Indianapolis Colts WR D.J. Montgomery entered Week 15 with just three catches and six targets for the season, but the former UDFA out of Austin Peay in 2019 made a few splash plays following the exit of Michael Pittman (concussion) and should see his role grow in a significant way down the stretch.
Is he worthy of being on a fantasy football roster during the playoffs?
Should D.J. Montgomery Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 16?
Montgomery has never been a heralded player, but he has made big plays at every stop of his football career. After graduating high school, he played at Holmes Community College (Mississippi). In his final season there, he averaged 27.5 yards per catch and scored 10 times.
His All-State performance there earned him a three-star grade and drew interest from Austin Peay to round out his college career. After taking a season to adjust to the speed of the game at the FCS level, he was back to making big plays — 19.0 yards per catch with 10 touchdowns.
That’s not to say that the 6’1″ athlete is going to make those sorts of plays at the professional level, but we did see flashes of that profile. He capped the Indianapolis Colts’ final drive of the first half with a 14-yard score, a drive he started with a 34-yard reception.
On average, recovery from a concussion this season has been roughly nine days, putting Pittman’s — 31.3% target share — status for Week 16 in question, at best. The Colts get the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders to round out the fantasy season — not a bad two-game set.
- Falcons: Sixth-highest opponent aDOT (Average Depth of Target)
- Raiders: Fourth-highest opponent CMP% (Completion Percentage)
Could he provide fantasy value when it matters most? I’m not ready to label him as a top-40 receiver for next week, but given the vacated role of Pittman and the specific matchup, not to mention Gardner Minshew playing with confidence, there’s a path for Montgomery to replicate his productive Week 15 next week.
Naturally, your ability to take on risk this time of year depends solely on your specific situation. If you’re a top seed with a loaded roster, Montgomery’s low floor isn’t going to be appealing. But if you squeaked into the playoffs and are operating as a significant underdog without much concern for risk, you deserve to give this kid a look!
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
There is no shortage of players with this risk/reward profile, but most of them are already rostered. New Orleans Saints WR Rashid Shaheed has popped at times, and we are all aware of what Buffalo Bills WR Gabe Davis can do. That is the type of company Montgomery fits but at no cost to you.
I would rather roster a player with that sort of ceiling than a floor play that has no chance of cracking your starting lineup. What good does Tyler Boyd’s three catches for 45 yards do this time of year? Why roster Khalil Shakir with his role trending in the wrong direction?
To that end, you’re probably carrying dead weight at the RB position that you can move on from. With Bijan Robinson emerging, is Tyler Allgeier a must-roster? Are you still holding onto Miles Sanders for the name value he created while in Philadelphia?
I’m not positive that Montgomery is going to matter beyond this week, but I am confident that you have players on the back end of your roster who offer less projectable upside for Week 16!
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