Despite entering the 2019 NFL Draft short on picks, the Bears traded up to select Iowa State RB David Montgomery. Though we like Mike Davis more than most, Montgomery is a tackle-breaking machine on whole other level. As a runner with strong patience and vision for the cutback lane, Montgomery is an ideal fit inside Matt Nagy’s inside-zone running game. More importantly, Montgomery is a plus pass-catcher and protector, a necessary skill in a Nagy attack that hinges upon unpredictability and screens. Though this “Ground Pie’s” distribution remains unclear, Montgomery brings (by far) the most “featured back” upside to the table.
Just two seasons ago, Nagy selected Kareem Hunt, who ultimately led the league in rushing and was a dominant fantasy force. Conveniently, Montgomery is most often compared to Hunt, and is the picture of how Nagy described his “ideal” back:
“When you’re dealing with running backs for us, in this offense, you want to be able to have a guy that has really good vision that can make guys miss… And at the same time, there’s that balance of being a hybrid, being able to make things happen in the pass game too, but yet to where you’re not one-dimensional.”
Last year, “one dimensional” defined the Bears run game with Jordan Howard. The team ran 55% of the time when Howard was on the field last season (second most), yet only 37% with Tarik Cohen in (4th lowest). Montgomery’s versatility will allow far more creativity and unpredictability. Plus, with his tackle-breaking toughness and elite balance, Montgomery is a goalline monster. As such, he offers three-down upside within a Top-10 overall offense, making Montgomery an intriguing Fantasy RB2.
