Jahmyr

Gibbs

No surprise here as Gibbs already took over this role in the second half of last season, which necessitated the offseason trade of David Montgomery to the Texans. The 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Gibbs is coming off the board within the first two picks of fantasy drafts this year. He’s set to break the bank this offseason with a massive contract extension from the Lions coming.

Fowler notes that both Gibbs and Falcons RB Bijan Robinson are eligible for extensions right now. Both players will likely reset the market. Whichever player signs second could end up making more money. Fowler adds that some around the league believe Gibbs “is the very best, No. 1 running back in the entire NFL.” Both players are in contention for the overall RB1 spot in fantasy this year.

Gibbs will be under contract for $14.23 million in 2027 per OverTheCap’s projections. Gibbs and the Lions will undoubtedly continue to discuss a long-term extension over the summer and perhaps in to training camp, with Gibbs and Bijan Robinson expected to reset the market at the running back position. Gibbs and Robinson, coincidentally, are the two most obvious 1.1 candidates in most fantasy football leagues.

Speaking during the Lions’ pre-draft press conference, Holmes said the Lions have not exercised the options for Gibbs or LB Jack Campbell, who also has a fifth-year option the team needs to decide on. Both Gibbs and Campbell are safe bets to have their options picked up, which would keep them under contract through 2027. While Gibbs emerged as one of the top backs in the league and totaled 1,800-plus yards from scrimmage in each of the last two seasons, Campbell earned First-team All-Pro honors in 2025, finishing the year with 175 tackles, five sacks, three forced fumbles, and nine TFLs. We would expect both players to have their options picked up in the coming weeks.

It’s safe to assume Jahmyr Gibbs would be safe from any rookie running back the Lions add to their roster via the draft, but Isiah Pacheco, who was signed to a one-year, $1.8 million contract this offseason, may not be as safe. Pacheco, 27, was brought in to replace David Montgomery, who was traded to the Texans earlier this month, and the veteran running back appears to have lost a step or two after averaging over 4.5 YPC his first two years in the league. The Lions have picks in the first and second round of this year’s draft, but then won’t be on the clock again until the fourth round with the No. 118 overall pick. Any player selected on Day 3 could face an uphill battle to usurp Pacheco on the depth chart before Week 1, but any additions could make for interesting late-round flyers in fantasy drafts.

The talented third-year back finishes the 2025 season right in line with his overall RB3 valuation entering the year, a spot he appears likely to occupy once fantasy drafts pick up this spring. The Lions retain the bulk of their primary supporting cast this offseason and have one of the best offensive lines in football, giving no reason to avoid drafting Gibbs in the middle of the first round after amassing 1,223 yards on 243 carries, 77 catches for 616 yards, and 18 combined touchdowns. Fantasy gamers will need to monitor the Lions’ offseason with respect to their offensive play caller after head coach Dan Campbell took over those duties half way through the season this year, but it’s unlikely that the new hire will reach the conclusion that Gibbs isn’t worthy of this year’s workload.

The Lions tried to run the football with the Detroit offensive line unable to effectively protect Jared Goff, but didn’t find much room. Gibbs was also unable to get going as a receiver in what was an ugly result for the 23-year-old for many a fantasy manager in their championship game. Gibbs and the Lions will have one last meaningless game against the Bears in Week 18.

It’s rare that we feel the need to lead with a running back’s receiving line, but Gibbs truly got nothing going on the ground. His best carry of the day went for six yards and he was routinely hit well behind the line of scrimmage. Gibbs, of course, is one of the league’s best pass-catchers out of the backfield and had no issues making up for his lack of rushing with an elite receiving line. Playing from behind in the second half, Jared Goff peppered him with check-downs, including a four-yard walk into the end zone late in the fourth quarter. Gibbs is impervious to negative game script and thrives when the Lions get going downhill. He will continue to contend for the RB1 overall crown in Week 17 against the Vikings.

The Rams simply bullied the run game from Detroit all day, holding Gibbs to a long carry of just six yards. He was able to bounce a few plays outside, he broke plenty of tackles ... but PFF’s early charting has Gibbs with just 0.4 yards before contact per attempt. Gibbs will remain a high-end RB1 against the Steelers last week, hopefully we’ll look back on this one as a small blip.

All three of Gibbs’ scores came on the ground, but Gibbs was largely bottled up on the ground. Gibbs saw 19 of his 43 rushing yards come on a 19-yard run in the first quarter, but the versatile speedster ripped off 77 yards through the air while hauling in all seven of his targets. Gibbs’ third and final touchdown on the day, which officially put the game out of reach, gave him 47 for his career, tying hall of famers Barry Sanders and Randy Moss for the most touchdowns by a player before they turn 24. Gibbs doesn’t turn 24 until March and is on pace to shatter that record. It’s possible he’ll stand alone in that category next week when he faces the Rams in Week 15, where he will be a high-end RB1.