The Detroit Lions have elected to split up their backfield tandem of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. David Montgomery has been traded to the Houston Texans for a fourth-round and seventh-round draft pick after spending the last three seasons in Detroit.
What Montgomery Brings
Montgomery and Gibbs redefined the NFL running back landscape, as Detroit was one of the first teams to deploy a tandem of running backs in the backfield. The traditional thought was for the best running back on the roster to get the bulk of the touches, but fresher legs with a snap share closer to 50/50 have emerged as the superior strategy.
Montgomery doesn’t have the straight-line speed some of the best running backs have, but his ability to run through tackles makes him a valuable weapon for any offense. He wasn’t a pass-catching threat, averaging less than two catches per game during his tenure with the Lions, but he didn’t have to be thanks to his work up the middle.
Flashy running backs with great hands and breathtaking agility are better for highlight tapes, but a player with Montgomery’s work ethic in the middle of the field keeps defenses honest and will always have a place in the league.
What Gibbs Gains
For Detroit, this will allow them to unleash Gibbs and develop new running back talent alongside their star man. Gibbs was a highly touted prospect coming out of college and will now have the chance to solidify himself among the most dominant NFL running backs.
Sione Vaki and Jacob Saylors are the new RB2 and RB3 for the Lions, but they will likely draft or sign more talent before the new season gets underway.
Not only will this translate to a different look in the Lions’ backfield, but this trade will also have a massive impact on the fantasy football landscape.
Fantasy Fallout
While splitting snaps in the backfield helps teams win games, there is no doubt about that, there has been a growing frustration among fantasy managers with that strategy. Montgomery’s departure from Detroit will allow Gibbs to soar up the running back rankings, while making the backfield in Houston a thrilling one to unpack.
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A Crowded Texans Backfield
Montgomery is joining Woody Marks, Nick Chubb, and Joe Mixon in the backfield in Houston. All four running backs are capable of leading a franchise, but injury concerns have forced Houston to create an insurance policy. At least one of the three Houston running backs from last season will likely be on the move this offseason, as Houston needs to create space for their new arrival.
Nick Chubb had a long and successful career as a running back during an era when that position was undervalued. A gruesome injury two years ago put him on a slow road to recovery, and it appears as though he is the most likely trade candidate.
Joe Mixon was the primary running back in Cincinnati during the Bengals’ Super Bowl run, and has already proven he can handle a large workload. Marks was drafted less than 12 months ago, but then emerged as a real threat to lead this backfield when he soared up the depth charts in his rookie season.
Why the Lions Made the Move
This trade came out of nowhere from the Lions, but after another disappointing season without any playoff success, Detroit was forced to shake things up.
Another pair of draft picks gives the Lions more assets to play with as the draft rapidly approaches, while freeing up cap space for other positions. Houston already had no shortage of talent in the backfield before this acquisition, and now has even more flexibility in that position.
If the Texans can flip their other assets to make space for Montgomery, this could turn into a real steal for Houston.
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