Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

David Montgomery vs Jaleel McLaughlinWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

David Montgomery is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.1 PPG to Jaleel McLaughlin's 6.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

David Montgomery is the better fantasy play this season.

David Montgomery has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.2-PPG advantage is real (9.1 to 6.9), and David Montgomery's 9 touchdowns show scoring upside. Jaleel McLaughlin is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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RBDetroit Lions#33PPG LEADER

David Montgomery

PPG

9.1

Games

Rush Yds

716

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

192

Bye

Week 6

RBDenver Broncos#99

Jaleel McLaughlin

PPG

6.9

Games

Rush Yds

382

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

168

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

David Montgomery

Jaleel McLaughlin

Head to Head

9.1 PPG6.9 PPG

17 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

David Montgomery: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #33 at the position). Jaleel McLaughlin: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, David Montgomery is producing at 41% of elite pace and Jaleel McLaughlin at 31%. That ranking gap means David Montgomery carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

David Montgomery vs Jaleel McLaughlin: The Full Breakdown

David Montgomery and Jaleel McLaughlin are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. David Montgomery averaged 9.1 PPG across 17 games with the Detroit Lions, while Jaleel McLaughlin posted 6.9 PPG in 15 appearances for the Denver Broncos.

A 2.2-PPG gap gives David Montgomery the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. David Montgomery ran for 716 yards and 8 touchdowns; Jaleel McLaughlin posted 382 and 2. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: David Montgomery sits Week 6 while Jaleel McLaughlin is off Week 14. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: David Montgomery (age 28, 6 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Jaleel McLaughlin (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•David Montgomery outscored Jaleel McLaughlin by a projected 37 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•David Montgomery played 17 games in 2025 compared to Jaleel McLaughlin's 15. That durability gap means David Montgomery contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•David Montgomery scored 9 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

David Montgomery vs Jaleel McLaughlin: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	David Montgomery	Jaleel McLaughlin
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.1	6.9
Games Played	17	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	155	104
Rushing Yards	716	382
Rush Yds/Game	42.1	25.5
Rushing TDs	8	2
Receptions	24	22
Receiving Yards	192	168
Targets	29	0
Total TDs	9	3
Age	28	-
Experience	6 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 14

Summary

David Montgomery outscored Jaleel McLaughlin by 2.2 PPG in 2025 (9.1 to 6.9). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start David Montgomery or Jaleel McLaughlin in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, David Montgomery has the edge at 9.1 PPG compared to Jaleel McLaughlin's 6.9 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did David Montgomery and Jaleel McLaughlin average in 2025?▾

David Montgomery averaged 9.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Jaleel McLaughlin averaged 6.9 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 2.2 points per game.

When are David Montgomery and Jaleel McLaughlin's bye weeks in 2026?▾

David Montgomery (DET) has a bye in Week 6, and Jaleel McLaughlin (DEN) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is David Montgomery or Jaleel McLaughlin a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

David Montgomery outscored Jaleel McLaughlin by 2.2 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.