The Chicago Bears are expected to be bad in 2022, but star running back David Montgomery’s fantasy outlook is promising. Will Montgomery produce enough to be on your fantasy football roster, and what is his current ADP in fantasy drafts?
David Montgomery ADP | Is he worth his current price in fantasy drafts?
Montgomery’s current ADP is 36th overall as the 17th running back selected in fantasy drafts. This means he’s being taken in the third round of standard leagues. Other players drafted in his range include James Conner and Cam Akers.
Montgomery finished as RB17 and No. 32 overall in our 2022 running back fantasy rankings for PPR leagues. He’s being drafted almost exactly where our experts would take him. It’s a great sign that the public is seeing his value as we are.
The fourth-year back is entering a crucial contract season after he’s consistently produced between 849 and 1,070 yards and six-to-eight scores on the ground. He’s also been a plus receiver, totaling 924 yards but only three touchdowns through the air.
There are justified concerns about the Bears’ offense as a whole. They have one proven receiver with starting talent. But the blend of an offensive coordinator who wants to build off the running game and Montgomery’s status as one of the better options on this offense bodes well for him.
We may see a career year from Montgomery. He’s not a threat to challenge the NFL’s leading rushers or scorers, but he’s a high-floor option. Montgomery has been relatively durable as well, missing only five games over the last three seasons.
The best case for Montgomery outperforming his projected fantasy value is the offensive line proving to be better than we expect. He’s had to grind for yards throughout his career with Matt Nagy as the head coach, averaging just 3.9 yards per carry. The presence of Justin Fields, Darnell Mooney, and Cole Kmet should keep that from happening again, as there’s just enough talent for a decent offensive coordinator to work with and keep defenses honest.
Montgomery’s projected fantasy value in 2022
The Bears have the most advantageous fantasy schedule in the NFL for running backs. This is a massive advantage if offensive coordinator Luke Getsy can get the most out of Montgomery. One piece of that endeavor will be unlocking Fields’ athleticism on rollouts.
The preseason was promising. We saw Teven Jenkins show growth as a guard and Fields play well in the new scheme. If the blocking and passing game improve, Montgomery can push his average yards per carry to the 4.5 range. This would be a revelation for the Bears’ offense and Montgomery’s fantasy managers.
We already know what his floor is, and it’s a fine RB2 who costs you exactly what he should. The Bears opted against adding significant competition behind Montgomery, so Khalil Herbert is clearly the backup.
This is a situation that we can bank on as fantasy managers.
Getsy’s experience with the Packers is another positive. He fed both running backs he had in Green Bay consistently, producing fantasy-relevant seasons for both Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon in 2021. Harnessing that same effort for the Bears backfield could push Montgomery closer to a low-end RB1 in 2022.