Jahmyr Gibbs just dropped a bomb on the fantasy football world, declaring “For sure” he’d take himself with the No. 1 overall pick in any draft this year. With a reported smile on his face, this dude knows what’s up, saying he’s either going to make a ton of people happy or totally furious. Honestly, after the massive bag the Detroit Lions just handed him, you can’t blame the guy for feeling himself.
Gibbs Is Cashing Checks and Breaking Records
This isn’t just talk, either. Gibbs is the highest-paid running back in NFL history, full stop. The Lions locked him down with a three-year, $67.5 million extension back in August, and that $22.5 million average annual value is a record for any running back in the league. Think about that: the team *believes* in him to a historic degree! And why wouldn’t they? He’s been a Pro Bowler in every single one of his three NFL seasons, from 2023 through 2025. Last season, 2025, he absolutely went off, rushing for 1,223 yards and 13 touchdowns on a sweet 5.0 yards per carry. But he’s not just a ground guy, either, racking up 77 receptions for 616 yards and another five scores through the air. The year before that, 2024, he was even crazier on the ground, hitting 1,412 rushing yards and an NFL-high 16 touchdowns at 5.6 yards per carry. That’s pure dominance.
The Backfield Is His, No Question
Now, get this: Gibbs is about to get an even bigger workload this season. The Lions shipped veteran running back David Montgomery, who had averaged 187.3 carries per season from 2023-25, off to the Houston Texans. Last season, only Gibbs and Montgomery got more than three carries for Detroit, combining for a hefty 401 total carries. So, with Montgomery gone, who’s left? The Lions’ current running back room, Jacob Saylors and Sione Vaki, has a grand total of nine NFL carries between them. Yeah, you read that right. Nine. Gibbs, who has averaged 246.5 carries per season since 2024, knows it too. He expressed, “I guess I’m getting most of the carries. I feel good about that. It’s nothing I haven’t done before. It’s going to be cool.” Confidence radiating right there!
The Lions, after a 9-8 season that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time since 2022, are making moves. They canned offensive coordinator John Morton, who had replaced Ben Johnson (now the Bears’ head coach), and brought in former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. The rushing game stumbled a bit last year, dropping to 14th in the NFL with 120.1 yards per game, after being fifth in 2023 (135.9 per game) and sixth in 2024 (146.4 per game). But with Gibbs unleashed as the undisputed workhorse, things could shift massively. The Lions open their 2026 regular season at home against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon, 1 p.m. ET on FOX. You bet all eyes will be on Gibbs from the very first snap.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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