Jahmyr Gibbs enters the 2026 fantasy football season as a top-tier draft asset, coming off a campaign where he averaged 21.6 points per game and finished as the PPR RB3. With three years in the league now under his belt, he has established a highly reliable statistical baseline week to week. I personally have him ranked below Bijan Robinson by the slimmest of margins for the upcoming season, but if Gibbs falls further than the two-hole in standard formats, something has gone sideways.
Should You Draft Jahmyr Gibbs in Fantasy Football?
Gibbs is one of the most coveted names in fantasy football.
If you’re even thinking about drafting Gibbs, you probably have one of the first two picks in your fantasy draft, and you’re probably deciding between Gibbs and Bijan Robinson. That seems to be the discussion around users and PFN analysts. As of early September, the ADP for Gibbs is No. 1 overall, but PFN’s ranking of him is second overall behind Bijan Robinson. It’s Bijan versus Gibbs. That is the conversation. Gibbs is projected for only 20.6 points per game this coming season, which is lower than Robinson’s projection. But I think Gibbs has a compelling case to go over him, and my short answer is a resounding yes.
Here’s why. Gibbs has been a top-10 PPR performer at RB his entire career. He had a first-place finish in 2024 and followed it up with a third-place finish in 2025. He was third in 20-plus-yard runs last year, second in total touchdowns, third in targets, and second in rushing yards before contact, spotlighting his game-breaking explosion, agility, and creative instincts. He’s totaled 3,768 yards and 38 touchdowns over the past two seasons on 622 total touches, averaging well over 300 touches a season. That’s an insane amount of volume for this type of player.
The Lions offensive line ranked fourth in PFN OL impact last year and only got better. Tate Ratledge is developing well. Penei Sewell is an All-Pro caliber people mover. Blake Miller, their first-round rookie, projects extremely well blocking in space, and Cade Mays offers stability at the center position after the turmoil they had the past two seasons there.
On Gibbs’ touches, the Lions signed Isiah Pacheco to replace David Montgomery as the other volume option, but Pacheco has not been the same since his fractured fibula in 2024. At this stage of Pacheco’s career, I don’t think he’s nearly the usage threat that Montgomery was to Gibbs. I think Gibbs is poised to dominate touches as much as he physically can in the Lions offense, and he has the Lions’ potent passing attack to help stretch defenses thin as well.
In my opinion, Gibbs is a worthy No. 1 overall selection, even over Bijan Robinson, in all league formats, but especially PPR, where his two-phase dominance and electric big-play potential can carry your team to victory with the massive amount of volume that he is sure to attain this coming season.
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Jahmyr Gibbs’ Week 1 Fantasy Outlook
Analysis provided by PFN Analyst Kyle Soppe.
Gibbs had at least 5 catches or 90 receiving yards in all 4 games last September.Â
He might do both in this game.
The Saints ranked 20th in yards allowed per rush before contact to running backs last season, and I don’t think you need me to tell you that if Gibbs sees daylight, it’s over.
Over the past two seasons, he averages 6.8 yards per carry and 1.21 fantasy points per carry when making it past the line of scrimmage before first contact. I was #TeamBijan for the 1.01 honors this summer, and even I can’t slot anyone but Gibbs in that spot for the first week of the season.
If you wanted to poke a hole in this profile, it would be that Detroit is favored by a touchdown and might not need its star RB to wear the cape, but I’d argue that if it is in a position to manage his work late, the damage has already been done.
And likely courtesy of some serious highlight-reel plays.
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Where Gibbs Ranks Among 2026 Running Backs
- Jahmyr Gibbs | DET
- Bijan Robinson | ATL
- Jonathan Taylor | IND
- James Cook III | BUF
- Christian McCaffrey | SF
- Saquon Barkley | PHI
- Chase Brown | CIN
- Derrick Henry | BAL
- De'Von Achane | MIA
- Kenneth Walker III | KC
- Omarion Hampton | LAC
More rankings can be found in PFN's PPR Running Back Rankings.
