The Texans didn't trade for David Montgomery to split reps with a rookie-turned-starter — they traded for him to be the guy. Houston sent Juice Scruggs, a 4th-round pick and a 7th-rounder to Detroit for Montgomery and reportedly committed 2 years and $16.5 million to lock him in as the clear replacement for Joe Mixon. That's a starter's contract, a starter's price tag, and a starter's expectation.
Except that's not exactly how camp is shaking out. Per Aaron Wilson, Montgomery and Woody Marks are expected to split lead-back reps at training camp, a committee wrinkle that runs counter to the clean 'Montgomery is RB1' narrative that formed the moment the trade landed.
SleeperNFL flagged Aaron Wilson's report that the Texans plan to split lead-back reps between Montgomery and Marks in camp.
It matters because Marks isn't some camp body keeping a seat warm. He led Houston's backfield touches last season as a rookie, and the Texans' own coaching staff has since described his 2026 role as 'complementary' — third downs, pass-catching work, some return duty. On paper that reads like a clear subordinate role. On the practice field, apparently, it's still competitive enough that reps are getting split.
Fantasy analyst Hayden Winks flagged the dead-zone risk building around Montgomery given the crowded backfield.
Monty seems like the textbook dead zone RB with a younger RB2 behind him and playing in an offense that hasn’t run the ball well in years
That's the tension fantasy managers are chewing on. Montgomery is 28 turning 29, has scored double-digit rushing touchdowns in 4 straight seasons, and is walking into an upgraded offensive line that Houston retooled through free agency and the draft. Those are real marks in his favor. But he's also stepping into a run game that's been middling under DeMeco Ryans — Texans backs combined for just 6 rushing touchdowns in 2025 and 27 total over the last 3 years — and now he's doing it while sharing early-down work instead of locking it down outright.
None of this means Montgomery isn't the lead dog. Split camp reps are common early in a summer and don't necessarily forecast a Week 1 timeshare. But paired with Marks' younger legs, a fresh role tailored around him rather than away from him, and an offense that still hasn't proven it can pound the rock, the setup gives Houston's coaching staff a real decision to make once the games count. Worth tracking how camp reps translate to preseason snaps before anyone crowns — or buries — either back.