Jahmyr Gibbs is already on the fast track to becoming one of the NFL’s top-paid running backs, and the Detroit Lions appear ready to squeeze every bit of value out of that investment by turning him into their bell-cow.
That kind of usage is part of why Gibbs has become such a hot name in fantasy football drafts. At the top of the board, it’s basically Gibbs and Bijan Robinson fighting for the 1.01, and there’s a case to be made for either back.
Robinson has the cleaner path in Atlanta because there are fewer established options around him. Gibbs, though, may be the one with the bigger role coming.
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport clearly leans that way in his list of 10 bold fantasy predictions for 2026. His forecast lands with a bang:
"He (Gibbs) will finish as the No. 1 running back overall in PPR points," Davenport writes.
Davenport didn’t stop there. He pushed the idea all the way into rare territory.
"Gibbs will sail past 1,000 rushing yards, catch 100 passes, and become the third back in NFL history to amass 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season."
The wording on that last part is off - three backs have already done the 1,000-yard rushing and receiving double in a season: Roger Craig in 1985, Marshall Faulk in 1999, and Christian McCaffrey in 2019. McCaffrey was the only one of the three to pair it with 100-plus catches.
That’s the kind of club Gibbs would join if Davenport’s prediction hits. And it’s not just fantasy smoke.
Gibbs already showed real growth as a receiver last season, hauling in 77 catches on 94 targets. There’s still room for Detroit offensive coordinator Drew Petzing to push that usage even further, especially by moving Gibbs around more and giving him more snaps in the slot or out wide.
If Gibbs gets that kind of volume on top of his efficiency, the ceiling gets loud in a hurry. A season with 1,000 rushing yards, 1,000 receiving yards, and 100 catches would put him in extremely rare air.
And if it doesn’t happen this year, the idea doesn’t feel like a one-shot fantasy. It could still be waiting for him down the road.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Are Seeing Why Alex Anzalone Meant So Much In Detroit
Alex Anzalones move to Tampa Bay has already given the Buccaneers a fresh look at the kind of linebacker Detroit spent years valuing. The veteran signed a two-year deal and has stepped into the weakside role in Todd Bowles defense, bringing the same versatility and command that made him a captain and a steady presence for the Lions. After a productive 2025 season in Detroit, the early signs in Tampa have been encouraging.
For the Lions, this is the familiar reminder that Anzalone was never just a stat sheet player. He handled traffic, helped set the tone and gave Detroit a defensive voice it could trust, even as a concussion kept him out of Week 18 last season. Tampa Bay is also trying to sort out life after Lavonte Davids retirement, so Anzalones arrival comes with real expectations, and the first stretch of his new job is already showing why Detroit valued him so highly. [Read more 🡒]
These Lions Fringe Players Are Suddenly In The 53-Man Conversation
The back end of the Lions roster is starting to get a little more interesting than the usual camp fodder. Eight members of the Pride of Detroit staff recently sorted Detroits 90-man group into a consensus ranking for 2026, and the names clustered in the 80s and 70s are the sort of fringe players who can disappear quickly in August or force their way into the conversation with a strong enough summer.
A few of the usual long-shot labels still apply, but there are also players with clearer paths than a typical camp body, which is what makes this part of the roster worth watching. Detroits need for help at nose tackle after losing Roy Lopez and DJ Reader gives one interior option a real opening, while the mix also includes a veteran with a lengthy resume and a handful of young linemen and skill players trying to turn limited opportunities into something more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
This Familiar Lions Receiver Is Suddenly Back In The Roster Fight
The Lions receiver room is still sorting itself out as camp and preseason decisions loom, and Tom Kennedy has found himself right back in the mix. A familiar face in Detroit since 2019, Kennedy has long been valued for his versatility, including his work as a return specialist, and he is now competing for one of the handful of wideout spots the team is expected to keep on the final roster.
With around five or six receivers likely to survive the cut, the margin for error is thin for everyone on the bubble. Kennedy is part of that fight alongside players such as Dominic Lovett and Cedrick Wilson Jr., plus a group of UFL receivers trying to force their way into the conversation, and the Lions still have some sorting to do before the depth chart settles. [Read more 🡒]