Alright, let’s talk about David Montgomery and what I’ve been digging into for the 2024 fantasy season. You know how it is, gotta start somewhere, and running backs are always a big piece of the puzzle.
My First Look at Montgomery for 2024
So, I started by pulling up his numbers from last year. Always gotta refresh the memory, right? Saw he put up decent rushing yards, something like over 700, I think? And he punched in a good chunk of touchdowns on the ground, maybe double digits? Yeah, checked my notes, looked like 12 rushing TDs in about 14 games. Not bad at all, definitely productive when he was out there.
The Lions Backfield Situation
But here’s the big thing I had to chew on: Jahmyr Gibbs. That guy is electric, no doubt. Montgomery isn’t the lone wolf back there anymore like he kinda was in Chicago sometimes. They’re a duo now. I remember watching the Lions last season, and yeah, that offense scored a ton. They used both guys. It seems like the coach, Campbell, really values what Montgomery brings, that tough running style. He said something about him being a big part of what they do.
So my practice involved thinking, how do they split the work? Does Montgomery keep getting those goal-line carries where the TDs pile up? Or does Gibbs start eating into that more? That’s the tricky part.
Age and Workload Concerns
Then I thought about his age. He’s 27 now. You hear folks talk about the “age cliff” for running backs around this time. It’s something I definitely factor in during my process. Is he going to hit a wall? Maybe. Maybe not. He doesn’t have insane mileage compared to some other backs his age, but it’s still something buzzing in the back of my head.
I tried projecting his workload. If he stays healthy, maybe misses a game or two like last year, can he get a similar number of carries? Around 180-200 touches? Seems possible, especially if they want to keep Gibbs fresh too. The Lions seem committed to running the ball.
Putting It All Together (My Takeaway)
So, where did I land after this initial run-through?
- Good stuff: Proven production, gets goal-line work, key part of a high-scoring offense.
- Things to watch: Sharing touches with Gibbs, the age factor creeping in.
Could he finish as a top-10 fantasy back again? Yeah, I could see a path for that if the TDs keep coming and he stays on the field. It doesn’t feel like a crazy stretch. He won’t be the first overall pick like McCaffrey, obviously, but figuring out where he fits in the draft order is the next step in my practice. He feels like a solid RB2, maybe? Someone who won’t win you the league on his own, perhaps, but provides a steady floor, especially in non-PPR or half-PPR formats, thanks to those likely TD opportunities. Still mulling it over, but that’s my initial breakdown from this session.
