The arrival of David Montgomery should strengthen the Houston Texans’ running game in 2026, giving a new jolt of energy to an offense desperate for a bell-cow runner.
Does that mean he’ll be better than Woody Marks? If healthy, will the former No. 2 running back for Detroit be a No. 1 in Houston and hit his projected over in rushing yards?
ESPN recently revealed its top 100 predictions for the 2026 season. Looking at the best bets entering the year, Liz Loza loves the look of the revamped Texans’ offensive line as the team enters Year 2 under play-caller Nick Caley, thus signaling a sign of promise for the future run game.
With the Lions, Montgomery saw his role decrease as All-Pro Jahmyr Gibbs only continued to blossom into one of the league’s top young stars. Off to Houston, he’ll now take over the lead-back role, so the 774.5 rushing-yard total is expected to hit so long as he can stay on the field.
“Montgomery is coming off a career low in rushing yards (716). He also saw his number of carries drop below 10 per game for the first time since entering the league,” Loza wrote. “Now set to lead the Texans’ backfield after his trade from Detroit, his volume should rebound, boosting his overall production and allowing for a 900-plus-rushing-yard effort in 2026.”
Houston hopes a combination of C.J. Stroud and Montgomery in the backfield can get the franchise over the hump and into the AFC Championship conversation. He’ll be 29 next month, but unlike most runners who begin to decline, Montgomery’s body has avoided a slew of hits since he split carries with Gibbs in Detroit for the last three seasons, so he’s basically in the body of a 27-year-old.
The Texans believe in Montgomery as a lead back. It’s why they passed on drafting another runner or targeting a name in free agency. After averaging less than 4.0 yards per carry last season, he’ll need to be a difference-maker who can alleviate pressure on long-standing drives.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans RB David Montgomery a heavy favorite to hit over on projected rushing yards
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cole Thompson, Texans Wire | USA TODAY Network
