical reviews of his past injuries have described his risk as low after he returned well from a 2024 MCL sprain, so the main question is workload, not durability. If you want a reliable, touchdown-friendly back in the middle rounds, Montgomery looks like a smart target in 2026 drafts.