Soon enough, Jahmyr Gibbs will be one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL, and he might edge out Bijan Robinson as the new highest-paid. The Detroit Lions also plan to get the most they can from that investment by making him their "bell-cow."
In fantasy football drafts this year, it's pretty much a conversation between Gibbs and Robinson for the first overall pick, and there's no wrong choice. You could argue for Robinson based on there being fewer notable mouths to feed in the Atlanta Falcons' offense, or you could argue for Gibbs based on the bigger role that's coming for him.
Via his list of 10 bold fantasy predictions for 2026, Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport seems to sit on the Gibbs side of the conversation about pick 1.01. The punch line of the prediction all but confirms it.
"He (Gibbs) will finish as the No. 1 running back overall in PPR points," Davenport writes.
Full extent of bold prediction for Jahmyr Gibbs puts him in some very rare air
Gibbs had a notable uptick in passing game involvement last season, with 77 catches on 94 targets. There are some frontiers offensive coordinator Drew Petzing could still explore there, namely alignment (more snaps in the slot and/or out wide) to unlock things another level or two.
Davenport went all-in on that idea in the full breadth of his prediction.
"Gibbs will sail past 1,000 rushing yards, catch 100 passes, and become the third back in NFL history to amass 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season."
The overall point stands, but three running backs have actually already had 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in a season: Roger Craig in 1985, Marshall Faulk in 1999, and Christian McCaffrey in 2019. Of the three, only McCaffrey had 100-plus catches in that season.
In NFL history, a running back has had 100 or more catches in a season seven or eight times, depending on how you want to classify Eric Metcalf (104 catches for the Atlanta Falcons in 1995). McCaffrey has done it three times.
Gibbs would be in some exclusive company if he is able to get 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a season, but he has the right mix of efficiency plus incoming increased volume to provide a genuine chance to do it. If it doesn't happen this year, it certainly still could at some point down the road.
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