David Montgomery

27-Year-Old Running BackRB

Detroit Lions

2024 Rush/Rec Stats

ATT

185

YDS

775

YDS

341

2025 Projections

ATT

YDS

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2025 Fantasy Outlook

Montgomery often starts and sets the initial tone for the Detroit offense in a given game, and in games where things are going well the Lions often turn to Montgomery again at the end of the game to close the deal and put the opponent away for good. The limiting detail is that Montgomery might not do much in between, particularly if the Lions decide they need to score quickly with Jahmyr Gibbs. This application leaves Montgomery highly dependent on game script, and when the Lions fall behind in a game they're liable to switch out Montgomery for Gibbs the rest of the game. On the other hand, for the last two years the Lions offense has been in an advantageous position often enough for both Montgomery and Gibbs to thrive. As much as it might be true to say Montgomery is dependent on rushing touchdowns for fantasy viability, the rushing touchdowns have consistently been there for Montgomery in Detroit. The loss of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson could conceivably change this dynamic for the worse, but Dan Campbell will always focus on power running as a foundational detail for the Detroit offense. As great as Gibbs is the Lions still use Montgomery as their primary hammer in the ground game, if only to preserve Gibbs' explosiveness for the max-leverage situations when the Lions really need big yardage. Read Past Outlooks

RANKS

Overall

Running Back

Height 5'11"

Weight 224

DOB 6/7/1997

College Iowa State

Drafted 3rd Rd 2019 #73 Overall

Quiet in return

RBDetroit Lions

January 18, 2025

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.

ANALYSIS
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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NFL Stats

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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats

See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.

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Advanced NFL Stats

How do David Montgomery's 2024 advanced stats compare to other running backs?

This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.

Broken Tackle %
The number of broken tackles divided by rush attempts.
Positive Run %
The percentage of run plays where he was able to gain positive yardage.
% Yds After Contact
The percentage of his rushing yards that came after contact.
Avg Yds After Contact
The average rushing yards he gains after contact.
Rushing TD %
Rushing touchdowns divided by rushing attempts. In other words, how often is he scoring when running the ball.
Touches Per Game
The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) he is averaging per game
% Snaps w/Touch
The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) divided by offensive snaps played.
Air Yards Per Game
The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
Air Yards Per Snap
The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
% Team Air Yards
The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
% Team Targets
The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
Avg Depth of Target
Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
Catch Rate
The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
Drop Rate
The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
Avg Yds After Catch
The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
% Targeted On Route
Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
Avg Yds Per Route Run
Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.

Broken Tackle %

17.8%

Positive Run %

85.4%

% Yds After Contact

66.1%

Avg Yds After Contact

2.8

Rushing TD %

6.5%

Touches Per Game

15.8

% Snaps w/Touch

58.0%

Air Yards Per Game

-1.3

Air Yards Per Snap

-0.05

% Team Air Yards

-0.5%

% Team Targets

7.2%

Avg Depth of Target

-0.5 Yds

Catch Rate

94.7%

Drop Rate

0.0%

Avg Yds After Catch

10.1

% Targeted On Route

25.5%

Avg Yds Per Route Run

2.29

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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart

Snap Counts

Snap %

Lions 2024 RB Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts

J.Jahmyr Gibbs

D.David Montgomery

C.Craig Reynolds

S.Sione Vaki

J.Jermar Jefferson

#% of Team Snaps

67557%

39733%

948%

252%

121%

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#2 RB

Lions

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Receiving Alignment Breakdown

See where David Montgomery lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.

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2024 David Montgomery Split Stats

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Measurables Review View College Player Page

How do David Montgomery's measurables compare to other running backs?

This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.

Height

5' 11"

Weight

224 lbs

40-Yard Dash

4.63 sec

Vertical Jump

28.5 in

Broad Jump

121 in

Bench Press

15 reps

Hand Length

9.25 in

Arm Length

31.38 in

Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring David Montgomery See More

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19 days ago

Jerry Donabedian looks at rookies whose ADPs shifted after the NFL Scouting Combine, including some like Ashton Jeanty who didn't even go through workouts.

NFL Best Ball Strategy: Analyzing 2025 ADPs on Underdog and Drafters

38 days ago

The popularity of Cincinnati stacks seems to be inflating ADPs for Tee Higgins and Joe Burrow. RW's Jerry Donabedian has the full scoop, looking at early ADP results from two best-ball sites.

