David Montgomery and Woody Marks have helped give the Houston Texans one of the NFL’s most highly regarded running back tandems entering the 2026 season. As expectations continue to rise around Houston’s offense, the duo has earned recognition among the league’s best backfields, highlighting the balance of experience, versatility and potential that exists within the Texans’ rushing attack.
Montgomery enters the season as the established veteran and proven producer of the group. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation as a physical runner capable of handling a significant workload while consistently generating tough yards between the tackles. His combination of power, vision and reliability has made him one of the league’s most dependable backs, and Houston expects those traits to remain a major part of its offensive identity.
Dec 14, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs the ball against Los Angeles Rams cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. (1) during the second quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Alongside Montgomery is Marks, a young runner whose arrival has generated excitement throughout the organization. Marks brings a different dimension to the offense with his speed, agility and ability to contribute in multiple phases of the game. His skill set gives the Texans additional flexibility and creates opportunities for offensive coaches to diversify their approach. The contrast between Montgomery’s physical running style and Marks’ versatility has the potential to create matchup challenges for opposing defenses.
One reason the Texans’ backfield has received increased attention is the complementary nature of the two players. Successful running back duos often feature contrasting strengths that allow offenses to remain unpredictable. Houston appears to possess exactly that combination. Montgomery can wear down defenses with his physicality, while Marks offers the explosiveness needed to generate big plays and capitalize on favorable situations.
Houston Texans’ David Montgomery and Woody Marks Named Among Best RB Duos in NFL
Jun 9, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans linebacker Jamal Hill, left, and running back Woody Marks, right, arrive for the team’s minicamp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Montgomery and Marks were recently identified as one of the best running back duos in the league before the new NFL season. This is detailed more in an analysis by Moe Moton for Bleacher Report.
The Texans acquired Montgomery from the Lions. He’ll bring a physical component to their ground game. Also, the downhill ball-carrier has been a scoring machine with 33 rushing touchdowns since 2023.
Woody Marks must be more efficient to maintain a decent workload. He rushed for 703 yards and two touchdowns, averaging just 3.6 yards per carry last year.
With Montgomery in the backfield, Marks should see more opportunities as a receiver, a role he excelled in on the college level at Mississippi State and USC.
The strong ranking of the Texans’ running backs also reflects growing confidence in the overall direction of the franchise. Houston has assembled a roster capable of competing with some of the AFC’s top teams, and a productive rushing attack could play a critical role in achieving those goals. Establishing balance on offense would not only benefit the running game but also create additional opportunities throughout the passing attack.
As training camp approaches, the Texans have every reason to feel optimistic about the talent in their backfield. Montgomery provides leadership, experience and proven production, while Marks offers the promise of a rising playmaker ready to make an impact. Together, they form a tandem that has earned growing respect around the league. If both players perform to expectations, Houston could possess one of the most effective rushing attacks in football and another important ingredient in its pursuit of postseason success.