Montgomery has been tough to trust lately and has just one touchdown in his past five games. To put that in perspective, he scored 25 touchdowns in 28 games with the Lions prior to this season. But I'm going to lean on Montgomery as a No. 2 Fantasy running back in Week 12 against the Giants, who are No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. The Giants have allowed 10 rushing touchdowns to running backs this season, including five in their past four games. Jahmyr Gibbs should crush the Giants, but Montgomery should also do well since the Lions are favored by 10.5 points at home.
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Lions' David Montgomery: Held to 37 total yards
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Montgomery rushed the ball six times for 27 yards in Sunday's 16-9 loss to the Eagles. He added one reception on one target for 10 yards.
Montgomery was limited due to game script, as the Lions possessed the ball for only 24:12 of game time. That led to only his second performance with single-digit touches this season and his second-lowest yardage output of the campaign. While Montgomery will continue to hold a meaningful role in the Detroit offense behind Jahmyr Gibbs, the former's fantasy value is primarily dependent on him finding the end zone.
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Lions' David Montgomery: Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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Since Montgomery had his monster game at Cincinnati in Week 5 when he scored 20.2 PPR points, he's only averaging 8.8 PPR points in his past four games against the Chiefs, Buccaneers, Vikings, and Commanders, with one touchdown over that span. We know Montgomery needs to score a touchdown to help Fantasy managers -- he's been at 40 rushing yards or less in three of his past four games and has two catches or less in all but one game this season -- and the Eagles have allowed eight rushing touchdowns on the season. But this feels like a Jahmyr Gibbs game on the road, and Montgomery is only worth using as a flex option in the majority of leagues. I hope he finds the end zone, but it could be another empty stat line if he fails to score.
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Lions' David Montgomery: Tallies 71 yards in win
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Montgomery rushed the ball 15 times for 71 yards in Sunday's 44-22 win over the Commanders. He added one reception on one target for zero yards.
Montgomery was overshadowed by a huge performance from Jahmyr Gibbs, but the former still saw an even split in carries. He also turned in a relatively efficient outing, including five rushes of at least five yards. While it was generally a positive outing for Montgomery, this marked only the fourth time he's topped 50 rushing yards this season, and he remains dependent on finding the end zone to turn in useful fantasy performances.
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Lions' David Montgomery: Posts 50 total yards, TD in loss
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Montgomery rushed 11 times for 40 yards and a touchdown and brought in two of four targets for 10 yards in the Lions' 27-24 loss to the Vikings on Sunday. He also lost a fumble.
Montgomery outpaced Jahmyr Gibbs by two carries and was the only one of the two to get into the end zone, doing so via a two-yard run early in the second quarter. The veteran back also short-circuited a drive in the third quarter, however, as he lost a fumble that was recovered by the Vikings at the Lions' 34-yard line and led to a Minnesota touchdown five plays later. Montgomery and Gibbs figure to continue in their usual timeshare when the Lions face the Commanders on the road in Week 10.
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Lions' David Montgomery: Overshadowed by Gibbs on MNF
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Montgomery was held to 21 yards on 13 carries while catching two of three targets for 18 yards in Monday's 24-9 win over the Buccaneers.
Jahmyr Gibbs went off for 218 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on Monday Night Football, leaving scraps for Montgomery's fantasy managers in Week 7. The latter still received 15 touches, highlighting his continued involvement in Detroit's two-pronged backfield. Both talented rushers have recorded a game with 100-plus yards this season, with Gibbs having the edge in total yards (+269) and touchdowns (+3). Montgomery may not be as tantalizing an asset as Gibbs, but he should continue providing flex value in fantasy when the Lions resume play Week 9.
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Lions' David Montgomery: Limited production in Week 6
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Montgomery recorded four carries for 24 yards and caught both of his targets for 37 yards in Sunday's 30-17 loss to the Chiefs.
Montgomery nearly had a one-yard passing touchdown on the opening possession of the game to Jared Goff, but the score was nullified by an illegal motion penalty on Detroit. With the team falling behind early, the running back never really was able to establish himself on the ground, logging a season-low four totes. Montgomery will look to bounce back Week 7 against the Buccaneers.
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Lions' David Montgomery: Accounts for two touchdowns in win
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Montgomery rushed the ball 18 times for 65 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 37-24 win over the Bengals. He added one reception on one target for six yards while also completing one pass for three yards and a score.
