Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs stated confidently that he believes he should be selected with the No. 1 pick in fantasy football drafts. Gibbs, entering his fourth NFL season, is the highest-paid running back in league history following a three-year, $67.5 million contract extension signed in August, with an average annual value of $22.5 million.
Gibbs enjoyed a productive 2025 season, rushing for 1,223 yards and 13 touchdowns on 5.0 yards per carry, and recorded 77 receptions for 616 yards and five touchdowns. In his second year (2024), he amassed 1,412 rushing yards and an NFL-high 16 touchdowns with an average of 5.6 yards per carry.
Following the trade of veteran running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans, Gibbs is expected to handle a significantly larger share of the carries. Montgomery averaged 187.3 carries per season from 2023-25, while Gibbs averaged 246.5 carries per season over the same span. Together, they accounted for 401 carries last season. The remaining running backs on the Lions' roster, Jacob Saylors and Sione Vaki, have a combined total of nine NFL carries.
"I guess I'm getting most of the carries. I feel good [about that]," Gibbs said regarding the potential for an increased workload. "It's nothing I haven't done before. It's going to be cool."
The Lions’ offensive coaching staff saw changes after the team missed the playoffs in 2025, finishing with a 9-8 record. Offensive coordinator John Morton, who replaced Ben Johnson (now head coach of the Chicago Bears), was let go. Drew Petzing, formerly the offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals, has taken over the role in Detroit. The team's rushing attack, which ranked fifth in the NFL in 2023 (135.9 yards per game) and sixth in 2024 (146.4 yards per game), fell to 14th (120.1 yards per game) last season.
Gibbs and the Lions will begin their 2026 regular season at home against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon.