Look, if you’re not penciling in Jahmyr Gibbs as your number one overall pick in 2026 fantasy football drafts, you’re making a league-losing mistake. Seriously. This guy is not just a candidate for the top spot, he is the only choice. Forget the noise, Gibbs is averaging 1.62 in CBS PPR drafts right now for a reason, while Bijan Robinson sits at 1.94.
The Numbers Are Screaming Gibbs
You want historic? Gibbs has the most touchdowns by any player before turning 24 in NFL history with a ridiculous 49 scores. Think about that! He’s not just good, he’s historically dominant. When you look at fantasy points among running backs through three seasons since 1970, Gibbs ranks third with 971.9 points. Who is ahead? Only legends like LaDainian Tomlinson and Christian McCaffrey. Bijan Robinson is right behind him at fourth with 958.8, and yeah, Robinson has more scrimmage yards before age 24 all-time with 5,648. But for fantasy, scoring is where it’s at. Gibbs has already put up historic numbers, making him one of just 19 running backs all-time to average 100+ scrimmage yards.
Let’s talk efficiency, because that’s where Gibbs absolutely demolishes the competition. In the past two seasons, Gibbs led all non-quarterbacks in fantasy points with 729.8, even though he had 109 fewer touches than Robinson. Let me repeat that: 109 fewer touches! Yet he still outscored Robinson’s 712.5 fantasy points. That translates to Gibbs averaging 0.20 more fantasy points per touch. He clocks in at 1.17 fantasy points per touch compared to Robinson’s 0.97. Over his entire career, Gibbs averages the second-most fantasy points per touch (1.135) among running backs with 15+ touches per game since 1970, right behind De’Von Achane. That’s a disparity you just cannot ignore.
Bell Cow Status and Red Zone Gold
The best part about 2026? Both these electric ball carriers are set to get even bigger workloads, but Gibbs’ path to red zone glory is clearer. Lions coach Dan Campbell already said Gibbs will be the “bell cow” after David Montgomery was traded to the Texans. Yes, Detroit signed Isiah Pacheco, but the primary competition for touches is gone. Robinson won’t have to split touches with Tyler Allgeier anymore either, as Allgeier signed with the Cardinals, although Atlanta did sign Brian Robinson. The key here is who gets the prime scoring opportunities.
Montgomery previously hogged over half of the Lions’ rushes in goal-to-go, inside the five, and at the one-yard line situations in the last two years. He even ranked top five in the NFL in goal-to-go rushes with 51. While Gibbs had 101 red zone rushes to Montgomery’s 82, and 36 goal-to-go to Montgomery’s 51, that split is about to disappear. Gibbs already scored 12 more touchdowns than Robinson in the past two years, and that gap is about to get even bigger with his unleashed workload in the most crucial areas of the field.
Based on his production, don’t be shocked if Gibbs posts an all-time great running back season in 2026. Your fantasy championship could hinge on this pick. Grab him, and look forward to watching him dominate your league.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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