The Detroit Lions will travel to take on the Green Bay Packers in Week 1. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, specifically regarding RB David Montgomery.
Is David Montgomery Playing in Week 1?
Montgomery is not listed on the injury report this week, so barring any setbacks, he will play.
We’ll continue to monitor the Lions’ injury report leading up to kickoff for any changes. You can also visit and bookmark our Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit David Montgomery in Week 1?
There’s a very good chance that David Montgomery’s late fifth-round ADP will not match his end-of-season value. The problem, however, is that it’s impossible to know if he will be a steal or a bust.
Over the past two years, only 13 running backs have averaged more PPR points per game than Montgomery, and only seven of them have played more games than the Detroit Lions veteran. He relies on touchdowns in a way that makes most fantasy managers uncomfortable, but in this high-powered offense, he has been a fantasy printing press since changing NFC North teams, with 25 rushing touchdowns in 28 regular-season games.
For whatever reason, the Lions have leaned heavily on Montgomery against the Green Bay Packers. In four games against Green Bay, he has out-touched Jahmyr Gibbs 27-8 in the red area. If that usage continues, Montgomery will again return a massive profit on his ADP.
However, the window for that dominance might be closing. In the 2023-24 season, Montgomery averaged 3.6 red zone touches per game, well ahead of the explosive Gibbs at 2.7. In 2024-25, that gap shrunk meaningfully, with Montgomery’s average falling to 3.7 while Gibbs’ rose to 3.4. That is still a significant number and encouraging at face value, but with the rate slipping, the writing could be on the wall for more of a boom-or-bust season as Gibbs continues to explore his elite potential.
These concerns are significant enough to consider selling Montgomery shares, but not enough to forecast a complete decline just yet. The Packers ranked 20th in red zone defense a season ago, and his role is not vanishing. I’m fine with plugging him into lineups for Week 1 while chasing a touchdown. But this situation needs to be monitored very closely. If the team’s offensive creativity left town with Ben Johnson this offseason, Montgomery is the player I expect to see the most dramatic dip in value.
To get ahead of it: if Montgomery gets only 11 touches in this game but scores twice, I will be selling him to the highest bidder and feeling good about it.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 1 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em article.
David Montgomery’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 1
Montgomery is projected to score 12.6 points in PPR formats. This includes 53.4 rushing yards, 0.6 rushing touchdowns, 2 receptions for 16.6 receiving yards, and 0 receiving touchdowns.
Check out the free PFSN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
Week 1 Weather Impact:Â Lions at Packers
Weather conditions should be favorable for this outdoor matchup with temperatures at 68 degrees Fahrenheit and light winds of 10 mph.
