Training camp is typically a time for roster and position battles, but for the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons, a different battle is also playing out.
Both Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs and Falcons' Bijan Robinson are vying to be the league's top-paid running back. Both star running backs were nonparticipants in their team's first respective days of training camp, entering an apparent hold-in as they await their new deals.
Gibbs just got another argument in his favor, as EA Sports revealed that Gibbs will be the highest-rated RB in Madden NFL 27. Gibbs falls just shy of the 99 Club, with a 98 overall rating. Following Gibbs at 97 is San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey, Indianapolis Colts' Jonathan Taylor at 96, and then Robinson at 95.
🚨📈 The Top 10 WRs and RBs in #Madden27 are in.
— Madden NFL 27 (@EAMaddenNFL) July 29, 2026
Does Jahmyr Gibbs join the 99 Club this season? pic.twitter.com/wMdpxV9a2Y
Of course, the Lions aren't going to make their decisions based on Madden ratings. They're not the New York Jets, after all. But add it to the growing list of rankings that have Gibbs as the league's best RB.
The Lions almost certainly believe that's the case already, or else they wouldn't have traded David Montgomery to make Gibbs their "bell-cow." The problem is, the Falcons likely feel the same way about Robinson. Both teams appear ready to make it official with a contract extension. The wait comes down to which RB blinks first in this standoff, which could drag these hold-ins deep into training camp.
Other skill position Lions make the top-ten at their positions
Among the other top-ten Madden 27 ratings revealed are quarterback, wide receiver, and tight end, and you can find a Lion in each one.
At QB, Jared Goff is in the top-ten again, this time at #10 with an 88 overall rating. Even though that's higher than the 87 rating he had entering Madden NFL 26, his ranking among QBs is four spots lower. Shockingly among the QBs to leap over Goff is Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams (90). Williams is the cover athlete for this year's Madden, which may have inflated his rating a tad, but his distinction as the best QB in the NFC North is questionable.
READ MORE: Everything we learned from Dan Campbell's first availability at Lions training camp
At WR, Amon-Ra St. Brown is fourth among WRs at a 95 overall rating, both of which are one lower than his third-ranked 96 overall rating last season. TE Sam LaPorta saw his standing improve despite an injury-shortened season last year. LaPorta moves up from #9 to #7 from last year, upping his overall rating by two to 88.
Madden ratings are ever changing, and will be updated over the course of the season. So there's still a chance Gibbs, or another member of the elite Lions' offense, could make their way to the 99 Club.
Madden NFL 27 releases on August 13 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
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