The debate between the better of the two running backs in the NFL - between Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson - will rage on for time immemorial. While both are hitting their prime, or more scarily as they approach their prime, it has been fun to try and settle whether one is better than the other.
Hearing directly from current NFL stars regarding this debate adds some weight to either argument, but recent comments from Micah Parsons and Derrick Henry are already swaying in Robinson's favor ahead of way-too-early OPOY and MVP conversations.
Parsons recently picked Robinson over Gibbs in an MVP debate on his podcast, "The Edge with Micah Parsons," explaining that he thinks Robinson is "doing it with less."
"He just got a quarterback. He just got that. And he still went for 200. But also, Gibbs is surrounded by Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jared Goff - very underrated - [Sam] LaPorta, Jamo. I'm not saying those players make him worse. I'm just saying what Bijan has done without having that elite quarterback play, it just adds a little bit more value."
Henry also told reporters that he thinks Robinson is "the best in the game right now" amongst running backs, which is a lot coming from wrecking ball like him.
Bottom line for Gibbs: due to the lack of effective run blocking and gap schemes to assist him in getting more open looks when going downhill, he's been unable to reach his full potential so far in 2026. Robinson, on the other hand, has been far more explosive.
Lions' lack of rushing success will bury Gibbs in MVP, OPOY conversations
Gibbs has 353 rushing yards in addition to five touchdowns on 80 carries through four weeks, while Robinson is sitting at 494 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 84 carries. A big difference between the two running backs, though - Robinson is averaging nearly six yards per carry, while Gibbs is at 4.4 yards per carry.
Gibbs does have Robinson beat at the moment as a dual-threat weapon, though, with 187 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns compared to Robinson's 120 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. It's still ridiculous how close these two players are right now.
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The biggest difference between these two players right now is the number of explosive plays both have generated so far for their respective teams, and the number of opportunities both have gotten to generate such plays. Atlanta is sitting at a 74% rushing success rate, while the Lions are at 72%. It's not a big gap, but it's the difference between an 11th-best rushing success rate and a 20th-best rate.
Robinson already has four runs for over 20 yards, and two for over 40, on the year. Gibbs is at one run for over 20 yards, and none for over 40. His longest run of the year so far has been for 21 yards, while Robinson's has been for 59.
Detroit's offensive scheme and their line have a ton to do with how Gibbs has been able to operate in the backfield. Once Cade Mays is back in the fold, you'd have to imagine that the Lions will lean into more man-duo plays for Gibbs to take advantage of this year. This should propel Gibbs' explosive play capabilities further, and force him into the conversation for OPOY, at minimum.
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