Jahmyr Gibbs and the Detroit Lions’ backfield just got hit with a straight-up disrespectful ranking from ESPN’s Mike Clay, landing at fifth-best in the league. For a guy who’s been a three-time Pro Bowler and is coming off a monster season, this feels way too low. Gibbs is set to be the full-time running back in 2026, especially with David Montgomery now playing for the Houston Texans, and he’s just been paid a ton of money as a certified superstar.
Gibbs’ Numbers Tell The Real Story
Forget the rankings for a second, let’s look at the cold, hard facts. Last season, Gibbs ran for a whopping 1,223 yards on 243 attempts, punching in 13 touchdowns. And that’s not even counting his receiving game, where he snagged 77 receptions for 616 yards and another five touchdowns. This dude is a dual-threat nightmare for defenses. What’s even crazier? He put up those numbers despite playing behind an offensive line that was, frankly, worse than what some of the other top-ranked backs had. That tells you everything you need to know about his sheer talent and impact.
Clay’s Top RBs? A Little Suspect
So, who did Clay put ahead of Gibbs? Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts is at No. 1, which feels a little odd when you consider Gibbs’ recent production. Taylor’s good, no doubt, but four spots ahead of Gibbs? Seriously? Then there’s Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 2. While Barkley is definitely a top-tier back, putting him above Gibbs after his “down 2025 season” is, once again, a little weird. Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers and Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons are ranked No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. Both of those guys definitely have legitimate cases to be ahead of Gibbs. But the high rankings for Taylor and Barkley are what pushed Gibbs down to No. 5, and it just doesn’t feel right for a guy of his caliber.
This isn’t some egregious snub, because the top five running backs are all elite, and they totally deserve to be in that conversation. But putting Gibbs at the bottom of that group just feels a little too low for a star who’s primed for a major breakout season and could easily be the league’s No. 1 RB next year. You just know this No. 5 ranking is going to fuel him. Get ready for Gibbs to play like he has something to prove when the season kicks off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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