RADIO
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.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Woody Marks a Sneaky Waiver-Wire Pick-Up for Week 2
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks didn't have a very flashy Week 1 performance, but reading deeper into some of the involvement numbers should give fantasy managers plenty of optimism. Teammate David Montgomery had 20 touches and three touchdowns on Sunday, but he was far less efficient, averaging just 3.0 yards per carry (compared to Marks' 4.7). Additionally, even though Montgomery had significantly more touches, Marks actually played one more snap than the veteran. This was a pretty equal split in terms of snap share, so we would expect the number of touches for both running backs to level out next week. Even with Montgomery healthy, there's some standalone low-end RB3 value here. Marks' next test will be the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Woody Marks Can Be a Deep-League Flex Sleeper
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks will be in a timeshare to start his second season in the NFL, but he could work his way into a large enough role that he has fantasy value. Last year, as a rookie, Marks finished the year with three receiving touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, 208 receiving yards, and 708 rushing yards. The Texans went out and added veteran David Montgomery to the mix this offseason, but Marks is still likely to be involved on receiving downs. He seemed to wear down at times last season and could benefit from the shared workload, but he could also lose valuable red zone work, raising his risk factors. For Week 1's matchup against the Bills, Marks is only the No. 45 RB in RotoBaller's rankings, but he could get close to a 50-50 split in the timeshare, which could make him a deep-league sleeper in PPR leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Woody Marks Expected to Share Plenty of Backfield Work
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks appears headed for plenty of work in Year 2. Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reported that Houston used Marks and David Montgomery nearly evenly throughout training camp, with the carry split expected to be close even if it doesn't land exactly at 50-50. Marks led the Texans with 703 rushing yards on 196 carries as a rookie, scoring twice on the ground while adding 24 catches for 208 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He also looked sharp in his main preseason appearance, turning five touches into 43 yards with a 20-yard touchdown against Las Vegas. The Texans have talked about expanding Marks' work on third downs and in the passing game as well. Montgomery will have a significant role, but Marks looks like more than a change-of-pace option heading into the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Woody Marks' Production Upside Could Be Limited in Houston
A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Houston Texans running back Woody Marks worked his way into the RB1 role in Houston midway through his rookie season and finished the year with 911 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 220 touches across 16 games. However, Houston made a big addition to its running back room over the offseason by acquiring veteran back David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions. While Montgomery is now entering his age-29 season, he averaged 4.5 yards per attempt on 158 carries with Detroit last year and is reportedly expected to play a sizable role in the Texans' offense. Montgomery is also a proven weapon as a short-yardage and goal-line back, which could limit Marks' opportunities to score touchdowns. Marks remains an intriguing fantasy piece at the right price for his handcuff appeal and his pass-catching upside, but his redraft stock is falling ahead of 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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."
Source: Kevin Patra
Source: Kevin Patra
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.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
DeMeco Ryans Thinks Woody Marks Will Have Special Year
The Coachspeak Index reported that Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans thinks running back Woody Marks will have a special season in 2026. "I'm seeing a more dynamic, faster, more physical runner," Ryans said. "He's running behind his pads...He just looks faster, looks more decisive. He's looking really special, looking like he's gonna have a special year." Marks was an inconsistent, high-upside waiver-wire pickup in fantasy football as a rookie last season. The 25-year-old surpassed 12 PPR points five times while failing to reach eight fantasy points six times after Week 4. There was interest in Marks in the fantasy community this season until David Montgomery arrived in Houston. However, Marks has reportedly had a strong training camp and consistently received praise from coaches. He is currently RotoBaller's RB46 in PPR formats, and it will be intriguing to see how the team deploys him this season.
Source: The Coachspeak Index
Source: The Coachspeak Index
Woody Marks Makes His Case for a Larger Role
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks stood out on Thursday night against the Raiders, playing very effectively on his team's opening drive, which he capped with a 20-yard touchdown run. He finished with 37 rushing yards to go with his touchdown on four carries and added a six-yard reception. The second-year running back had a strong track record as a pass-catcher in college and could step into a larger role as a receiver after the season-ending injury to Jayden Higgins (knee). Marks appears lined up to share work in the backfield with David Montgomery, but with a strong showing like Thursday's and some extra targets available, he could be a great grab with upside when you're searching for running back depth. His pass-catching potential makes him an even stronger play in PPR formats. Marks is the RB46 in RotoBaller's rankings, but he could get enough work to return great value at that spot even though he'll be working in a timeshare.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Woody Marks Looks Like More Than a Passing-Down Back
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks got one drive with the starters Thursday and didn't waste it. Marks had five touches for 43 yards against Las Vegas, including a 20-yard touchdown run where he bounced through traffic and finished the drive himself. His final line was four carries for 37 yards and one catch for six. David Montgomery didn't play, so this isn't evidence that Marks has suddenly taken over the backfield. It does make his role a little more interesting. Marks was already getting most of the backfield route work during Tuesday's joint practice, and now he has put some good rushing tape on top of it. The 5-foot-10, 208-pound back led Houston with 703 rushing yards as a rookie and caught 24 passes for 208 yards and three touchdowns. Montgomery should still get plenty of work, particularly between the tackles. Marks is starting to look capable of earning touches beyond obvious passing situations, though, and that gives him a better shot at standalone PPR value than a typical No. 2 back.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Woody Marks Runs the Majority of Routes in Joint Practice
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks was one of the most prolific pass-catching backs in college football history, racking up more than 245 receptions across his time at Mississippi State and USC. As a rookie in 2025, he caught only 24 passes, as injuries at the position forced him into more of a between-the-tackles role. The addition of veteran David Montgomery via trade should allow Marks to slip back into a more natural receiving capacity in 2026, and during Tuesday's joint practice with the Raiders, it was the second-year back who ran the majority of routes out of the backfield. Dating back to his final season with the Bears, Montgomery has topped 35 receptions only once in the past four seasons, leaving ample opportunity for Marks to carve out a well-defined role as the Texans' second back. With the safe floor provided by his receiving work, Marks has the potential to work his way into the weekly flex conversation, while his built-in insurance upside makes him an even more attractive late-round option as RotoBaller's RB47.
Source: Elite Takes
Source: Elite Takes
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.
Source: John Harris
Source: John Harris
