David Montgomery's Groin Injury Hands Woody Marks the Texans Backfield Before London

Houston Texans running back David Montgomery injured his groin in the first half of Sunday's 26-3 win over the Tennessee Titans and did not return. Head coach DeMeco Ryans said afterward that Montgomery may miss some time and that the team was still evaluating the injury. Woody Marks took over the backfield and produced Houston's best rushing day by a running back this season.

The timing is awkward for fantasy managers. The Texans fly to London for a Week 6 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium on Sunday morning, a short and travel-heavy week that does not favor a player trying to come back from a soft-tissue injury. If Montgomery sits, Marks becomes a volume-based RB2 for at least one week, and possibly longer.

What happened Sunday

Montgomery had five carries for 11 yards before leaving. He was initially listed as questionable to return and then ruled out. From there, the game belonged to Marks.

Marks' 63 rushing yards were the most by a Texans running back this season, which says as much about Houston's struggles on the ground as it does about his performance. The Texans entered the week ranked near the bottom of the league in rushing yards, and one Houston outlet noted they were 30th going into the game. Dare Ogunbowale was the only other available back, and he worked as the change-of-pace option behind Marks for the rest of the afternoon.

The four catches matter as much as the carries. Marks has been the more natural receiver in this backfield since training camp, when the two backs were framed as a committee. Pass-game work is what turns a committee back into a usable fantasy starter, because it is the most stable volume a running back can earn.

Why groin injuries are tricky

Groin strains are notoriously hard to time. They tend to linger, they are easily aggravated by cutting and sprinting, and teams often err on the side of caution because a rushed return can turn a one-week absence into a month. Ryans' phrasing, that Montgomery may miss some time, reads like a staff bracing for more than a single game.

There is no announced timetable yet. The first clear signal will be Wednesday's practice report. If Montgomery does not practice Wednesday or Thursday, assume Marks is the lead back in London. If he is limited by Friday, the most likely outcome is a questionable tag and a reduced role, which is a poor bet in fantasy.

Fantasy fallout

Woody Marks is the top running back add of Week 6. Multiple waiver guides put him at the top of their lists and Yahoo made an exception to its usual roster threshold to recommend him, since he sits near 50 percent rostered. In leagues where he is available, he deserves one of the largest bids of the week. As a starter, he is an RB2 in PPR formats if Montgomery is out, with the receiving work raising his floor.

David Montgomery managers should not drop him. Even a multi-week absence leaves plenty of season, and his role when healthy is stable. Bench him until he practices fully, and handcuff with Marks if you can.

Dare Ogunbowale is the No. 2 back if Montgomery sits, but his role is limited to spelling Marks and passing downs. He is a deep-league handcuff at most.

C.J. Stroud and the passing game also matter here. Houston just traded for Marvin Harrison Jr., and a thinner backfield could tilt the offense toward the pass in London. That is mildly positive for Stroud, Nico Collins and Harrison, and it raises Marks' receiving ceiling further.

The matchup

Jacksonville is 4-1 after beating Philadelphia 19-17 in London on Sunday, and the Jaguars will be playing their second straight game at Wembley. That familiarity is a small edge. Houston, by contrast, has a new receiver to integrate, a banged-up backfield and an overseas trip.

For the model's read on Texans at Jaguars, see the NFL predictions page and the Week 6 picks when they publish. Bettors should watch the Montgomery practice reports closely. A backfield downgrade in a road game against a winning team is the kind of news that can nudge both the spread and the total.

What to do in your league

1. Claim Woody Marks if he is available. He is the clearest one-to-one replacement on the wire. 2. Hold Montgomery. Do not sell low on a back whose role returns when he does. 3. Start Marks in Week 6 as an RB2 if Montgomery is ruled out, and as a flex if Montgomery is a game-time decision. 4. Watch the London kickoff time. The game starts at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, so lineup decisions need to be locked in before the rest of the Sunday news cycle. Set your lineup Saturday night, and if you are uncertain about Montgomery, the safer play is to start Marks and leave Montgomery on the bench rather than risk a zero from an early inactive list.

The Texans backfield went from a committee to a one-man show in a single afternoon. For one week at least, Marks is the beneficiary, and in fantasy one week of volume is often the difference between a win and a loss.