Woody Marks Dynasty Football Buy Low

Woody Marks Figures to Play Complementary Role in Revamped Houston Backfield

The Houston Texans enter the 2026 season with a reshaped backfield after acquiring veteran running back David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions, a move that will push second-year back Woody Marks into a more defined complementary role.

The Texans traded offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, a 2026 fourth-round pick, and a 2027 seventh-round pick to secure Montgomery in March. The deal signals a clear shift in how Houston plans to structure its ground game after a difficult 2025 season on the ground.

Marks, a fourth-round pick in last year’s draft, carried the bulk of the load in his debut season despite the inefficiency that came with it. He finished with 196 carries for 703 yards, a 3.6 yards-per-carry average that ranked near the bottom of the league among qualified backs. He added 24 receptions on 36 targets for 208 yards and three touchdowns through the air. His total of 232 combined carries and targets made him one of the most heavily used backs in his draft class,  a volume-driven workload that reflected the lack of alternatives more than a dominant individual performance.

The Texans leaned on Marks in part because expected contributors were unavailable. Nick Chubb, brought in as a veteran presence the previous offseason, contributed 506 yards on 122 carries across 15 games but was never fully consistent following a devastating knee injury years prior. Joe Mixon, a former Pro Bowl back the Texans had also acquired in a prior trade, missed the entire 2025 season with a foot injury and was released this offseason.

With Montgomery now in the fold, Houston has a clearer identity for early-down and short-yardage work. Detroit head coach Dan Campbell, who watched Montgomery play three full seasons with the Lions before the trade, offered a straightforward assessment. “I think the Houston Texans are going to be very happy with the back they just got,” Campbell said. “I think he makes them better.”

Montgomery himself has not been quiet about his intentions as he heads into his new chapter. “I’m not going to say what I can or will do,” he said. “I’m just going to show it.”

Where Marks may recapture value is through the passing game. At USC, he was one of the more productive receiving backs in recent college history, compiling 261 career receptions across five collegiate seasons. That skillset was largely untapped in his NFL debut. With Montgomery absorbing the bulk of early-down carries and physical interior work, there is a legitimate opening for Marks to function as a third-down and change-of-pace option, a role more aligned with his natural strengths. His overall touch count is expected to drop, but the quality and context of his involvement could improve.

Montgomery, who has accumulated nearly 1,500 career carries since being drafted in 2019, arrives in Houston motivated. “I’m going into my eighth year now, and yeah, you like to put the veteran thing on it, but I honestly feel like I’m in my prime,” he said.

For a Texans offense that ranked among the bottom third of the league in rushing yards per game last season, the addition addresses a genuine need. Whether Marks can carve out consistent production in a reduced role, rather than just inheriting volume by default, will be one of the more interesting developments to track when the 2026 season gets underway.

Dynasty Impact

Woody Marks has been moved into a backup role, dropping his fantasy value, but Montgomery has had 1,477 career carries. He’ll be 29 years old in June, and last season was the first time in three seasons in which he played every game. It’s easy to overlook

Mark right now, but after seeing what he was able to do as a rookie and with his price dropping, I feel he’s an excellent buy-low candidate for the upcoming season. The Texans have had bad luck with veteran running backs and injuries, and I think if the price is right, Mark is a great player to trade for.