Veteran running backs are typically undervalued in fantasy football, as players tend to prefer younger players. However, we’ve seen older backs make an impact in recent years, such as Raheem Mostert with the Miami Dolphins during the 2023 season.
Two older runners who could make a difference in your league this year and come at a great price are James Conner and David Montgomery. Each of them has touchdown upside.
Conner remains the lead back for the Arizona Cardinals, while Montgomery should still see considerable work in a committee with Jahmyr Gibbs on the Detroit Lions. The question here is, who should you take between them?
Both running backs are at similar average draft positions (ADP), with Conner at RB20 and Montgomery at RB22. We dove deep to help you determine which veteran RB is the better bet for the 2025 fantasy football season.
Who Should I Take Between James Conner and David Montgomery in 2025 Fantasy Drafts?
When deciding between Connor and Montgomery, the first factor to consider is fantasy points per game from the previous season. Conner has the slightest of edges here, having averaged 15.9 ppg (RB15), while Montgomery was at 15.8 (RB16).
However, it’s worth noting that Montgomery’s offensive line receives a downgrade after stud center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement earlier this offseason. That’s bad news for a runner who excels between the tackles.
We also need to consider each player’s ceiling at current cost. As the lead back for the Arizona Cardinals, Conner is positioned for heavy volume. While Trey Benson is an intriguing second-year talent, he’s still firmly behind Conner in the pecking order.
Meanwhile, Montgomery is sharing touches with one of the best running backs in the NFL in Gibbs. There’s a risk that Montgomery will slowly be phased out of the offense, as we saw with Mostert and De’Von Achane in Miami last year.
When you watch Conner and Montgomery on tape, you see the Cardinals’ RB as the back with more juice.
EXPLOSIVE PLAYMAKERS
RB Leaders by Explosive Play Percentage [2024]:
Jahmyr Gibbs (9.5%)
Derrick Henry (7.8%)
Saquon Barkley (7.7%)
James Conner (7.1%)
Bucky Irving (6.7%) pic.twitter.com/lyBB0XpTwM— Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) June 16, 2025
Conner ranked fourth in explosive play percentage behind only Gibbs, Derrick Henry, and Saquon Barkley. It’s clear that he is showing no signs of decline just yet.
Montgomery, meanwhile, rushed for 12 touchdowns in only 14 games, but his yards per carry dropped from 4.6 in 2023 to 4.2 last season. The veteran also started to take a back seat to Gibbs down the stretch. Montgomery only had seven carries in the NFC Divisional Round against the Washington Commanders, while Gibbs had 14 rush attempts.
The Verdict: Draft Conner Over Montgomery
The debate between Conner and Montgomery becomes resolved when you consider this question: Would you rather take a veteran running back who has to compete with Gibbs or Benson for touches?
The answer here is clearly Benson, which makes Conner the better bet here. Add in the fact that the Lions lost one of the best centers in the NFL in Ragnow due to retirement, and you can see why the arrow is pointing downward on Montgomery.
We should also note that if you take Conner, it’s easy to take Benson as an insurance policy later in the draft (available at RB47 right now). With that in mind, take Conner over Montgomery in your 2025 fantasy football drafts.