Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

David Montgomery vs Raheim SandersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

David Montgomery is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.1 PPG to Raheim Sanders's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

David Montgomery is the better fantasy play this season.

David Montgomery is the better play on a neutral week. 9.1 PPG with 911 yards gives a reliable baseline. Raheim Sanders at 4.7 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft David Montgomery higher, but do not fade Raheim Sanders entirely.

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

RBCleveland Browns#99

Raheim Sanders

PPG

4.7

Games

Rush Yds

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

David Montgomery

Raheim Sanders

Head to Head

9.1 PPG4.7 PPG

17 GP4 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

David Montgomery: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #33 at the position). Raheim Sanders: 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 Raheim Sanders at 21%. That ranking gap means David Montgomery carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

David Montgomery vs Raheim Sanders: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between David Montgomery and Raheim Sanders for your lineup, you are not alone. David Montgomery finished the 2025 season at 9.1 PPG for the Detroit Lions (17 games), and Raheim Sanders averaged 4.7 for the Cleveland Browns (4 games).

That 4.4-point weekly advantage for David Montgomery is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. David Montgomery ran for 716 yards and 8 touchdowns; Raheim Sanders posted 92 and 1. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

David Montgomery has his bye in Week 6, and Raheim Sanders rests in Week 10. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

David Montgomery is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Raheim Sanders is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: David Montgomery (age 28, 6 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Raheim Sanders (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•David Montgomery outscored Raheim Sanders by a projected 75 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•David Montgomery played 17 games in 2025 compared to Raheim Sanders's 4. 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.
•Raheim Sanders is 5 years younger than David Montgomery (23 vs 28), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

David Montgomery vs Raheim Sanders: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	David Montgomery	Raheim Sanders
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.1	4.7
Games Played	17	4
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	155	19
Rushing Yards	716	92
Rush Yds/Game	42.1	23.0
Rushing TDs	8	1
Receptions	24	3
Receiving Yards	192	21
Targets	29	4
Total TDs	9	1
Age	28	23
Experience	6 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 10

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor David Montgomery at 9.1 PPG, 4.4 points per game above Raheim Sanders's 4.7. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start David Montgomery or Raheim Sanders in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, David Montgomery has the edge at 9.1 PPG compared to Raheim Sanders's 4.7 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 Raheim Sanders average in 2025?▾

David Montgomery averaged 9.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Raheim Sanders averaged 4.7 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 4.4 points per game.

When are David Montgomery and Raheim Sanders's bye weeks in 2026?▾

David Montgomery (DET) has a bye in Week 6, and Raheim Sanders (CLE) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is David Montgomery or Raheim Sanders a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

David Montgomery outscored Raheim Sanders by 4.4 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.