Texans at Browns Week 10 preview: David Montgomery's possible return meets a red-hot C.J. Stroud

David Montgomery is questionable for Houston's Sunday trip to Cleveland (1 p.m. ET) after logging his first full practice since a Week 5 groin injury, and his possible return lands in a backfield that Woody Marks has led since early October. The 3-5 Texans also arrive with C.J. Stroud coming off a five-touchdown game and the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award, but without receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and edge rusher Danielle Hunter, both ruled out with hamstring injuries. The 5-4 Browns counter with Deshaun Watson back under center. For fantasy managers, the key decisions are how to split trust between Marks and Montgomery and how high to rank Stroud behind a banged-up offensive line.

Montgomery's path back

Montgomery, acquired from Detroit, exited the 26-3 Week 5 win at Tennessee in the second quarter with the groin injury and has not played since. His practice arc this week was the most encouraging since: no practice Wednesday, limited Thursday, full Friday. ESPN's fantasy team noted the participation gives him a real chance to suit up, and Houston's final report lists him as questionable rather than doubtful.

The case for caution is just as clear. A player returning from a five-week soft-tissue absence rarely walks back into a full workload, and FantasyPros projected a split with Marks or a change-of-pace role rather than a lead job. Houston also has a short week coming, hosting Indianapolis on Thursday, which gives the coaching staff reason to manage his snaps.

Offensive linemen Trent Brown and Wyatt Teller are also questionable, and Keylan Rutledge is out, which matters for a run game that may lean on a rusty Montgomery.

Marks keeps the lead role

Marks dealt with knee soreness early in the week and missed practice Wednesday, but he returned to a full session Friday and is off the final report, per NBC Sports and DraftSharks. He is the safer play in this backfield. He has been the steady presence since Montgomery went down, and Houston's staff has had a month to build the run game around him.

If Montgomery sits, Marks should see the bulk of the work, with Emari Demercado mixing in. If Montgomery plays, the likeliest outcome is a committee with Marks still leading in snaps and Montgomery working in on early downs and near the goal line.

The matchup supports both. ESPN noted that Cleveland has allowed the third-most rushing yards per game to running backs.

Fantasy read: Start Marks as an RB2. Montgomery is a touchdown-dependent flex this week and a hold for later weeks, when his workload should grow. Do not start both from the same backfield unless you are desperate.

Stroud's ceiling after five touchdowns

Stroud went 21-of-35 for 384 yards, five touchdowns and an interception in the 44-22 rout of the Chargers in Week 9, leading all quarterbacks in yards and touchdowns that week. The five scores tied his career high, set as a rookie against Tampa Bay in 2023, and the award was the fifth Player of the Week honor of his career. He did it after barely practicing that week because of an illness. Two of the scores were 63-yard strikes, one to Tank Dell and one to Kayshon Boutte.

The receiving room loses Harrison, who had six catches for 60 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets in three games since arriving from Arizona in early October. That is a modest role, and Nico Collins, Dell and Boutte are all off the injury report. Collins remains the top target.

Fantasy read: Stroud is a QB1 this week, but temper the ceiling slightly. Houston's line has two questionable starters and is already without Rutledge, and the Texans will not get many free possessions if Watson's return steadies Cleveland. Collins is a WR1. Dell and Boutte are boom-or-bust WR3 types whose value rides on the deep ball.

Cleveland's side: Watson returns

Watson is back as the starter after missing the Week 9 overtime loss to New Orleans with a concussion. Shedeur Sanders threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover in that 23-22 defeat, but head coach Todd Monken went back to the veteran, a decision Verdexed covered earlier this week. Watson has been sacked more than any quarterback in the league this season, per one preview, so protection is the variable to watch.

Houston's defensive absences give him a better shot than usual. Hunter is out, Will Anderson Jr. sat Friday and is questionable, and Al-Shaair is also out. If Anderson does not play, Houston would lean on Jadeveon Clowney, Dominique Robinson and Sabastian Harsh off the edge. Cleveland's own injuries are lighter: safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (concussion) and fullback Michael Burton (calf) are out, and receiver Denzel Boston (toe) is questionable.

Betting angle

Houston is favored on the road, with the Houston Press listing the Texans at -4.5. Laying points with a 3-5 team on the road against a winning team is a bet on Stroud's form and Cleveland's quarterback instability. The injuries cut the other way: Houston's pass rush without Hunter, and possibly Anderson, is weaker than the version priced earlier in the week, and Anderson's status is the one most likely to move the number before kickoff.

For props, Montgomery's questionable tag creates uncertainty in Marks' rushing line. If Montgomery is active, unders on Marks become more attractive; if he is inactive, Marks' volume should be near its ceiling against a run defense that has struggled. For Verdexed's model view of this game, see the NFL predictions page at /nfl/predictions and the weekly picks at /blog/nfl-week-10-picks-2026.

What's next

Inactives at 11:30 a.m. ET settle Montgomery and Anderson. Then Houston turns around for Thursday night against the Colts, which limits Montgomery's practice window and makes Harrison's hamstring a potential multi-week absence. The takeaway: start Woody Marks and Nico Collins, play Stroud as a QB1 with a lowered ceiling, bench Montgomery for one more week, and keep him rostered for the second half.