Michael Carter vs Woody Marks: Who Should You Start?
Michael Carter and Woody Marks are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Michael Carter averaged 6.3 PPG across 13 games with the Tennessee Titans, while Woody Marks posted 8.7 PPG in 16 appearances for the Houston Texans.
A 2.4-PPG gap gives Woody Marks 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. Michael Carter ran for 333 yards and 1 touchdowns; Woody Marks posted 703 and 2. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.
Michael Carter has his bye in Week 5, and Woody Marks rests in Week 14. 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.