Fantasy Football Rankings: Initial PPR Top 200 for 2025

43 days ago

RotoWire's Jerry Donabedian compares his Top 200 to early ADP and finds that most drafters don't share his optimism about Bucky Irving and Courtland Sutton.

Box Score Breakdown: Usage Analysis from the Divisional Round

67 days ago

RB Saquon Barkley broke off two more long touchdown runs, carrying the Eagles to the next round despite their continued struggles in the passing game.

NFL Reactions: Divisional Round Recap

68 days ago

Jim Coventry gives his reactions to the Divisional-Round Playoffs, including Saquon Barkley rushing for 205 yards and leading the Eagles to a victory.

Past Fantasy Outlooks

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

Few NFL seasons have ever appeared as fluky as Jamaal Williams' 17-touchdown season from 2022, and many understandably figured that the touchdown count was just a product of the time and place rather than a repeatable role for Montgomery to inherit upon leaving Chicago for Detroit in free agency. Unfortunately for the folks who doubted Montgomery -- be it due to the concerns of team rushing TD regression or the then-shocking 12th overall selection of fellow running back Jahmyr Gibbs -- Montgomery was a much better version of what Williams gave the Lions in the same role. Montgomery's total of 13 touchdowns in 14 games was no fluke, because the Detroit offense is built around a powerful running game behind a dominant offensive line. That O-line will need to withstand the loss of standout guard Jonah Jackson and the potential retirement of Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow, though the signing of veteran guard Kevin Zeitler should provide stability. It's also fair to point out that Montgomery might not get as much of the backfield work in 2024 with Gibbs heading into his second season. Montgomery is a good player who remains the clear lead power runner, but Gibbs is a first-round pick with 4.36 speed coming off a rookie year with 5.2 YPC. We already saw Montgomery's receiving usage dry up last year (16 catches), and it's possible more of the rushing load now shifts to Gibbs as well.

The Lions took Jamaal Williams and made him the second-leading touchdown scorer in 2022, the product of a strong Detroit offensive line, creative playcalling and the modest talent Williams possesses. Perhaps Montgomery is not such a standout himself, but he has more ability than Williams. It's possible the other two variables fluctuate – a little bad injury luck can take down an otherwise strong offensive line, and coordinator Ben Johnson might see challenging defensive adjustments that didn't occur to opponents in 2022 – but Montgomery still walks into a favorable situation. Montgomery and 12th overall pick Jahmyr Gibbs can and must coexist for Detroit to win, because at 199 pounds Gibbs can only bear so much physical burden. Short-yardage tasks, which is to often say carries within five yards of the end zone, might be left more so to Montgomery. At over 220 pounds with a hammerhead mentality, Montgomery is built to be a better version of Williams.

After a breakthrough 2020 season, Montgomery came roaring out of the gate in 2021 with three touchdowns and two 100-yard rushing performances in the first four weeks. Unfortunately, a sprained knee cost him the next four weeks, and in his absence Khalil Herbert proved nearly as productive as the Bears' lead back. Montgomery regained his lead role upon his return, but not his mojo, as he ran for only four more touchdowns the rest of the way and didn't have another 100-yard rushing game. The knee injury may have played a factor in that downturn, as Montgomery's broken tackle numbers and yards after contact both regressed significantly from the season before, and he doesn't have the kind of elite athleticism that would allow him to be effective at less than 100 percent. Where he does excel is with his vision and patience, which often leaves him at the mercy of a middling Chicago offensive line. With the Matt Nagy era now over, new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy is expected to bring a Packers-style scheme to another NFC North squad. That might mean Herbert getting more touches, but the bigger concern is Montgomery's shaky team context after the Bears’ six-win 2021 season was followed by an offseason marked by significant losses (WR Allen Robinson, G James Daniels, DE/OLB Khalil Mack) without comparable veteran replacements.

