ESPN's Rob Demovsky reports that Packers rookie RB Jamaal Williams might be challenging RB Ty Montgomery's role. Williams took the 1st reps with the starters in team drills Thursday and has earned praise for his pass protection. According to Demovsky, Montgomery is still learning that area. Of course, it's not surprising that Williams would be ahead there. He has played RB for a long time, while Montgomery's in his 1st offseason at the position. We're not overreacting to one day of reps here, though. We'll see where this goes, especially as Green Bay gets into preseason games.

Packers HC Mike McCarthy gushed about RB Ty Montgomery on Monday. "He's the full threat," McCarthy said. "He can obviously run it, he can catch it, he can displace and run routes and catch it. He just needs the reps in pass protection, because he's actually really high in ability for pass protection. That guy's a stud now. He's got it in his body. He's a very good young player." McCarthy already named Montgomery his starter earlier this offseason, and it sounds like he's continued to impress since. With a 3-down skill set in a top-notch offense, there's RB1 upside here.

Packers RB Ty Montgomery spent a chunk of his offseason focusing on his footwork as he continues his transition to a full-time RB. He worked out with trainer Rischad Whitfield, who's spent time with Le'Veon Bell, Melvin Gordon and Emmanuel Sanders, among others -- and earned the nickname Footwork King. "He's extremely serious about this," Whitfield said of Montgomery's move to RB. "Football is a game where you don't really have much time to think, you've got to react. I'm trying to help him change direction quicker, make his cuts quicker and sharper. We're working on it all. He's all-in at the running back position. He wants to be a dual-threat running back." Montgomery has also bulked up to nearly 223 pounds. (There's a picture and video of him here.) Coming off what certainly looks like a productive offseason, Montgomery boasts a sky-high fantasy ceiling in 2017.

Count Packers RBs coach Ben Sirmans coach among those eager to see what Ty Montgomery can do in his 1st full season at RB. "... You can see (that he’s) an instinctive runner, you can see all those things come into play,” Sirmans said. “I guess the biggest thing I can say is, I’m very, very excited about him – without saying ‘This is what I expect, this is what he’s going to be.’ I’m just really excited. Really excited about him.” Montgomery ripped off 5.9 yards per carry -- in addition to catching 44 balls -- after moving to RB last year. Now in line to serve as Green Bay's lead back all season, Montgomery's fantasy upside reaches into RB1 territory.

Green Bay's Ty Montgomery is feeling more comfortable after spending the entire offseason focusing on the RB position. “I was running a lot on instincts [last year]," he said. "I knew where I was supposed to be going, but it was instinct. Now, I know techniques. I know rotations and linebacker positions, and fronts and understanding gap rules and what the defense is supposed to be doing. Now when I get out there, I know my reads and my aiming points and I can just add that to my instincts. I’m excited to do that.” Montgomery hadn't played RB since grade school before making the move there midway through last season. That didn't stop him from busting off 5.9 yards per carry on 77 totes. HC Mike McCarthy has already tabbed Montgomery the team's starting RB this season, despite the additions of rookies Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones. There's loads of fantasy upside here.

The Packers have released RB Christine Michael. The writing was on the wall when Green Bay drafted 3 RBs over the weekend. Michael is still only 26 but has proven to be a fantasy football tease over the past 5 seasons. The Packers also released RB Don Jackson, leaving them with Ty Montgomery and rookies Jamaal Williams, Aaron Jones and Devante Mays.

Green Bay selected 3 RBs on the final day of the NFL Draft: Jamaal Williams in the 4th round, Aaron Jones in the 5th and Devante Mays in the 7th. So does that still leave Ty Montgomery in line to start? "Absolutely, he's our starting running back," HC Mike McCarthy said shortly after the draft ended, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "I think it gives us excellent depth, and it will be nice to have a full room." That's good news for Montgomery. But the new depth could take touches away, especially if the Packers lean back toward more balance in offensive play calling after going more pass heavy in 2016. We'll be watching all the rookie backs -- and Montgomery in his 1st offseason as a RB -- through the summer as we consider their projections.

The Packers added their 2nd RB of the day, selecting UTEP’s Aaron Jones near the end of the 5th round. The 5’10, 208-pounder registered an 88th percentile SPARQ score — tops among RBs at the Combine. That followed a massively productive senior season that saw him rack up 1,773 rushing yards, 28 catches for 233 more yards and 20 total TDs. Jones also had a 30-catch campaign back in 2014. Between him and Jamaal Williams, the Packers have added some serious competition for Ty Montgomery.

