GREEN BAY, Wis. – Aaron Rodgers suggested it, and fantasy owners clamored for it: Ty Montgomery is now considered a running back.
ESPN’s fantasy team made that designation on Monday after the Green Bay Packers second-year player moved into a role that saw him play primarily out of the backfield the last two games.
HEADS UP! @ESPNFantasy has granted Packers WR Ty Montgomery RB eligibility for the remainder of the 2016 season. He is now a RB/WR.
— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) October 24, 2016
Although he has done more as a receiver out of the backfield – 13 of his 20 catches in the past two games combined came with him lined up at running back – he has gotten some carries as well. He rushed nine times for 60 yards in Thursday’s win against the Bears, when the Packers were without both Eddie Lacy and James Starks.
"I think he's a running back now," Rodgers said after the Bears game, when he threw 56 times and completed at least 10 passes to three different players.
Although it’s not certain how much Montgomery will continue to play out of the backfield given that coach Mike McCarthy said he plans to get recently acquired running back Knile Davis up to speed on the offense this week in advance of Sunday’s game at Atlanta. Davis played five snaps (and had two carries for 1 yard), while Don Jackson, a rookie who was promoted from the practice squad on the day of the game, played six snaps (and carries twice for 6 yards) before a hand injury ended his day. But with Lacy on injured reserve and Starks likely to miss at least another game or two, Montgomery remains an option in the backfield.
The distinction gives fantasy owners struggling for production at running back the ability to use Montgomery as a running back, receiver or in a flex spot (in which a running back, receiver or tight end) can be used.
That’s good news for the 20 percent of fantasy owners who have Montgomery in their leagues and for the 80 percent who might want to think about picking him up.
