Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

David Montgomery vs Tyjae SpearsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

David Montgomery is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.1 PPG to Tyjae Spears'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. Tyjae Spears 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

RBTennessee Titans#48

Tyjae Spears

PPG

6.9

Games

Rush Yds

283

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

264

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

David Montgomery

Tyjae Spears

Head to Head

9.1 PPG6.9 PPG

17 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

David Montgomery: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #33 at the position). Tyjae Spears: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #48 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, David Montgomery is producing at 41% of elite pace and Tyjae Spears at 31%. That ranking gap means David Montgomery carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

David Montgomery vs Tyjae Spears: The Full Breakdown

David Montgomery and Tyjae Spears 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 Tyjae Spears posted 6.9 PPG in 13 appearances for the Tennessee Titans.

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.

Tyjae Spears is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 45 targets into 264 yards, while David Montgomery profiles as a more traditional rusher with 716 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Tyjae Spears carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: David Montgomery sits Week 6 while Tyjae Spears is off Week 9. 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. Tyjae Spears (age 24) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•David Montgomery outscored Tyjae Spears by a projected 37 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•David Montgomery played 17 games in 2025 compared to Tyjae Spears's 13. 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.
•Tyjae Spears caught 45 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Tyjae Spears is 4 years younger than David Montgomery (24 vs 28), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

David Montgomery vs Tyjae Spears: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	David Montgomery	Tyjae Spears
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.1	6.9
Games Played	17	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	155	90
Rushing Yards	716	283
Rush Yds/Game	42.1	21.8
Rushing TDs	8	2
Receptions	24	45
Receiving Yards	192	264
Targets	29	50
Total TDs	9	2
Age	28	24
Experience	6 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 9

Summary

David Montgomery outscored Tyjae Spears 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 Tyjae Spears in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, David Montgomery has the edge at 9.1 PPG compared to Tyjae Spears'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 Tyjae Spears average in 2025?▾

David Montgomery averaged 9.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Tyjae Spears averaged 6.9 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 2.2 points per game.

When are David Montgomery and Tyjae Spears's bye weeks in 2026?▾

David Montgomery (DET) has a bye in Week 6, and Tyjae Spears (TEN) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is David Montgomery or Tyjae Spears a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

David Montgomery outscored Tyjae Spears 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.