The Packers added Jamaal Williams to their backfield in the 4th round of the draft. The BYU product sat out all of 2015 but still played 4 seasons and left as the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards (3,901). Williams goes 6’0, 220 pounds but tested as a 36th percentile athlete and doesn’t stand out on film. Green Bay is a nice landing spot, though, where Ty Montgomery and Christine Michael top the depth chart. Williams could earn a big-back role as early as this year.

“I think Ty (Montgomery) definitely has that ability" to become a #1 RB in the NFL, Packers HC Mike McCarthy said this week, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. Green Bay's actions this offseason have seemed to back up that feeling. We'll see what the team does in the draft, but Montgomery and Christine Michael stand today as the only 2 RBs on the roster. Barring a 1st-round pick at the position, the Packers appear ready to give Montgomery the 1st chance to lead the backfield. If his draft price stays around the bottom of RB2 territory -- or into RB3 range -- then he'll certainly be a fine chance to take in 2017. The versatility and proven pass-catching raise his PPR floor for fantasy football purposes.

Packers HC Mike McCarthy said this week that Ty Montgomery will stay at RB moving forward, even getting a RB jersey number for the 2017 season, according to the team website. “Talking with Ty in his exit interview, he’s a running back,” McCarthy said. “He wants to change his number and that’s the way we’re going. He’ll spend the whole offseason clearly working at the running back position.” Montgomery averaged a terrific 5.9 yards per rush after making the position switch during the year. An offseason of prep there should help his consistency, in both production and workload. The latter, though, might depend significantly on whether Green Bay re-signs RB Eddie Lacy, who is headed for unrestricted free agency.

Packers HC Mike McCarthy on Friday ruled out WR Jordy Nelson for this weekend's game against the Cowboys. This was the most likely outcome all along considering Nelson broke 2 ribs in last Sunday's win over the Giants. We'd consider him no better than 50/50 for the NFC Championship if Green Bay gets there. Nelson's absence leaves Davante Adams and Randall Cobb as the Packers' top 2 WRs. Geronimo Allison figures to be next in line for snaps, with Jeff Janis as the #4 WR. TE Jared Cook and RB Ty Montgomery could also pick up extra targets with Nelson out.

Packers RB James Starks (concussion) remained sidelined all week and is out for Saturday’s game against the Vikings. His absence just makes RB Ty Montgomery’s workload a bit safer.

Packers RB/WR/Swiss Army knife Ty Montgomery ran for a league-high (for the week) 162 yards and 2 TDs on 16 carries against the Bears on Sunday. HC Mike McCarthy said during the week that Montgomery could handle 20 carries, but this marked the 1st time the 2nd-year player has reached double digits. Green Bay handed the ball to RBs 20 total times vs. 31 Aaron Rodgers pass attempts and benefited from facing a Bears D missing DT Eddie Goldman. The rushing volume makes Montgomery an intriguing option for Week 16 against Minnesota. The Vikings just finished allowing Frank Gore to surpass 100 yards and Robert Turbin to punch in 2 rushing TDs in a blowout home loss to the Colts.

The forecast for today's Packers-Bears game calls for a temperature of 6 degrees with winds of 10-20 mph. The wind chill could sink as low as -13. That's cold. Expect more running than usual from both sides. We're still expecting Green Bay's passing game to be effective. WR Alshon Jeffery is the only piece of the Bears' passing game that should be in fantasy lineups.

Packers RB James Starks (concussion) has been downgraded to out for today's game against the Bears. He couldn't clear the protocol after sustaining a concussion in a car accident on Monday. Ty Montgomery and Christine Michael will handle backfield duties today. Montgomery is the better fantasy play but is just a low-end starter -- whether you use him at RB or WR.

Packers RB James Starks (concussion) is doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Bears. It sounds like he has multiple stages of the protocol to pass through still. Starks is off the fantasy radar anyway, but his absence is a slight boost to RB/WR Ty Montgomery.

Packers RB James Starks missed Wednesday's practice with a concussion. It's the 1st we've heard of the brain injury and puts his Week 15 status in question. Starks has fallen off the fantasy radar, but his absence would give Ty Montgomery a boost.

Packers RB Christine Michael led the team with 10 carries in Sunday's win over the Seahawks. He managed just 36 yards, though, and watched Ty Montgomery plunge in the 1-yard TD in the 2nd quarter. Michael also didn't draw any targets. He'll need to do more to enter fantasy consideration, and we're a little low on time for that to happen this season.

Packers WR/RB Ty Montgomery split carries with RB Christine Michael -- 9 to Michael's 10 -- in Sunday's win over the Seahawks. But it was Montgomery who registered the 1-yard TD run in the 2nd quarter. He added 3 catches for 45 yards among 4 targets, but the goal-line work is what puts him at least into consideration in a backfield that has apparently given up on RB James Starks. Montgomery's not a safe fantasy option anywhere, though.