Javonte Williams or Woody Marks: Who Should You Start?

Preliminary board

2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Verdicts sharpen as practice reports land.

Williams' workhorse role gives him the stronger case

Start Williams: his lead-back workload and receiving involvement give him more ways to produce than Marks has in a committee. The gap is meaningful at running back, not just a small projection edge, because Marks is still sharing snaps nearly evenly with David Montgomery (CBS Sports 2026-09-21). Marks does have the softer matchup, but his limited pass-game role makes it less of a boost; Williams' main risk is Baltimore suppressing his rushing efficiency, though his receiving use offers a cushion.

What flips it: A meaningful cut to Williams' lead-back workload.

Sources: CBS Sports · Sep 21, 2026 · ESPN · Sep 21, 2026

AI editor

Javonte Williams

Javonte Williams

RB15DALvs BAL

Projected Points

Start
Woody Marks

Woody Marks

RB44HOUvs IND

Projected Points

Sit

Javonte Williams’s market

RUSH YDS
O/U 58.5
-114 / -110
Rushing Yards Props →
REC
O/U 2.5
-177 / +138
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 17.5
-114 / -114
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
-180
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Woody Marks’s market

ATD
Anytime TD
+220
Anytime Touchdown Props →
BAL@
DALSun, Sep 27, 4:25 PM ETView the game →
HOU@
INDSun, Sep 27, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Javonte Williams

Start

RB1 and workhorse lead back. Contact-balance runner with pass-protection reliability and steady receiving usage.

Start — RB15 by consensus and projection: 24.5 implied team total, 15% target share.

  • His pass protection and receiving work help keep him involved if Dallas needs to adjust its game plan.
  • A recent touchdown catch shows his scoring path isn't limited to carries (ESPN 2026-09-21).

Latest on Williams

Cowboys' TD record: I caught a TD pass from Dak Prescott

Prescott passed Tony Romo in the record book, so we bring you the best moments from those who helped him make history.

ESPN · Sep 20, 2026
Starlights: Javonte Williams cashes in first touchdown of the season

It's an NFC East clash on Sunday Night Football as the Dallas Cowboys try to take down the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.

dallascowboys.com · Sep 13, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Woody Marks

Sit

RB2 behind David Montgomery. Between-the-tackles committee back who carried 196 times for 703 yards as a rookie with light pass-game usage.

Sit — bench-tier RB at consensus RB44: IND is the 5th-softest matchup vs RBs, 8% target share.

  • The favorable Colts matchup could make Marks' carries more efficient if he gets room between the tackles.
  • A near-even snap split can still produce usable touches, but it leaves little margin if Houston falls behind.

Latest on Marks

Role

Woody Marks and David Montgomery split snaps almost evenly for a second straight week in Week 2, with Montgomery playing 42 snaps to Marks' 38 against the Bengals; Marks projects as an RB3/4 for Week 3 vs. the Colts.

CBS Sports · Sep 21, 2026
Why the David Montgomery Trade Makes Woody Marks Better

Houston traded for a veteran back and John Harris explains how it'll make their second-year rusher even stronger.

houstontexans.com · Sep 10, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricJavonte WilliamsWoody Marks
Projected points
Consensus rankRB15RB44
Opponent vs positionBAL · 15 of 322-game sampleIND · 28 of 322-game sample
Rushing Yards9 of 3231 of 32
Rushing TDs22 of 3229 of 32
Rushing Attempts6 of 3231 of 32
Receptions24 of 3220 of 32
Receiving Yards9 of 3231 of 32
Anytime TD18 of 3225 of 32
Target share15%8%
Reception share17%11%
Implied total · spread24.5+2.523.5-1.5
Depth chartRB1RB2
Snap share76%50%
Start/Sit record1–1—

Recent form

Javonte Williams — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs WSH
Week 1vs NYG

Woody Marks — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs CIN
Week 1vs BUF

Signal breakdown

  • 15.0 vs 8.6 projected PPR pointsJavonte Williams +
  • Rank 15 vs 44Javonte Williams +
  • Opponent DvP rank 15 vs 28 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 24.5 vs 23.5 team pointsJavonte Williams +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 76% vs 50% snap shareJavonte Williams +

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