Pete Overzet said he had to smash David Montgomery when the Lions back slid well past slot value, noting ETR’s ranks show him as a clear tier ahead of the other names on the board. Montgomery’s 2023 profile—268 touches, 14 TDs, and top-10 red-zone attempts—remains intact behind one of football’s three best offensive lines and in Ben Johnson’s run-friendly red-zone script. Overzet reminded listeners that Jahmyr Gibbs does not threaten Montgomery’s goal-line monopoly and the Lions projects for another 26-plus rushing TD season. In a hyper-fragile build that already featured Walker and another early back, Montgomery locks in weekly RB2 production while still offering multi-score spike weeks. At his current ADP he is “the rare middle-round runner that checks rank, ADP and floor all at once,” making him an easy click whenever he falls a round past consensus.

Sean Koerner said David Montgomery belongs in the mid-RB2 range, ranking him RB17 while current ADP sits at RB24. Koerner pointed to Montgomery’s rock-solid floor created by a steady dose of goal-line work inside one of the league’s run-heaviest red-zone attacks. Even with Jahmyr Gibbs active all 17 games last season—and Montgomery himself missing three contests—Monty still finished as a weekly RB2 more often than not, which Koerner labeled “essentially his floor.” If Gibbs were to miss time, Koerner’s weekly projections rocket Montgomery into the top-five running-back conversation because he would monopolize early-down and scoring touches. Koerner thinks drafters are again underestimating that high-floor/high-ceiling combo and sees no scheme downgrade despite OC Ben Johnson’s departure, noting Detroit is likely to keep the same power-run DNA.

Andy Holloway predicted David Montgomery will once again finish as a top‑15 running back on a points‑per‑game basis. His case rests on Detroit’s unwavering commitment to Montgomery near the goal line—he averaged 2.8 red‑zone carries last season even when Jahmyr Gibbs was healthy. Holloway noted that Ben Johnson’s departure could nudge the offense toward a slightly more conservative, run‑heavy approach under new OC Tanner Engstrand, but history suggests the Lions still live inside the five‑yard line. Montgomery’s 36% share of team rushing attempts inside the 10 dwarfed Gibbs’ 19%, and the veteran back hauled in a respectable 25 targets to prevent game‑script benching. Holloway views Montgomery as the cheaper way to buy into one of the league’s highest‑scoring offenses and believes the touchdown floor alone makes him a high‑end RB2 with top‑15 upside.