Fantasy football impact: Detroit Lions draft Jahmyr Gibbs

The Detroit Lions have added Jahmyr Gibbs to their running back mix, and here is the fantasy football impact of the move.

There was a chance the Detroit Lions would take a running back in this year’s draft, and the first round was not necessarily out of the question. But it was a bold move on Thursday night though, as the Lions moved down to No. 12 overall and took Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

Gibbs joins free agent signing David Montgomery and prior incumbent D’Andre Swift in the Lions’ backfield. It’s fair to say Swift is on the trade block and practically as good as gone, so under that assumption let’s say Montgomery and Gibbs will be the top two backs for the Lions in 2023.

The fantasy football bandwagon for Montgomery as the Lions’ new No. 1 back is being driven here. Gibbs would be lined up to take Swift’s role behind him, rooted in passing down work with the potential for more.

Fantasy Football impact: Lions add Jahmyr Gibbs to backfield mix

Montgomery won’t score 17 rushing touchdowns like Jamaal Williams did for the Lions last year. But double-digits is certainly a possibility, and the 199-pound Gibbs effectively being swapped in for Swift once Swift is inevitably traded doesn’t change that.

Gibbs is a legit passing game weapon though. He led Alabama in receptions last year, with 44, and the year before that at Georgia Tech his 14.1 yards after catch per reception was the most for any Power 5 running back in the last 10 years.

Freshly updated ADP data over at Draft Sharks (12 teams, full PPR scoring) has Gibbs at RB18 (pick 4.12) with Swift RB20 (pick 5.8) and Montgomery RB21 (pick 5.12). Consensus rankings (0.5-point PPR) over at Fantasy Pros somehow have Swift higher than the other two.

Gibbs is only behind Bijan Robinson among rookie running baks in dynasty leagues and likely to stay there, with re-draft league standing for 2023 to be better determined by draft landing spots for other top rookie running backs. In a broader sense, Gibbs is a higher-end handcuff and a possible stand-alone PPR league asset among all running backs.

Montgomery has been overlooked in fantasy circles all along in his career, and the fact he has remained in RB2 range in early 2023 ADP and rankings further shows it. Any perception that the Gibbs’ addition will greatly impact his touches may deepen the discount come the teeth of draft season.

As a rookie, Gibbs is more likely to be an annoying production vulture for Montgomery’s fantasy managers than a consistent fantasy difference maker on his own.