Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

David Montgomery vs Joe Mixon

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Joe Mixon is the better fantasy play this season.

Joe Mixon is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 16.5 PPG and 1,405 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. David Montgomery (9.1 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Joe Mixon as the starter and David Montgomery as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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RBDetroit Lions#33

David Montgomery

PPG

9.1

Games

Rush Yds

716

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

192

Bye

Week 8

RBHouston Texans#99PPG LEADER

Joe Mixon

PPG

16.5

Games

Rush Yds

1,165

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

240

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

David Montgomery

Joe Mixon

Head to Head

9.1 PPG16.5 PPG

17 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

David Montgomery: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #33 at the position). Joe Mixon: 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 Joe Mixon at 75%. That ranking gap means David Montgomery carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

David Montgomery vs Joe Mixon: Who Should You Start?

Joe Mixon and David Montgomery are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Houston Texans running back averaged 16.5 PPG in 2025, a full 7.4 points per game ahead of David Montgomery's 9.1 with the Detroit Lions. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 7.4-PPG gap gives Joe Mixon 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. David Montgomery ran for 716 yards and 8 touchdowns; Joe Mixon posted 1165 and 11. 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 8, and Joe Mixon 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.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Joe Mixon at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. David Montgomery is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: David Montgomery (age 28, 6 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Joe Mixon (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Joe Mixon outscored David Montgomery by a projected 126 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•David Montgomery played 17 games in 2025 compared to Joe Mixon's 15. That durability gap means David Montgomery contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Joe Mixon scored 12 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Joe Mixon caught 32 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatMontgomeryMixon

PPG (Half-PPR)9.116.5

Games Played1715

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)155248

Rushing Yards7161,165

Rush Yds/Game42.177.7

Rushing TDs811

Receptions2432

Receiving Yards192240

Targets290

Total TDs912

Age28-

Experience6 yrs-

Bye WeekWeek 8Week 14

Summary

Joe Mixon outscored David Montgomery by 7.4 PPG in 2025 (16.5 to 9.1). 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 Joe Mixon in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Joe Mixon has the edge at 16.5 PPG compared to David Montgomery's 9.1 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 Joe Mixon average in 2025?▾

David Montgomery averaged 9.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Joe Mixon averaged 16.5 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 7.4 points per game.

When are David Montgomery and Joe Mixon's bye weeks in 2026?▾

David Montgomery (DET) has a bye in Week 8, and Joe Mixon (HOU) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is David Montgomery or Joe Mixon a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Joe Mixon outscored David Montgomery by 7.4 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.