Derek Brown#12 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 4, 2026
Brown names four running backs to target in 2026 fantasy drafts: David Montgomery as a volume-driven RB2 with RB1 upside in Houston, Tony Pollard as a value returning RB2 production despite an RB3 draft cost, rookie Jadarian Price as an upside RB2 in Seattle, and Kenny Gainwell as a potential RB2 value in Tampa Bay.
Published in writing · FantasyProsRead the original
What Derek Brown said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromMontgomery is the superior back, even at this stage of his career, and he'll be a strong volume-driven RB2 that could flirt with RB1 production.
- Where it was published
- FantasyPros
- The piece
- 4 Must-Have Running Backs (2026 Fantasy Football)
- The original
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The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 4, 2026. The quote and evidence here are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
- 1Tony Pollard to outplay his draft cost (lingering in the RB3 range in plenty of drafts)“Pollard will be lingering in the RB3 range in plenty of drafts, but I think he returns strong RB2 value and production this season.”
- 2David Montgomery to be 1st on the depth chart“Many will worry that Montgomery will split Houston's backfield workload with Woody Marks this season, but I don't see that happening. Montgomery should absorb a workload close to what Joe Mixon saw in 2024.”
- 3Tony Pollard to be 1st on the depth chart“Tony Pollard remains the clear leadback for the Titans entering the 2026 season... Brian Daboll, his new offensive coordinator, has historically ridden one running back in his offenses, and Pollard looks to be that guy this season.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Pollard to outplay his draft cost (lingering in the RB3 range in plenty of drafts)1 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| David Montgomery to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Tony Pollard to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 3 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
3 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 1 sleeper call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
David Montgomery · 2026 season19 calls from 16 pundits between 1 and 1. Derek Brown said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
1Sleeper CallsTony PollardTennessee Titans
Tony Pollard to outplay his draft cost (lingering in the RB3 range in plenty of drafts)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsDavid MontgomeryHouston Texans
David Montgomery to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsTony PollardTennessee Titans
Tony Pollard to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Bobby Skinner · Trade and Signing Calls · Stefon Diggs · Miss 0
Skinner predicted Daniel Jones signs with and wins the starting job in Indianapolis, Milton Williams to New England, Lavonte David back to Tampa, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to the Giants, DJ Reid to Arizona, Hassan Reddick to Washington and Justin Fields staying in Pittsburgh, plus alternates they had listed.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Houston Texans · Hit 81
Simms gave a predicted final score for every Week 9 game, picking the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Lions, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, Bears and Bills, and also said they wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.Connor Rogers · Game Outcome Picks · Houston Texans · Hit 100
Rogers picked straight-up winners in every Week 9 game, agreeing with Simms on all of them, and gave a 24-20 Bills score over the Vikings on Monday night.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.