David Montgomery Out vs. Jaguars: Woody Marks Fantasy Impact

Houston will be without David Montgomery for its Week 6 London game, turning Woody Marks from a committee back into one of fantasy football’s clearest volume-driven lineup calls. The Texans’ official travel update says Montgomery will not travel because of a groin injury and has been ruled out against Jacksonville.

The NFL’s finalized Week 6 injury report also lists Montgomery as out for Sunday’s 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff at Wembley Stadium. That early window matters for fantasy managers: Houston and Jacksonville players will lock before the main Sunday slate.

What Montgomery’s absence changes

Montgomery opened the season as the physical half of Houston’s backfield split, but the efficiency has not followed the role. He has 138 rushing yards on 52 carries through five games, a 2.7-yard average. His value has come largely from touchdowns, including two rushing scores and a receiving touchdown in Week 1.

Marks now inherits the best available combination of early-down work, receiving usage and goal-line opportunity. Houston can still rotate another back for selected snaps, but the Week 5 evidence points to Marks as the clear first option rather than a 50-50 committee.

Woody Marks’ Week 5 workload is the key

After Montgomery left Houston’s 26-3 win over Tennessee, Marks finished with 15 carries for 62 yards and four catches for 23 yards. That was 19 touches and 85 scrimmage yards in a game Houston controlled. His official 2026 totals are 43 carries for 149 yards and two touchdowns, plus 11 receptions for 54 yards.

The raw efficiency — 3.5 yards per carry — is modest. The fantasy case is about projected opportunity. A back who can approach 15 to 20 touches, catch passes and handle scoring-area work belongs in most Week 6 lineups even when the matchup is difficult.

The Jaguars matchup limits the ceiling

Jacksonville enters London at 4-1, while Houston is 1-4. The NFL’s game preview notes that the Jaguars have allowed only 14 points per game, the league’s second-best mark entering Week 6. That profile makes this a volume play, not a bet on a huge rushing average.

Houston may need short passes and checkdowns if the Jaguars control the line of scrimmage. That scenario can protect Marks’ floor in full-PPR and half-PPR formats, even if his rushing production lands closer to 50 or 60 yards than a breakout total.

Week 6 fantasy football recommendation

• Woody Marks: Start as an RB2 in 12-team leagues and as a strong FLEX in shallower formats. His receiving role gives him the safest path to useful points.

• David Montgomery: Move him to the bench in redraft leagues. Do not leave him in an IR slot unless your platform permits an “out” player there and you do not need the space.

• C.J. Stroud and Houston receivers: A less efficient run game could push Houston toward more quick passing, but the Jaguars’ defense keeps the entire offense from becoming an automatic ceiling play.

• DFS and props: Treat Marks’ carry and touch volume as more reliable than his yards-per-carry efficiency. Recheck his price and any rushing-plus-receiving market after inactives are released.

Lineup timing and the final check

Texans-Jaguars kicks off at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, October 18. Set an early alarm, confirm the inactive list roughly 90 minutes before kickoff and make any FLEX decisions before the London game locks. If Marks is active as expected and Houston does not add a major surprise to the backfield, the workload evidence makes him the preferred fantasy replacement for Montgomery.

Bottom line: Montgomery’s absence removes the biggest obstacle to a lead-back workload for Marks. The matchup lowers the ceiling, but 15-plus touches and passing-game involvement make Marks a practical Week 6 RB2/FLEX rather than a bench stash.