Over the last three seasons, no one in the NFL has more touchdowns from scrimmage than Detroit Lions' running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Those 49 scores are also the most anyone in league history has had in the first three seasons of a career.
Soon enough, with a full-on "bell cow" role coming to him this year, Gibbs' paycheck will match his statistical resume. When it's all said and done, with only a question of timing, he'll either become the highest or second-highest paid running back in the league sometime in the coming weeks or months.
Gibbs is one of the best running backs in the league, and you wouldn't require having Honolulu Blue-shaded glasses on to say he is the best. If we layer age into the equation, there's only one other running back in that "best in the league" conversation with Gibbs right now.
Jahmyr Gibbs somehow still can't crack No. 1 spot in new RB ranking
Pro Football Focus is out with its ranking of the 32 starting running backs in the NFL ahead of the 2026 season. Gibbs comes in at No. 2, behind the aformentioned Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons.
"Gibbs is one of the most electric players in the league, both as a runner and receiver. His 1,449 receiving yards since getting drafted in 2023 are third among all running backs, while his 39 rushing touchdowns in that span are second."
"Gibbs is one of the fastest players in the NFL, running a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. And he uses that speed to his advantage, tallying 95 explosive runs since 2023 (4th)."
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Through their first three seasons, Robinson has the production edge over Gibbs in every area except touchdowns. PFF's data points (yards after contact, forced missed tackles) also helped give him the nod at No. 1.
Robinson has also had noticeably more career touches than Gibbs right now, as would be expected given the difference in their team's offenses. While he shared time with Tyler Allgeier, Allgeier was not getting work on the level David Montgomery was alongside Gibbs.
Gibbs and Robinson could really be co-No. 1s in any running back ranking for this year, but that wouldn't be as interesting and Robinson will get the nod for a lot of people. A year from now, after we've seen what Gibbs does in a true lead back role for a full season, maybe the order will flip.
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