Robinson and Gibbs not practicing amid contract talks

Robinson couldn’t get anything going against a Chicago defense allowing the fifth highest rate of yards before contact. The Bears were intent on snuffing out the Atlanta rushing attack and forcing Michael Penix to move the ball through the air. It worked for much of the game. Robinson, who had 425 rushing yards in his previous three games, remains the engine of the run-heavy Falcons offense and should get back on track in Week 7 against the Niners.

Robinson suffered through poor offensive efficiency in the first half, finally breaking loose for a 38-yard carry on the team’s first possession of the third quarter. Although the receiving production and yardage total were enough to salvage a usable fantasy week, it was only the second time in five games in which Robinson failed to find the end zone. Robinson remains an elite fantasy RB1 ahead of a Week 6 showdown against the Bears in Atlanta.

Gibbs scored twice today, bringing his career touchdown total up to 57, breaking the NFL record set by former Lions RB Barry Sanders for the most touchdowns scored by a player under 25 years old. The exceptionally talented player gets a boost from his sharp coaching staff, who continue to maximize Gibbs’ strengths. OC Drew Petzing dialed up a trick-play screen pass for Gibbs after the two-minute warning, in which Gibbs took the handoff, pitched it to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who pitched it back to Jared Goff, who then chucked it back to Gibbs with three offensive linemen in front of him on the left side of the field. An 18-yard gain ensued. Gibbs later produced a season-long 22-yard run. Although he scored two touchdowns today, he could have had a third. On the Lions’ ninth drive, Gibbs got two chances from the one-yard line on the ninth drive before the coaching staff greenlit a successful QB sneak for Goff. The Lions are on bye in Week 6, but he returns to the top of the running back ranks against the Packers in Week 7.

Week 4 marked Robinson’s second consecutive game going over 100 yards with two touchdowns on the ground, this time aided by a 59-yard touchdown run on his first touch of the game. The Falcons tied a franchise record with five rushing scores, with backfield mate Brian Robinson adding three to the two of Bijan. The return of quarterback Michael Penix has given the Falcons the threat of passing after dropping their first two games of the season behind suboptimal play from the position, and nobody has benefited more from reduced numbers in the box than Robinson. He’ll look to keep the momentum going as a top-tier RB1 when the Falcons host the Ravens in Week 5.

Gibbs had eclipsed 100 combined yards against all three opponents to start the season before the Panthers held him largely in check, with fantasy’s top asset cashing in on a one-yard touchdown in the second quarter to avoid a disastrous outing. The two teams were knotted at 16 entering the half but it was the Panthers that dictated terms following the break, winning the time of possession battle by over six minutes. Gibbs maintained an elite workload by seeing all but two backfield opportunities and every available carry on the evening, keeping his fantasy value sky-high ahead of a potential shootout against the Cardinals in Week 5.

Per usual, Gibbs was dynamic with the ball in his hands, making defenders miss at will while racking up 27 touches. He put an exclamation point on the game with an 11-yard touchdown grab that eventually gave Detroit the win. He’s already up to six touchdowns this year and has no fewer than five catches and 113 yards from scrimmage in his three appearances. With the ability to crush on the ground and through the air, Gibbs is an unstoppable fantasy force. He remains the RB1 overall heading into his Week 4 date with the Panthers.

Robinson single-handedly out-gained the Packers in the first half after clearing the century mark on the ground early in the second quarter. His patience and burst through the gap were on full display, routinely gaining chunk yardage on first down while making the Green Bay defensive front look like Swiss cheese. A 55-yard scamper on a wide zone carry in the first quarter got the All Pro back off to a blazing start, adding his first of two touchdowns to cap the drive. He would take on a second score late in the fourth quarter to send the Packers to their first home opener loss in 14 years. Robinson remains an elite RB1 ahead of a Week 4 matchup with the division rival Saints.

Robinson did what he could in the midst of a Cooper Rush meltdown, but it’s hard to expect much when his team puts up a grand total of three points. Atlanta also pulled their starters early, allowing Brian Robinson Jr. to rack up 13 touches of his own. Robinson is a volume-based RB1 even when Rush is under center, and he’ll move back into the top three once Michael Penix takes over. That could happen next week versus the Packers on Thursday Night Football.

Gibbs was effectively the entire game plan out of the gates, scoring the team’s only first-half touchdown from 11 yards out in the second quarter. He would be used far less after the break as the Lions attempted to come back from multiple 17-point deficits, although the six receptions on eight targets and a touchdown through the air helped push his counting stats into clear RB1 territory for the second consecutive week to start the season. Fantasy managers that were lucky enough to secure the 1.01 in drafts this offseason are sure to be content with the early returns. Gibbs will once again be an elite fantasy option when the Lions host the Jets in Week 3.

As expected, the Lions elevated Gibbs to a true workhorse role sans David Montgomery and he never looked back. He ceded a grand total of three touches to backup Sione Vaki. Gibbs logged career highs in touches and carries. Despite this, Gibbs still cruised past 5.4 yards per carry, consistently gashing the Saints for chunk gains. To no one’s surprise, Gibbs is the runaway favorite to be the RB1 overall this year. He will hold that spot in the Week 2 rankings when he takes on Buffalo.