Is David Montgomery A Good Fit With The Lions? Fantasy Football Outlook

Former Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery signed with the Detroit Lions a few days ago. The former Iowa State star was a third-round pick by the Bears in 2019.

After four years in Chicago, Montgomery will replace Jamaal Williams in Detroit. While D’Andre Swift is still around, the former Bear should be the lead running back for the Lions next season.

Over the first four years of his career, the former Iowa State star had 915 rushing attempts for 3,609 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also had 155 receptions on 194 targets for 1,240 receiving yards and four touchdowns in the passing game.

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What Did David Montgomery Accomplish In 2022?

Last year was a productive one for Montgomery. The veteran running back averaged four yards per rushing attempt. Furthermore, he had his fourth straight year with at least 800 rushing yards. Meanwhile, Montgomery had five rushing touchdowns last season. He finished second on the team in that category, only behind Justin Fields.

More importantly, the veteran running back had another solid year for fantasy players. Montgomery was the RB23, averaging 10 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The former third-round pick has been an RB2 or better every year of his career.

Is David Montgomery A Good Fit With The Lions?

Many expected the Lions to re-sign Williams this offseason. Instead, Detroit turned its attention to Montgomery. The former Bear signed a three-year deal with $18 million with the Lions.

Detroit will slide Montgomery into Williams’ role from last season. The former BYU star had 17 rushing touchdowns in 2022. Not only did he lead the NFL in that category, but Williams also set the team record.

While Montgomery won’t have the same number of touchdowns, fantasy players should be excited about the running back’s role in Detroit. Swift has struggled to stay healthy in his career. Therefore, Montgomery will have the lead role.

Last year, Williams was the RB8, averaging 12.9 fantasy points per game. He also had the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his career. Meanwhile, Montgomery had a top-five finish in 2020, averaging 15.9 fantasy points per contest.

Fantasy players shouldn’t expect a top-10 season from Montgomery in 2023. However, the veteran running back has high-end RB2 potential behind a talented Detroit offensive line.

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