David Montgomery Lands at No. 26 in PFF Running Back Rankings

In Houston, where NRG Stadium drives the NFL conversation every offseason, a new Pro Football Focus ranking added another data point to the AFC landscape. PFF slotted David Montgomery at No. 26 among NFL running backs ahead of the 2026 season, placing the veteran in the lower half of its top group as teams across the league size up backfield value.

Montgomery is not a Texans player, but rankings like this still matter around Houston because they help frame where established veterans stand across the conference and the NFC. For a league that keeps cycling through committee backfields, PFF's placement suggests Montgomery still carries name recognition and production value, even if he is no longer viewed as one of the elite runners at the position.

David Montgomery ranking reflects veteran status

The list, highlighted by Texans Wire, put Montgomery at No. 26 entering the 2026 season. That number places him behind the top-tier dual-threat backs and the younger breakout names who have climbed the position in recent seasons.

Montgomery has built his reputation on steady production, inside running and reliability in a featured role. A ranking in the mid-20s points to a player who still has a place in the league's running back discussion, but not one currently projected as a centerpiece on the same level as the NFL's most explosive options.

Why a Houston audience may care about this list

Rankings always travel fast during the offseason, and Houston readers track them closely because they shape debate before training camps open. A running back list may center on one player, but it also reflects how analysts value experience, durability and efficiency at a position that teams often refresh quickly.

For Texans followers, the takeaway is less about Montgomery alone and more about the market around veteran backs. Front offices weigh mileage, scheme fit and receiving impact every year, and lists like this offer a snapshot of where one proven runner sits before the 2026 campaign takes shape.

PFF's placement does not decide anything on the field, but it does reset the conversation around Montgomery heading into another season. If more preseason rankings roll out in the coming weeks, Houston's NFL audience will have another set of benchmarks for comparing backfields across the league.

This article is a summary of reporting by Texans Wire. Read the full story here.