All 23 rushing touchdowns that came from the Detroit Lions’ RBs in 2022 are no longer on the roster. It begs the question: Should you start Jahmyr Gibbs or David Montgomery in fantasy football for Week 1 of the NFL season? Let’s take a closer look.
Jahmyr Gibbs’ Fantasy Outlook This Week
The Lions selected Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, which has fantasy managers dreaming of a breakout star at the RB behind one of the best offensive lines in the league in a high-scoring offense.
Gibbs enters the NFL on Day 1 as one of the biggest weapons in the passing game at the RB position.
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He has exceptional change-of-direction skills, effortlessly accelerates out of breaks to create separation, and has soft hands to routinely make catches outside of his frame.
Fortunately for Gibbs, he faces a Kansas City defense in Week 1 that gave up more receptions to opposing RBs than any other team in the league. His dynamic skill set as a pass catcher should be utilized in the season opener.
David Montgomery’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
Last year, Jamaal Williams finished with 17 rushing TDs last season as the Lions’ leading ball carrier last season.
If there is a back on the Lions’ roster that projects as an early-down and short-yardage threat on the ground, it would be Montgomery. He has never seen fewer than 200 carries a season during his NFL career, while Gibbs never topped 200 total touches any year of his collegiate career.
There is certainly an argument to be made that Montgomery could be just as productive as Williams — if not more so — in a similar role from last season. In what should be a high-scoring game in KC, Montgomery could see a handful of red-zone looks in Week 1.
Who Should You Start in Week 1?
The volume vs. efficiency debate in the world of fantasy football is a legitimate one. Gibbs should see some work in the passing game against a team that was susceptible to pass-catching backs last season, which could give Gibbs a chance to have a reliable floor in PPR formats and could produce top-12 numbers at the position this week if he pops a big play with one of those touches.
However, we don’t exactly know what the snap share is going to look like for Gibbs in Week 1. Montgomery is likely to be the preferred option in short-yardage situations near the goal line, which gives a slight edge in finding the end zone.
I love Gibbs upside and playmaking ability, but I believe Montgomery will see more total touches this week in what should be one of the highest scoring games of Week 1. I would start David Montgomery in Week 1.