Montgomery made his initial impact in the game as a passer, taking a direct snap and delivering a three-yard touchdown pass to Brock Wright early in the second quarter. He got going as a rusher in the second half, racking up 12 carries for 62 yards -- highlighted by an eight-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter. While it wasn't his most efficient performance, Montgomery bounced back from a poor Week 4 showing while logging a season-high 18 carries.
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Lions' David Montgomery: RBs to Start
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I expected Montgomery to struggle in Week 4 against Cleveland, and he finished with nine carries for 12 yards and no catches on one target. But he should rebound in Week 5 against the Bengals, who are No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Five running backs have already scored at least 15.4 PPR points against Cincinnati, and the Bengals have allowed six total touchdowns to running backs in four games. Montgomery should be considered a solid No. 2 running back in all leagues, and Jahmyr Gibbs has top-three upside in this matchup. Montgomery is also from Cincinnati, and this homecoming could allow him to have a big game as well.
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Lions' David Montgomery: Can't find running room
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Montgomery rushed the ball nine times for 12 yards in Sunday's 34-10 win over the Browns.
The game script set up well for Montgomery, as the Lions led by multiple scores for nearly the entire second half. However, Jahmyr Gibbs out-touched him 17-9, and Montgomery was stymied even when he did get opportunities. His longest rush went for only four yards, and he failed to reach 20 rushing yards for only the third time in his 32 games with the Lions.
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Lions' David Montgomery: Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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Montgomery was absolutely amazing in Week 3 at Baltimore with 12 carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns and one catch for 13 yards on one target. He's now scored at least 13.1 PPR points in two games in a row, and it's tough to bench him in the majority of leagues. That said, here comes a matchup with the Browns, who are No. 2 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Cleveland allowed Chase Brown to score a touchdown in Week 1, but the Browns have held Brown, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs to a combined 48 carries for 96 yards on the season. Montgomery can always score to save his Fantasy production, but this matchup should be brutal for most running backs all season. I'll stick with Jamhyr Gibbs as a must-start running back given his role in the passing game, but Montgomery is just a flex option in all leagues in Week 4.
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Lions' David Montgomery: Career rushing night on MNF
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Montgomery carried the ball 12 times for 151 yards and a pair of touchdowns while adding a 13-yard reception in Monday's 38-30 win over Baltimore.
Montgomery waltzed into a tough road environment and casually dropped a new personal best of 151 rushing yards in a single game. The seven-year pro's longest run of 72 yards surprisingly did not result in either of his two trips to the end zone Monday. Jahmyr Gibbs (22-67-2) finished with 10 more carries and 14 more touches than Montgomery, which was the largest disparity through three weeks for Detroit's talented backfield tandem. Expect the Lions to feed the Browns a heavy dose of both Montgomery and Gibbs when the two teams meet Week 4.
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Lions' David Montgomery: RBs to Sit
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Montgomery had one of his usual, productive games in Week 2 against Chicago with 11 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown and one catch for 4 yards on one target. The week before at Green Bay, Montgomery failed to score a touchdown but compiled 42 total yards with 11 carries and four catches. It will all come down to him falling into the end zone this week at Baltimore, and the Ravens have allowed one rushing touchdown so far to James Cook in Week 1. If the Lions are trailing in this game, then maybe Montgomery will be involved in the passing game again like he was against the Packers, but this isn't a spot to trust Montgomery. I'm still starting Jahmyr Gibbs in all leagues, but Montgomery is a flex option at best.
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Lions' David Montgomery: Not worried about O-line losses
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Montgomery recently said he has "no concern" about Detroit's offensive line changes and is confident in new offensive coordinator John Morton.
The Lions lost center Frank Ragnow to retirement and right guard Kevin Zeitler to the Titans, leaving a training camp competition between rookie second-round pick Tate Ratledge, 2024 sixth-rounder Christian Mahogany and 27-year-old Trystan Colon, among others, for the two open spots. Morton, who was Detroit's passing-game coordinator the last two years under former OC Ben Johnson, still has an elite tackle duo and one of the best groups of skill-position players in the league at his disposal. There's always some chance the new play-caller gives Jahmyr Gibbs a few more snaps and touches at Montgomery's expense, but wholesale changes are unlikely after the Lions scored a league-high 33.2 points per game last season.
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Lions' David Montgomery: Quiet in return
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Montgomery rushed the ball seven times for 28 yards in Saturday's 45-31 divisional-round loss to the Commanders. He added one completion of 20 yards.
