Nathan Jahnke#72 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 17, 2026
A PFF fantasy piece on the running back "dead zone" recommends D'Andre Swift as a stable low-end RB2 who will keep their starting role over Kyle Monangai, and David Montgomery as a target in Houston with a clear path to a large workload over Woody Marks.
Published in writing · Pro Football FocusRead the original
What Nathan Jahnke said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromA slight decline is a reasonable expectation, leaving him as a low-end RB2.
- Where it was published
- Pro Football Focus
- The piece
- Fantasy Football: Running back values for 2026 drafts
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1David Montgomery to be 1st on the depth chart“With Nick Chubb gone, Woody Marks is Montgomery's primary competition for touches ... That leaves Montgomery with a clear path to his largest workload in years.”
- 2D'Andre Swift to be 1st on the depth chart“There is some risk that Monangai improves enough to take on a larger role, but Swift graded notably better as a runner, receiver and pass blocker last season, making a significant shift in playing time unlikely.”
- 3D'Andre Swift to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 5.11)“If you do find yourself looking for a running back in the dead zone, these are the players to target. ... D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears (ADP: 5.11)”
- 4D'Andre Swift to finish top 24 at his position, by fantasy points“A slight decline is a reasonable expectation, leaving him as a low-end RB2.”
- 5David Montgomery to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 5.10)“David Montgomery, Houston Texans (ADP: 5.10) ... That leaves Montgomery with a clear path to his largest workload in years.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Montgomery to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| D'Andre Swift to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| D'Andre Swift to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 5.11)3 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| D'Andre Swift to finish top 24 at his position, by fantasy points4 | Positional Finishes | — | — | — | — | |
| David Montgomery to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 5.10)5 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 5 calls · 5 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
5 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls, 2 sleeper calls and 1 positional finish — 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 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 2.
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 season18 calls from 13 pundits between 1 and 1. Nathan Jahnke 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.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
1Depth Chart CallsDavid MontgomeryHouston Texans
David Montgomery to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsD'Andre SwiftChicago Bears
D'Andre Swift to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Sleeper CallsD'Andre SwiftChicago Bears
D'Andre Swift to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 5.11)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Positional FinishesD'Andre SwiftChicago Bears
D'Andre Swift to finish top 24 at his position, by fantasy points
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Sleeper CallsDavid MontgomeryHouston Texans
David Montgomery to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 5.10)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
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Parkins named the seven AFC teams they believe are already set as the playoff field, expects Chicago, Buffalo and Kansas City to win this week, took Green Bay over New England and Atlanta over Cincinnati outright, and kept Bills–Bears as their Super Bowl matchup with the Giants still winning the NFC East.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
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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.