Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has been working in wide receiver drills early in training camp. The young back was banged up due to a soft-tissue issue but that appears to be behind him. At the moment, Gibbs is taking part in receiving drills but is focusing on his route running. He has been learning alongside All=Pro teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown which is never a bad idea. The former 12th overall pick could end up being a dual-threat option heading into next season. Fellow back David Montgomery figures to handle a larger workload in the backfield, so more looks as a receiver is good news for the fantasy value of Gibbs.
It's clear that the Detroit Lions want second-year running back Jahmyr Gibbs to be more involved in their offense in 2024 after he rushed for almost 1,000 yards as a rookie and finished third in the league in yards per carry (5.2). Heading into his second year, the Lions are looking for more consistency out of Gibbs, mainly in pass protection, as he was graded 61st out of 63 qualified RBs in pass-blocking in 2023 by PFF. The Lions also want Gibbs to be more involved in the passing game, even though he was in the top 10 among RBs with 52 catches and 71 targets in 2023. His average depth of target, per PFF, was literally zero yards, so Detroit will be looking to use him more in the slot and deeper down the field in 2024. With David Montgomery still in town, Gibbs' ceiling will remain somewhat limited, but if he's more involved as a pass-catcher deeper down the field, he'll still have RB1 upside in PPR leagues.
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes said this week on The Rich Eisen Show that second-year running back Jahmyr Gibbs could have an even bigger role in 2024. "I definitely would expect him to see more of a load, but David Montgomery will still be here too," Holmes said. "Dan and I love that 1-2 punch of him and David." The former first-round pick in 2023 was third among running backs with 5.2 yards per carry in his rookie campaign, so fantasy managers that were already fond of Gibbs' stock in a rising Lions offense will be pleased that he could be even more valuable as an RB1 in 2024. Not only should the 22-year-old former Alabama back see more carries, but he should also be more involved in the passing attack, where he can really excel with yards after the catch in open space. Only seven RBs saw more targets than Gibbs' 71 in 2023.
Jahmyr Gibbs' Costly Fumble Contributes To 49ers Comeback On Sunday
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed 12 times for 45 yards and a touchdown and caught three of his six targets for 11 yards in the NFC Championship Game loss to the San Francisco 49ers. It wasn't his best performance, and his tough day was capped off with a lost fumble on the second drive of the second half to give the 49ers the ball on the 24-yard line. Detroit went on to lose the game 34-31 after leading by 17 points at halftime. Although the turnover will be tough to get past, the 2023 first-round pick had a fantastic debut season with over 1,000 scrimmage yards and double-digit touchdowns. He should be one of the first running backs off the board in 2024 fantasy drafts.
Jahmyr Gibbs Could Be Heavily Involved In NFC Title Game
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has had a solid start to his postseason career in the team's wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams. In those two contests, the first-round rookie rushed 17 times for 99 yards and a touchdown and caught all eight of his targets for 83 yards. He should be heavily involved in Detroit's offensive game plan against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The Lions are a 7.5-point underdog in that contest, meaning they could be playing from behind. Gibbs had twice as many receptions (26) while the Lions were trailing during the regular season than he did when they were ahead (13). The Niners also surrendered the fifth-most receptions per game to running backs this year (5.3). Ultimately, the stars are aligned for Gibbs to flash his explosive skill set in the running and receiving game on Sunday.
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed nine times for 74 yards and caught four passes for 40 yards in the NFC Divisional Round win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gibbs delivered a 31-yard rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter to help the Lions pull away in the 31-23 victory. The rookie remains a threat to score a touchdown or rip off a chunk play on every snap, so he remains a DFS next week despite a tough matchup with the talented San Francisco 49ers' defensive front.
Jahmyr Gibbs Faces Tough Matchup In NFC Divisional Round
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed eight times for 25 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 48 yards in the NFC Wild Card win over the Los Angeles Rams. It was a solid performance for the rookie speedster, but his fantasy ceiling has proven to be much higher. Unfortunately, he's set to draw another tough matchup on Sunday against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that surrendered the third-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs during the regular season. That said, Gibbs always has upside due to his explosiveness and pass-catching ability, meaning he should remain in consideration for GPP and cash game DFS contests. Ultimately, the 21-year-old has a boom-or-bust outlook in the second round of the NFL playoffs.
Jahmyr Gibbs Posts 68 Yards On 12 Touches Against Rams
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed eight times for 25 yards and caught all four of his targets for 43 yards in the Wild Card victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Although it wasn't the rookie's best rushing performance, he provided a spark as a pass-catcher and helped the Lions move the chains when it mattered. He continued to share work with David Montgomery, and both backs totaled exactly 68 yards. Next week, Detroit will host either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams were strong against fantasy running backs in the regular season, but Gibbs' pass-catching upside combined with the Lions' elite offensive line will continue to make the speedster an attractive fantasy and DFS play.
Jahmyr Gibbs A Strong DFS Play Against Rams Despite Tough Matchup
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs exploded onto the scene as a rookie in 2023, rushing 182 times for 945 yards (5.2 YPC) and 10 touchdowns and catching 52 passes for 316 yards and one touchdown. He's set to play in his first playoff game on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. Los Angeles has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs, but Gibbs is explosive and a key piece of the team's passing game, so he always has fantasy and DFS upside. Especially if Sam LaPorta (knee) can't play, the speedster could see a ton of work through the air. Although he's been boom-or-bust lately, DFS is all about upside. For six-game contests on DraftKings, he's only the sixth-most expensive running back at $6,500.
Jahmyr Gibbs Held To 30 Yards, Finds End Zone In Week 18
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed 13 times for just 30 yards in the Week 18 win over the Minnesota Vikings. He did not catch his lone target, but he did reach the end zone on a three-yard run. It was far from his best fantasy performance of the season, but he salvaged his quiet day with a touchdown. The rookie speedster will be a high pick in 2024 fantasy drafts, and he's made a case to be the dynasty RB1 over the last half of the season. He'll likely continue to share touches with David Montgomery in 2024, but he'll have plenty of upside as an explosive rusher and receiver.
