Model Flags Montgomery, Cook as 2026 Fantasy Busts
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- David Montgomery is flagged as a 2026 bust by SportsLine's model, which ranks him in the same tier as late-round backs Jaylen Warren, Jadarian Price, and Kenneth Gainwell despite an ADP of around pick No. 51
- James Cook is called another bust, with the Bills RB going at ADP No. 10 overall but ranked only RB No. 10 by the model, suggesting late-second or third-round value
- Josh Allen's goal-line rushing tendency and Cook's elevated fumble rate are cited as factors pushing the model off the Bills back
- Terry McLaurin was the model's headline 2025 bust call, finishing with career lows of 582 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns after a prior season of nearly 1,100 yards and 13 TDs
- SportsLine's model simulated the 2026 NFL season 10,000 times and has a track record including A.J. Brown as a 2020 sleeper, Jonathan Taylor's 2021 breakout, and C.J. Stroud's 2024 regression
- The model is also fading one unnamed receiver from the first six off draft boards, ranking him barely inside the top 10
Why it matters: Fantasy drafters paying full ADP prices for Montgomery (around pick 51) and Cook (pick ~10) risk burning early capital if the model's projections hold, since Montgomery faces a snap split with rookie Woody Marks on a less explosive Houston offense and Cook cedes goal-line work to Josh Allen.
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