NFL Fact or Fiction is back, and the first thing worth talking about is not the usual Super Bowl math. It’s the kind of season where awards, stat races, and one or two massive individual leaps can dominate the conversation. That’s where Jahmyr Gibbs comes in.
Dan Campbell has spent the offseason talking up Gibbs, and now the Lions are set up to let him run with the job without splitting work with David Montgomery, who is now in Houston. Campbell doesn’t seem especially concerned about the backup running back situation, even with Isiah Pacheco possibly unavailable for the start of the season because of injury and Jacob Saylors, who has only two career carries, lined up as the backup for next week’s opener against the Saints.
The way Gibbs has been used so far only adds to the intrigue. He played a career-high 67% of the snaps last year, after being on the field less than 60% of the time in each of his first two seasons, and he has still managed at least 1,800 scrimmage yards in each of the past two seasons. With that kind of efficiency and a bigger workload now on deck, the idea of a historic season is very much in play.
That’s why the bold call here is Gibbs ending the 13-year run of quarterbacks winning MVP and becoming the first running back to take the award since Adrian Peterson in 2012. But the bar is high.
A 2,000-yard rushing season alone no longer guarantees anything - Saquon Barkley did that in 2024 and still finished third in MVP voting. Gibbs may need to chase something even bigger, maybe even the single-season yards from scrimmage record of 2,509 set by Chris Johnson in 2009.
Not every superstar is being asked to pile up records, though. The Rams, with Garrett now in the mix and playing next to Aaron Donald, are thinking bigger picture.
If Garrett can post 23 sacks for a Browns team that spent much of last season trailing, then the ceiling is obvious. Still, the expectation is that the Rams will take a less-is-more approach in his first year there, looking for ways to keep the top players fresh and spread the work around.
Garrett also hasn’t practiced much this summer, and the first injury report next week should tell more about that situation. The Rams are expected to be cautious with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and to take chances to rest him whenever they can.
That might not happen often over a demanding schedule, but there should be enough games where L.A. gets out in front and can sit veterans for long stretches. Even so, the Rams are chasing a Super Bowl, not numbers, and it would still be no shock if Garrett finishes with at least 20 sacks for a second straight season.
Another move that hasn’t gotten nearly enough attention is the Bills trading for Moore. Outside Buffalo, it has been easy for that addition to get buried under the Rams’ offseason splash and the louder buzz around other teams, including the Broncos’ trade for Jaylen Waddle and the Bengals’ addition of Dexter Lawrence II.
Moore, though, could matter a lot for Buffalo’s push to get Josh Allen to a Super Bowl. Plenty of people will remember the mistake that ended the Bears’ playoff run, when he appeared not to go full speed to stop Caleb Williams’s costly overtime interception against the Rams.
But Moore also played a major role in Williams’s second-season jump, became the trusted option in clutch moments, and delivered some memorable touchdowns in the games against the Packers. At 29, he still has plenty left for a contender.
The Commanders, meanwhile, have taken a hit where it hurts most: up front. Brandon Coleman is set to open the year at left tackle after Laremy Tunsil suffered a torn triceps injury that could sideline him all of 2026.
Coleman played guard last season, and Washington’s options at center are thin enough that Nick Allegretti could be asked to handle the spot despite limited experience there. Then came reports that the offensive line was a mess during a joint practice with the Ravens.
That’s enough to make the situation in Washington look ugly fast. After injuries last season and only seven games played, asking Jayden Daniels to scramble even more feels like a dangerous path.
And then there’s Richardson, who still has enough talent to keep people hooked. He showed improvement in the preseason, and the Colts clearly noticed by keeping him on the initial 53-man roster. He looked more settled in the pocket, threw with better accuracy and still flashed the arm strength that makes him so tempting.
Daniel Jones’s injury history only adds to the possibility that Richardson gets on the field. Since 2022, Jones hasn’t played more than 13 games in a season, and Richardson could make at least one start this year.
That start does not have to come in Indianapolis, either. The Colts could be holding on to the 2023 first-round pick with a possible trade in mind, and if Richardson is going to start for the Colts, he’ll have to get past second-year quarterback Riley Leonard on the depth chart.
For now, the competition seems to be doing him good.
In Other News...
Rams Just Sent A Clear Message About Who Leads This Team
Leadership in Los Angeles now has a much broader cast. The Rams named a record 11 team captains for the 2026 season, and the group says plenty about where the organization wants its authority to live: with established veterans, trusted voices and the players expected to set the tone every week. Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams, Tyler Higbee, Coleman Shelton, Davante Adams, Myles Garrett, Kobie Turner, Nate Landman, Quentin Lake, Trent McDuffie and Joe Cardona make up the list, giving the roster a mix of offensive, defensive and special teams anchors.
The most notable twist is the arrival of Garrett and McDuffie into that leadership circle after recent trades and acquisitions, a sign that the Rams are not waiting for newcomers to settle in before handing them real responsibility. For a team that has leaned heavily on veteran presence in recent years, expanding the captain group this far feels less like a formality and more like a statement about how the locker room is being organized heading into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Left Themselves Dangerously Thin Where They Could Least Afford It
The Rams went into roster cuts with a little room to maneuver at wide receiver and tight end, but not nearly as much margin at cornerback. By carrying only four cornerbacks on the initial 53-man roster, they made a clear choice about where they wanted their depth to live, and it was not in the one spot where injuries and matchups can turn a secondary upside down in a hurry. Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson remain key pieces at the position, but the overall numbers leave little cushion behind them.
For a defense that has to survive a long season against varied passing attacks, the balance looks precarious. Los Angeles waived other coverage options and may have to lean on the practice squad to patch holes if the cornerback room gets tested, which is exactly the kind of scenario teams try to avoid when setting their opening roster. The concern is not just talent, but how quickly the Rams could be forced to reshuffle if the position takes even a modest hit. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Face An Unusual Roster Problem Before Their Australia Opener
Before the Rams even get to worry about the 49ers on the field, there is the unusual business of getting everyone on the plane for Australia. The season opener will be played overseas, which means passports are not a side detail but part of the roster math, and both teams have had to spend real time making sure travel documents are in order for a trip unlike anything they see during a normal NFL season.
John Lynch described the process as a logistical grind, especially when it comes to new practice squad players who may still need passports and visas sorted out. For Los Angeles, the challenge is the same one facing San Francisco: the longest road trip in league history is also one of the most complicated, and the work behind the scenes has already started well before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]