My Wednesday evening Discord AMA was busy. Users asked a wide variety of questions. However, the following three questions got the nod for this piece. Join our fantasy football Discord community to catch all our mock drafts and AMAs.
- Fantasy Football Research & Advice
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- 2026 Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer
Fantasy Football Burning Questions
Is the Early Fifth-Round Too High for David Montgomery in Half-PPR Scoring?
In addition to the headline question, I was asked about keeping David Montgomery for a sixth-round pick in half-PPR leagues. I haven’t written about Montgomery much this summer, but his 49.7 average draft position (ADP) in half-PPR leagues is a value. I would rather have Montgomery than Bucky Irving (46.7 ADP), Quinshon Judkins (44.3) and Travis Etienne Jr. (41.3) among running backs in that range, and I’d take him over Garrett Wilson (45.0) as well.
In short, the early fifth round is an excellent spot to pick Montgomery, and he’s a steal as a sixth-round keeper. Montgomery has bell-cow potential as Houston’s lead running back, and he has the chops as a runner and receiver to warrant a hefty workload.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Montgomery was 11th in rushing yards over expected per attempt (0.79), sandwiched between Jaylen Warren and Jacory Croskey-Merritt (0.8) in a tie for ninth and Blake Corum (0.78) for 12th. Additionally, Montgomery was just ahead of his former teammate, Jahmyr Gibbs (0.7), in rushing yards over expected per attempt.
Montgomery’s stellar underlying data didn’t end there, either. According to the Fantasy Points Data Suite, he put up the following numbers last season, among 58 running backs with at least 70 rush attempts and among 52 running backs with at least 125 routes in the regular season and playoffs (ranking in parentheses):
- 42.1 rushing yards per game (38th)
- 4.53 yards per carry (18th)
- 2.08 yards before contact per attempt (26th)
- 2.45 yards after contact per attempt (10th)
- 3.8% explosive run rate (tied for 32nd)
- 48.1% success rate (tied for 39th)
- 0.14 missed tackles forced per attempt (tied for 29th)
- 45.6% stuff rate (28th)
- 24.6% route participation rate (47th)
- 0.18 targets per route run (tied for 26th)
- 11.3 receiving yards per game (40th)
- 1.25 yards per route run (19th)
Montgomery didn’t have a perfect profile, but he had a knack for grinding out extra yards as a runner, and his receiving production was held back by a lackluster route participation rate rather than inefficiency as a receiver.
Speaking of inefficiency as a receiver, Woody Marks was tied for 38th in yards per route run (0.93) among the same sample of running backs. Assuming he’ll block Montgomery’s path to receiving opportunities in Houston’s backfield might be missing the mark. Volume is king at running back, and Montgomery should have it in spades.
Should Gamers Treat Drafting Quarterbacks & Tight Ends Differently in 10-Team and 12-Team Leagues?
Yes. Gamers should treat drafting quarterbacks and tight ends differently in 10-team leagues compared to 12-team leagues. However, I’ll take it a step further. Gamers should also treat drafting them differently depending on the number of starting running backs, wide receivers and FLEX players in leagues.
It’s much more appealing to pick an elite quarterback, tight end or both earlier in 10-team leagues than 12-team leagues or in leagues with fewer starting running backs and wideouts, including the flex spot for those positions. The opportunity cost of picking an elite onesie position earlier in smaller leagues or leagues with fewer starting running backs and wideouts is lower, making it more meaningful to get an edge at quarterback or tight end.
Conversely, the more starters that are required at running back and wide receiver, the more pressure is on the elite quarterback or tight end to drastically outperform their peers. Even if the elite quarterback or tight end holds up their end of the bargain, if the gamers who picked elite options at those positions have a dreadful RB2/WR3/FLEX weekly starter, they’re giving back any positional edge.
Is James Cook a First-Round Target?
Yes. In fact, I’d draft James Cook as early as the sixth pick in standard and half-PPR leagues. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jaxon Smith-Njigba might jump him in PPR formats, but Cook would remain an excellent pick in the back half of the first round.
According to StatHead, Cook’s 35 touchdowns since 2024 rank third among running backs. Cook is also fifth in rushing yards per game (80.7) in the previous two years. The area where he leaves something to be desired is in the passing attack. Cook is 32nd in receiving yards per game (16.9) and tied for 22nd in receptions (75) at the position since 2024.
Cook’s rushing and touchdown production give him a strong backbone, and any uptick in receiving production could make him a league-winning caliber stud. In early July, I highlighted Cook and Ray Davis as players to target in best ball, noting the Bills might pass more often with Joe Brady as the club’s head coach.
I also discussed the impact that new offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael could have on the backfield’s receiving usage. As the following table illustrates, running backs have had receiving success in Carmichael’s offenses:
Cook offers gamers picking in the first round an exciting blend of an established high floor and an even higher, as well as an untapped ceiling, with a straightforward, realistic path to tapping into it.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