Few players changed the trajectory of their careers for the better in 2020 more than Montgomery. After a lackluster rookie season that left his future as a potential lead runner in doubt, the 23-year-old got a little more support from his offensive line and a little more trust from coach Matt Nagy, ultimately breaking out for more than 1,000 yards rushing and 1,500 yards from scrimmage. Montgomery's best assets might be his patience and vision, traits that do leave him more scheme-dependent than some other RBs, though he also possesses plenty of power and finished fourth among all backs in broken tackles last year. He's even a capable receiver and pass protector, and he more than doubled his production through the air from his debut campaign. The Chicago offense is still a less than ideal environment for any skill player, and replacing Mitchell Trubisky with Andy Dalton and Justin Fields won't necessarily fix the problem right away, but Montgomery has now established himself — alongside WR Allen Robinson — as one of the centerpieces of the team's attack. Even if he loses some targets with Damien WIlliams joining the team and Tarik  Cohen coming back from an ACL tear, Montgomery is a safe bet to dominate Chicago's ground workload again.

Montgomery struggled through a lackluster rookie season, but it's hard to pin the blame solely on him. The Bears offense was a disaster in 2019, as an injury-plagued offensive line and regression from Mitchell Trubisky constantly put the running game in poor situations and forced Montgomery to dance for yards that weren't there. He finished seventh among qualified rushers in broken tackle rate and T-6th in broken tackles (28), so he proved adept at making the first man miss. The problem was the three or four other defenders who were there a split second later, as his average of 1.6 yards after contact was fourth lowest in the league, sandwiching him between Peyton Barber and Sony Michel. Montgomery's early down role in tandem with Tarik Cohen seems secure, while the overall outlook remains cloudy. The addition of Bill Lazor as Chicago's new offensive coordinator seems geared toward improving the passing game, as does the team's decision to trade for Nick Foles to compete with Trubisky under center, and the offensive line could be even worse following the retirement of Kyle Long. Montgomery might have the skills to be an effective NFL back, but his team context remains suboptimal, and a groin injury from training camp has him looking questionable-to-doubtful for Week 1.

A 2019 third-round pick out of Iowa State, Montgomery steps into an immediate competition with free-agent signee Mike Davis for a significant role in the Chicago backfield alongside Tarik Cohen. Montgomery's most impressive traits as a runner are his vision, patience and power, as he calmly lets holes develop before throttling up to get to the second level. He ran just a 4.63 in the 40-yard dash, but he has enough wiggle to make the first tackler miss, and he can generate yards after contact with a stout frame, bringing a low center of gravity and powerful leg drive. He's also competent as a receiver and already adept as a pass protector, giving him the ability to stay on the field for three downs, even if his targets will be limited by Cohen's presence. There are concerns about Montgomery's college workload and the punishment his running style creates, but he's essentially a more versatile version of Jordan Howard, so he likely will have an opportunity to thrive in the same role focused on early downs and short-yardage carries.

More Fantasy News

Set to return Saturday

RBDetroit Lions

January 16, 2025

Montgomery (knee) doesn't have a designation for Saturday's divisional-round game against the Commanders.

ANALYSIS
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Gauged as full practice participant

RBDetroit Lions

January 14, 2025

The Lions listed Montgomery (knee) as a full participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice.

ANALYSIS
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Expected back for divisional round

RBDetroit Lions

Knee - MCL

January 7, 2025

Head coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday that he expects to have Montgomery (knee) available for the Lions' first playoff game in the divisional round, Justin Rogers of DetroitFootball.net reports.

ANALYSIS
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Eyeing divisional-round return

RBDetroit Lions

Knee - MCL

December 22, 2024

Montgomery plans to avoid surgery to address the MCL sprain in his left knee and will rehab the injury with the goal of returning for the divisional round of the playoffs, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

ANALYSIS
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Unsure about IR

RBDetroit Lions

Knee - MCL

December 20, 2024

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.

ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors

Confident coming off knee injury

RBDetroit Lions

January 15, 2025

Montgomery, who was a full participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice after missing the final three games of the regular season due to an MCL sprain, said Tuesday that he's confident in the health of his knee, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.

ANALYSIS
Montgomery said that he took part in a strenuous rehabilitation routine for the knee, which has him optimistic that he'll be in good form when the Lions open their postseason Saturday versus the Commanders in the divisional round. The veteran back was originally thought to be in danger of requiring surgery that would have sidelined him until next season, but he sought three medical opinions and opted to chose rehab in order to have a chance to return during the playoffs.

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