Houston just snagged their first win of the 2026 NFL season against the winless Titans in Tennessee this past Sunday, but the victory came at a hefty price: new starting running back David Montgomery, fresh off a free agency signing, went down with a groin injury in the middle of the second quarter. He only managed 11 yards on five carries before exiting, and with Montgomery now being monitored week to week, the backfield is all Woody Marks.
From Rookie Fade to Second-Year Lead Back
We’ve seen Marks on the fantasy radar before. When he burst into the league as a rookie in 2025, he had a relevant fantasy football presence early on. But let’s be real, that fizzled out fast. His ground performance got almost concerning by the end of that season, which is exactly why the Texans went out and grabbed a veteran like Montgomery in free agency. But 2026? That’s a whole different story. Marks has been quietly productive, averaging just under nine carries for about 30 yards a game and finding the end zone two times in the first five games, all while playing under 50% of the Texans’ offensive snaps. Now, with Montgomery sidelined, Marks’ usage is about to skyrocket, and so should his production.
Why Marks Is Ready to Shine Now
So, why are we feeling confident in Marks this time around? Last year, he was basically carrying an offense that couldn’t throw the ball, and he just couldn’t spark a flat unit while being totally left out of the pass game, only hauling in 24 receptions all season. This year’s Houston offense might be statistically similar in points per game, but the pass game has definitely evolved. Marks is way more involved on that side of things, snagging four catches for 23 yards against the Titans and even an earlier five-reception game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Are these numbers jaw-dropping? Not exactly, but they are super productive considering his limited snaps. Plus, the Texans’ defense is struggling way more than last year, currently sitting at 15th in the NFL in points per game through five games. That means quicker, higher-scoring games for Houston, which is a goldmine for fantasy production. This guy is set to become a weekly flex starter in standard 12-team leagues and could even be a running back two in deeper leagues.
Marks’ time as the unquestioned lead back starts now. If he keeps trending up in the pass game and the usage goes through the roof like we expect, he could absolutely be the guy the Texans need to keep their offense moving. It’s time to see what this second-year back can really do with the full workload.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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