David Montgomery’s 2025 fantasy football projection as a top-10 running back might not be as bold as it seems. While many fantasy managers have speculated about how the Lions’ backfield would look if one of their two standout running backs were injured, last season showed us just how effective Jahmyr Gibbs can be when David Montgomery was sidelined. In fact, Gibbs helped many fantasy managers win their leagues during Montgomery’s absence.
With John Morton stepping in as the new offensive coordinator for Detroit, the fundamental principles of their high-performing offense will likely remain intact. The Lions are expected to continue their run-heavy approach, which will allow both Montgomery and Gibbs to thrive. Additionally, Gibbs still has untapped potential as a pass catcher that Morton may look to exploit.
Montgomery has long been the “Thunder” to Gibbs’ “Lightning,” or “Knuckles” to Gibbs’ “Sonic,” depending on your preference for the duo’s nickname. Gibbs’ strong finish to the 2024 season helped him finish as the RB2 in 0.5-point PPR scoring, while Montgomery, despite missing the final two or three games, still managed to finish as RB18 in 0.5-point PPR.
Gene Clemens from Fantasy Life recently included a bold 2025 fantasy prediction that has Montgomery finishing as a top-10 back. He highlighted a deep incoming rookie running back class, alongside a fully healthy Christian McCaffrey, as factors to watch. Clemens explained that while many know Gibbs is the real deal, the Lions will still look to manage his workload, and Montgomery will return to his established role. For those who still have faith in Montgomery, there’s good reason to do so—he has been effective when healthy, with consistent touchdown production and a solid 4.2 yards per carry that has helped sustain Detroit’s offense.
Looking at Montgomery’s 2024 season, he would have finished in the top-10 if not for his knee injury. He ended the year as RB13 in 2023 and, by points per game, was a top-15 back (14.6 points per game). Excluding the game where he was hurt, Montgomery would have ranked 11th in points per game. While his touchdown rate (25 rushing touchdowns over 404 carries in two years) could suggest some regression is coming, and his age (27) raises concerns about an “age cliff,” a top-10 finish in 2025 is still within reach. If he maintains a similar workload, stays healthy, and misses fewer than three games, Montgomery finishing among the top-10 fantasy backs is entirely plausible.
