Fantasy Football RB Report: Disrespected backs David Montgomery, Bucky Irving shine in Week 1
· Yahoo Sports
We're back for another year of the fantasy football running back report. The RB position is arguably the most important in fantasy, yet, one of the more difficult spots to project going into each season. It usually takes some time for us managers to get a good grip on how backfields will shake out, week-to-week.
With that in mind, we're here to try and gather some takeaways from running back rooms we weren't entirely sure on before the season. This will help inform our fantasy football decisions moving forward. Of course, we'll need to continue to monitor these situations, while also expecting some swings one way or the other before things stabilize a bit.
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In Week 1, it seems there were a few players we overlooked and disrespected in the draft process who showed up big. Below, we'll break down how touches shook out for some key backfield splits and provide some analysis as well.
Houston Texans
Player
Carries
Receptions
Total Yards
Touchdowns
FPPTs
David Montgomery
20
3
79
3
27.4
Woody Marks
8
1
34
0
6.06
The Texans brought in Montgomery via trade to lead the backfield — and that's exactly what he did in Week 1. During draft season, however, Monty was being taken as an RB2, even an RB3 in some cases. But when the dust settles on Week 1, he may be a top-three scoring RB in fantasy.
We figured Montgomery would handle most of the early-down work with Marks working in as a pass-catcher. That wasn't entirely the case with Montgomery catching three passes for 19 yards and a score. But while the veteran dominated the touches and was very productive, Marks was still on the field quite a bit. In the first half, the snaps were 22-17 in favor of Montgomery.
A few things on Monty. One, he's locked in as an RB2 and may even have RB1 upside, similar to what we saw from Javonte Williams last season in Dallas. Second, the Texans should play in plenty of favorable game scripts for the run game. To make this even better, Houston's schedule the next four weeks looks like a cake walk for Monty — vs. CIN, @ IND, vs. DAL, @ TEN. It may be buying too high but Montgomery's rest-of-season outlook appears very bright. He could be a league-winner in 2026.
Carolina Panthers
Player
Carries
Receptions
Total Yards
Touchdowns
FPPTs
Chuba Hubbard
10
3
87
2
22.2
Jonathon Brooks
4
1
62
0
6.7
There was plenty of discourse in Carolina about what the backfield would look like this season. Last season, Hubbard was injured for most of the campaign and ceded way to Rico Dowdle. Brooks was out after another major knee surgery. Then, both backs entered 2026 dealing with some type of injury, but both were cleared for Week 1. Head coach Dave Canales said the RBs would split work in a committee, though there was a clear leader on Sunday versus the Bears.
That was Hubbard, who is another RB looking like an ADP steal. The veteran got most of the work out of the backfield and led Brooks in snaps, 25-6, in the first half. Hubbard finished the barnburner with 22.2 fantasy points, which should put him in line to finish in RB1 territory for Week 1. While Brooks only had five touches, one of those was a 48-yard catch-and-run, showing off that explosiveness.
There was zero defense played on Sunday in North Carolina. But the Panthers face the Falcons and Browns the next few weeks. Hubbard is a pretty safe RB2/3 option right now. Brooks is more of a risky flex with upside in PPR formats.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Player
Carries
Receptions
Total Yards
Touchdowns
FPPTs
Jaylen Warren
10
5
73
0
7.8
Rico Dowdle
8
2
21
0
3.1
The Steelers eeked out an ugly win against Cooper Rush and the Falcons at home. We expected both Warren and Dowdle to get work in the backfield, so the way this split shook out isn't all that surprising. Production wasn't great for either, but Dowdle wasn't able to get much daylight anywhere. Dowdle also had a prime opportunity after Warren fumbled in the first half, but Mike McCarthy mostly stuck with Warren.
Aaron Rodgers doesn't look all that great at age 42, which should hold back the offense overall. With that said, Rodgers also could funnel quick passes out to his backs often. But this backfield feels like it'll be frustrating so long as Warren an Dowdle are both healthy. Warren has a better floor in PPR formats. Each could have spike weeks but should be considered volatile, TD-dependant flex plays for fantasy.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Player
Carries
Receptions
Total Yards
Touchdowns
FPPTs
Bhayshul Tuten
15
1
88
0
9.3
Chris Rodriguez Jr.
6
0
23
0
2.3
Ameer Abdullah
4
1
32
0
3.7
With Travis Etienne Jr. out the door, Tuten was expected to slide in and take the role of lead back. However, Rodriguez was brought in and there was a chance we saw more of a split to start the season. That wasn't the case in Week 1, though the game script played a factor as the Jaguars demolished a lowly Browns squad.
While Tuten was much more productive and received 16 touches to Rodriguez's six, the two split snaps (16-16) in the first half, though the game wasn't ever competitive. We also saw Abdullah involved, as he was slightly better than C-Rod. LeQuint Allen Jr. was also active but didn't touch the ball.
There are a few things to note. The Jaguars' upcoming schedule is pretty brutal — @ DEN, vs. NE, @ CIN, vs. PHI and vs. HOU. So don't expect Jacksonville to be in many blowouts in its favor during that stretch. The Jags also have a very deep receiver room and HC Liam Coen really spread things out with five different WRs catching a pass and three TEs targeted. There may not be a lot of passing work available for Tuten and Rodriguez.
Right now, Tuten feels like an RB3/flex play in PPR formats while Rodriguez is a TD-dependant flex who feels pretty risky given the upcoming slate of games.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Player
Carries
Receptions
Total Yards
Touchdowns
FPPTs
Bucky Irving
8
7
93
1
16.8
Kenneth Gainwell
5
1
18
0
2.3
To round out the trio of disrespected backs, Irving showed everyone why they shouldn't have passed on him during draft season. Bucky had a down year in 2025 due to injuries but was clearly the lead back in Week 1 versus the Bengals. While he didn't rip off any explosives, the touch volume was there, outpacing free-agent signing Gainwell 15-6 in the contest.
It was especially good to see Irving heavily involved in the passing game. The Bucs were trailing most of the game, and rather than Gainwell getting snaps and running routes, it was Irving. This tells us that Tampa Bay still views Irving as the RB1 and not as an A option to Gainwell's B. Irving should continue to be a solid RB2 option in PPR formats and is lined up well for another strong outing next week against Cleveland.
New Orleans Saints
Player
Carries
Receptions
Total Yards
Touchdowns
FPPTs
Travis Etienne Jr.
9
7
78
0
11.3
Kendre Miller
9
0
30
1
9
You'd think after a team commits four years and $48 million to an RB that they'd not be losing touches to Kendre Miller. But here we are in Week 1, looking at Etienne in a potential backfield split. Well, not exactly a full split, but it was still pretty surprising to see. The Saints came from behind and nearly beat the Lions in a 31-30 OT loss. That script essentially saved what was turning out to be a putrid debut for Etienne in NOLA.
To make matters worse, CJ Donaldson (former Mountaineer great) also saw three touches as the third string. Even rookie Barion Brown got a carry. But Etienne wasn't all that bad considering the Saints' O-line played poorly and QB Tyler Shough didn't get cooking until the second half. But Miller did get the red-zone score, which is concerning. If Etienne can't rip off explosives and big plays, TDs could be tough to come by.
The passing-game usage will give Etienne a solid floor, plus New Orleans has a tough early-season schedule. The Saints face the Ravens, Falcons, Vikings and Steelers before the Week 8 bye. But the second half looks riddled with good matchups. Don't panic on Etienne, expect better days to come. For now, he's more of an RB2/3 with a decent floor in PPR formats.