David Montgomery: Texans back misses Wednesday practice (groin)
THE FACT. David Montgomery did not practice Wednesday with a groin injury, per CBS Sports, which cited Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston; NBC Sports also had the Texans back absent from the session. CBS Sports reported he did not practice in any fashion last week and sat out Houston's win over Jacksonville in London.
THE VERDICT. Redraft: treat Montgomery as out until Houston says otherwise, and start Woody Marks with confidence. CBS Sports has Marks lined up for another turn as the lead back, with Dare Ogunbowale the depth option behind him. Add Marks now if he is somehow still available, 15% FAAB. DFS: Marks is the play in this backfield, not a Montgomery dart throw. Dynasty: a second straight week with zero practice work is the signal that matters here.
Respectfully, I'm a notch lower on Marks than this. Week 6 was the dream setup, Montgomery out and 78 percent of the snaps, and it came back 15 carries for 56 yards plus two catches. That is 3.7 a pop. Volume with no efficiency is a touchdown-or-bust flex, not a confident start, and 15 percent FAAB is steep for a guy whose starter is week to week. He is also going to be on every start list this weekend, so in DFS I would rather take the leverage somewhere else.