NFL Analytics Have David Montgomery the Top Sleeper of 2019

For a kid who was only a 3rd round pick, it's rather amazing how much buzz surrounds David Montgomery. The running back was considered one of the best in his draft class. A well-rounded talent who ran with both strength and quickness. While not overly fast, his versatility made him a problem on all three downs. Giving a back like that to a creative play caller like Matt Nagy of the Chicago Bears seems to be a perfect match.

Word out of minicamps reinforced the idea. His cutting ability alone drew lots of attention from coaches and teammates. Once he adjusts to the speed of the NFL, it shouldn't take long for him to become a formidable weapon. At least that's how the traditional scouting report would view it. So what about the numbers nerds? NFL.com analytics specialist Cynthia Frelund singled out two players who she views as the biggest sleepers of 2019.

One was an unsurprising choice in Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston, now under the capable guidance of Bruce Arians. Her top choice though? None other than Montgomery.

"1) David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears. Combining the Bears' O-line with the rookie running back's ability to create yards after contact, my model forecasts Chicago to go from averaging 3.97 yards per rush on first down (which ranked 30th) to a projected range of 4.45-4.55 (which would rank 14th). I'm going to keep repeating that I promise to update my team and player rankings after the preseason, but Montgomery currently cracks my top 20 projected fantasy running backs (PPR scoring). And he's not the only breakout candidate on the roster."

David Montgomery certainly doesn't lack self-confidence

If somebody were to point this out to Montgomery, he wouldn't be surprised. He hasn't been shy about saying he's not only the best running back in the 2019 draft class, but one of the best players. He's not overbearing about it, mind you. Yet if the question comes up he'll always answer it in that way. Given what he's had to fight through in order to get this far, it isn't that hard to understand why.

The young man is on a mission. Not only to better himself and the lives of his family but also to help those who were like him. Less fortunate people living in dangerous areas of the country. If having success in the NFL is another critical step towards that goal, then it's what needs to happen. The Bears have no plans to get in his way. Quite the opposite. If they are willing to feed him the football, things should work out just fine.