4 reasons Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs is the next Fantasy Football breakout star
By Hunter Haas
The sport of football sees an uptick in popularity seemingly every day. In turn, the game centered around the NFL, fantasy football, is beginning to seep into the casual portion of the fan base. From die-hards to casuals to my own mother, nearly everyone has a fantasy team these days. Here is why Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs should be a target in the early rounds of your fantasy football draft.
The Lions surprised many by selecting the Alabama star early in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. On a recent episode of “Inside the Den” Detroit general manager Brad Holmes said the team would have been comfortable taking Gibbs as early as six — their original draft position. After a trade down with the Cardinals, the front office held its breath and waited for No. 12 to roll around.
To the joy of Holmes and Co., nobody sniped Gibbs, paving the way for the Lions to welcome a new face to the backfield. Gibbs’ arrival to the franchise coincided with the exit of former second-rounder D’Andre Swift. The same is true with veteran Jamaal Williams, who inked a deal with the Saints earlier in the offseason.
That leaves several touches for the rookie ball carrier and the recently-acquired David Montgomery. As productive as Montgomery was in Chicago, he lacks the overall explosiveness and game-breaking ability that Gibbs possesses in droves. “Monty” might vulture some touchdowns on the year, but the first-round pedigree should give Gibbs the bulk of the touches.
4 reasons Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs is the next Fantasy Football breakout star
Aside from opportunity, several other factors will work in Gibbs’ favor in Year 1. We will kick things off by talking about offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and his high-octane system in Detroit.