Start David Montgomery over TreVeyon Henderson — Week 1 Start/Sit Verdict

Start Montgomery — the consensus rank and projection edges are too wide to ignore.

David Montgomery is the higher consensus play (RB21 to RB35) and projects 12.7 to Henderson's 10.1. Henderson's edge is snap share, 46% to 37%. The gap is wide.

David Montgomery

RB21HOUvs BUF

10.811.712.7 Projected Points

Start· medium

TreVeyon Henderson

RB35NEvs SEA

7.89.010.1 Projected Points

Sit

Why David Montgomery

Start· medium

RB1 and lead back. Powerful downhill runner with contact balance and reliable short-yardage/goal-line role.

RB22 at 12.7 projected with Pacheco on IR clearing the backfield behind him — a competitive 22-point implied total keeps Montgomery's goal-line work live.

BUF ranks 20 of 32 against RBs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 0-game sample).
Vegas implies 22.0 team points as 1.5-point underdogs.
Listed RB on the latest depth chart with a 37% snap share in 2025.

The call

Isiah Pacheco landing on injured reserve (ESPN, 2026-09-01) removes the depth piece behind him, locking Montgomery into the early-down and short-yardage half of Detroit's backfield.
RB22 on a 12.7-point PPR projection is startable RB2/flex production in a 12-team league, and Mike Clay flagging the early schedule (ESPN, 2026-09-02) supports the near-term outlook.
Buffalo grades 20 of 32 on the DvP composite — middling-to-soft — and a 1.5-point spread with a 22.0 implied total means Detroit shouldn't be forced away from the run.
The risk is usage: a 37% snap share and 5% target share cap the ceiling, so he's dependent on touchdowns rather than receiving volume.

Latest on Montgomery

Detroit Lions place RB Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve

The Detroit Lions have placed running back Isiah Pacheco, 27, on the injured reserve list, the team announced Tuesday. The veteran is dealing with an MCL sprain in addition to a recent back injury that he suffered during training camp.

ESPN · Sep 1, 2026

Why Mike Clay loves David Montgomery's early fantasy schedule

ESPN · Sep 2, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why TreVeyon Henderson

Sit

RB2 and explosive change-of-pace back. Home-run speed with pass-protection and receiving value.

Sit — RB35 by consensus and projection: 9% target share in 2025, Questionable on the latest report.

Carries a Questionable tag — usually plays, but monitor the final report.
SEA ranks 12 of 32 against RBs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 0-game sample).
Vegas implies 20.5 team points as 3.5-point underdogs.
Listed RB on the latest depth chart with a 46% snap share in 2025.

Head-to-head stats

Metric	David Montgomery	TreVeyon Henderson
Projected points	10.811.712.7	7.89.010.1
Consensus rank	RB21	RB35
Opponent vs position	BUF · 20 of 320-game sample	SEA · 12 of 320-game sample
Rushing Yards	27 of 32	3 of 32
Rushing TDs	32 of 32	1 of 32
Rushing Attempts	16 of 32	9 of 32
Receptions	10 of 32	32 of 32
Receiving Yards	6 of 32	27 of 32
Anytime TD	26 of 32	1 of 32
Target share	5%(2025)	9%(2025)
Reception share	6%(2025)	10%(2025)
Implied total · spread	22.0+1.5	20.5+3.5
Depth chart	RB1	RB2
Snap share	37%(2025)	46%(2025)
Injury designation	—	Q
Start/Sit record	0–0+1 toss-up	—