Will David Montgomery be a top-20 fantasy running back?
By John Buhler
Can David Montgomery be a top-20 running back for the Chicago Bears?
Maybe this year we’ll be impressed by Matt Nagy’s Chicago Bears offense? Chicago hired him to be the next Andy Reid, but he hasn’t been exactly that in two years as the Bears head coach. Fortunately, he does seem to have gotten good value out of a promising running back in David Montgomery. Will Montgomery emerge as a top-20 running back in fantasy football this season?
The Fantasy Footballers have Montgomery firmly as an RB2 entering the 2020 NFL season. None of them view him as anything lower than RB24 this fall, which would cement his RB2 status league-wide. What is the Bears running back’s upward trajectory? Is there any chance he can get into the teens, maybe even sniff RB1 status in some leagues?
Check out The Fantasy Footballers for all their advice.
The best thing Montgomery has going for him is volume. He will get his touches and is proving to be an adept receiver out of the backfield in the Bears offense. Whether it’s Nick Foles or Mitchell Trubisky dumping him the ball in a checkdown, look for Montgomery to have considerable value in PPR leagues.
What is David Montgomery’s ceiling as a fantasy performer in 2020?
Jason Moore has Montgomery as him at RB20 entering the season, but recognizes his ceiling and his floor are roughly in the same spot. The best he thinks Montgomery can do is be RB18, while he probably won’t drop off any further than RB24, which is where Mike Wright has him slotted to begin the season. Andy Holloway thinks Montgomery can get to RB15, maybe even up to RB12?
What this really boils down to is do you prefer other guys in his running back tier more? Players like Chris Carson of the Seattle Seahawks and James Conner of the Pittsburgh Steelers will be drafted around the same time as Montgomery, but could end up usurping him in final fantasy rankings at season’s end. Also, keep an eye on rookie backs like Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Is Jonathan Taylor overvalued, is Marlon Mack undervalued?. dark. Next
Ultimately, RB20 sounds like a fair benchmark for Montgomery to hit. It’s a critical year for Nagy, Foles, Trubisky and the rest of the Bears offense. We have a good feeling their defense will be excellent, but offensive limitations may be what keeps them out of the playoffs for the second straight season. Look for Montgomery to pop in his second NFL season out of Iowa State.