Bucky Irving vs David Montgomery
Who should you start in Week 3? This week's matchups and projections.
Who to start in Week 3
This week is a coin flip. The model leans David Montgomery by 0.7 projected points (10.6 vs 10.0), close enough that either call is defensible.
David Montgomery faces IND, the 9th-friendliest matchup a RB can draw this week. Bucky Irving faces MIN, the 25th-friendliest matchup a RB can draw this week.
Season-long, the model still ranks Bucky Irving ahead. This is a matchup call for Week 3, not a change of heart about the rest of the year.
This-week points are each player's projected per-game scoring rate adjusted for the matchup.
The season-long call
The model takes Bucky Irving: a clear but modest edge of 11.6 points of value over replacement (44.9 vs 33.3).
The draft market agrees: Bucky Irving goes first at ADP 46.2 vs 52.0 for David Montgomery.
| Bucky IrvingTAM | David MontgomeryHOU | Edge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 3 opponent | MIN | IND | |
| Projected Week 3 points | 10.0 | 10.6 | Montgomery +0.7 pts |
| Matchup rank (RB vs defense, of 32) | #25 | #9 | |
| Projected 2026 points (PPR) | 181.5 | 169.9 | Irving +11.6 pts |
| Points per game | 10.7 | 10.0 | |
| Value over replacement (VBD) | 44.9 | 33.3 | Irving +11.6 |
| Overall rank | #39 | #42 | Irving by 3 |
| Position rank | RB20 | RB21 | |
| Market ADP | 46.2 | 52.0 | Montgomery +5.8 cheaper |
| Typical round (12-team) | Rd 4 | Rd 5 | |
| Bye week | 10 | 8 |
Should I start Bucky Irving or David Montgomery in Week 3?
This week is a coin flip. The model leans David Montgomery by 0.7 projected points (10.6 vs 10.0), close enough that either call is defensible.
Should I draft Bucky Irving or David Montgomery in 2026 fantasy football?
Bucky Irving. He projects 181.5 fantasy points with 44.9 value over replacement, vs 169.9 points and 33.3 for David Montgomery (RB, PPR).