Montgomery returned from an MCL injury he suffered in Week 15, and the Lions attempted to get him involved early by giving him three carries across their first two offensive possessions. However, he was ultimately out-touched by Jahmyr Gibbs 20-7 and played a minor role in the offense. Despite the disappointing close, Montgomery enjoyed a strong second season in Detroit, tallying 12 touchdowns while averaging 4.2 yards per carry across 15 games. He remains under contract with the team and will likely be back in 2025 to complement Gibbs.
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Lions' David Montgomery: Set to return Saturday
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Montgomery (knee) doesn't have a designation for Saturday's divisional-round game against the Commanders.
Montgomery hurt the MCL in his left knee during a Week 15 loss to the Bills, after which there was uncertainty about his potential to return this season. Ultimately, after he received numerous opinions regarding the issue, the Lions made the decision to not place him on injured reserve, giving him a chance to come back at some point in the postseason. The call was a fortuitous one after Detroit claimed the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and Montgomery will miss only three games as a result of the injury. It's unclear how much work he may scoop up alongside Jahmyr Gibbs on Saturday, but at the very least Montgomery likely will claim some of the early-down and short-yardage reps that have allowed him to compile 25 rushing touchdowns in 28 regular-season contests with the Lions.
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Lions' David Montgomery: Gauged as full practice participant
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The Lions listed Montgomery (knee) as a full participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice.
Though the Lions didn't take the field for a traditional practice, the running back will seemingly be ready to go for Saturday's divisional-round game against the Commanders. Given that Montgomery missed the final three contests of the regular season due to an MCL sprain in his right knee, he could be asked to handle a more limited role out of the backfield in the Lions' postseason opener than he taken on prior to suffering the injury. Second-year tailback Jahmyr Gibbs thrived as the Lions' clear lead option out of the backfield to close out the regular season and still projects to get the larger share of the touches Saturday, though Montgomery's bruising running style and ability to contribute as a receiver will make him a welcome addition to the offense. Montgomery made 14 appearances during the regular season, gaining 775 rushing yards on 185 carries and 12 touchdowns while adding 36 catches for 341 yards on 38 targets.
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Lions' David Montgomery: Unsure about IR
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Lions coach Dan Campbell said Friday that the team hasn't made a decision about placing Montgomery (knee) on injured reserve, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
Montgomery spent much of this week visiting medical experts and now believes he can return from his MCL injury before the end of the campaign without undergoing surgery. Placing him on injured reserve before Sunday's game against the Bears not only would rule Montgomery out for the rest of the regular season but also for Detroit's first game of the playoffs. Given that reality, he may be kept on the roster even if there's no chance he plays again through Week 18. The Lions won't have a playoff game until Jan. 18 or 19 if they earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC, giving Montgomery five weeks from the date of his initial injury to recover.
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Lions' David Montgomery: Seeking third opinion on injury
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Head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday that Montgomery (knee) is seeking a third opinion on his MCL injury, which is why the team has not yet placed him on injured reserve, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
Campbell has already said Montgomery is expected to undergo season-ending surgery to address the MCL sprain in his right knee, but with Detroit gearing up to hopefully make a deep playoff push, the standout running back is leaving the door open for an alternative treatment plan. The expectation remains, though, that Montgomery will be shut down for the remainder of the 2024 campaign, leaving Jahmyr Gibbs atop the backfield, with Craig Reynolds and rookie Sione Vaki handling expanded depth roles.
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Lions' David Montgomery: Suffers potentially serious injury
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Montgomery (knee) sustained an MCL injury in his knee during Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills, the severity of which could be season ending, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Montgomery is undergoing additional tests on his knee Monday and will seek a second opinion on whatever initial results he receives, but Schefter reports that at this time the standout running back is considered out indefinitely. The Lions have yet to make an official announcement regarding Montgomery's status, but the severity of his knee injury ultimately may rule him out for the remainder of the regular season and thus the fantasy playoffs, if not the entire 2024 campaign. Montgomery's injury is the latest in a series of brutal blows for Detroit's roster, especially as the team works to mount an impactful playoff run. The lone bright spot for the Lions is that Jahmyr Gibbs remains a backfield option capable of thriving in a lead role. Beginning Sunday versus Chicago, though, it may fall to Craig Reynolds and Sione Vaki to complement Gibbs in Montgomery's place.
