Fantasy Football Sleeper Alert: Tuten Edges Montgomery

In the upcoming 2026 fantasy football season, running back David Montgomery of the Houston Texans and Byashul Tuten of the Jacksonville Jaguars present compelling draft options. Montgomery is set to assume the lead running back role for the Texans, a position he last held during the 2022 season. Last year, with the Lions, he accumulated 716 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Despite entering his eighth NFL season, Montgomery is anticipated to perform beyond his current fantasy valuation, where he is ranked RB24 in PPR formats. His potential could be influenced by teammate Woody Marks, who impressed as an RB2 last season.

Tuten, meanwhile, is preparing for his career debut as an RB1 with the Jaguars. In 2025, he served as the team's backup, recording 307 rushing yards, 79 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. Currently ranked RB22 for 2026 PPR leagues, Tuten represents a risk as a first-time starter. However, the Jaguars' depth chart includes Chris Rodriguez Jr. as the RB2, who had a strong showing last season with 500 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Ultimately, Tuten is favored over Montgomery for fantasy managers, largely due to the projected workload, with Rodriguez Jr. expected to handle a lesser load than Marks.