Jahmyr Gibbs was a popular pick at the top of fantasy football drafts, and the Detroit Lions running back knows the pressure that comes with that distinction.
“I’m either going to make a lot of people happy or mad, so we’re going to see," Gibbs said.
Gibbs said fantasy general managers who picked him first made the right call; he would have taken himself No. 1 overall, too.
"For sure. That’s easy," he said.
And he'll have the chance to start proving his worth – to his real team and fantasy GMs everywhere – when the Lions open the regular season Sunday, Sept. 13, against a New Orleans Saints team he grew up following in some ways.
Gibbs said he modeled his game after all-purpose Saints running back Alvin Kamara, who is not expected to play Sunday
because of a sprained knee.
Kamara, entering his 10th season, was one of the most dynamic dual-threat backs in the NFL early in his career. He's never rushed for 1,000 yards in a season, but he topped 80 catches each of his first four years and should move into third place on the NFL's all-time reception list by a running back this fall.
Gibbs is coming off back-to-back 1,200-yard rushing seasons and set an NFL record with 49 all-purpose touchdowns in his first three years. He could see an expanded role as a pass catcher this season after the Lions made him the highest paid running back in NFL history.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said he expects Gibbs to be his "bell cow" after years of splitting time with David Montgomery at running back. And while most have assumed that means Gibbs will approach 300 carries for the first time in his career, it could mean he's more active in the pass game instead.
Gibbs had a career-high 77 receptions last year after catching 52 passes each of his first two seasons. He seemed to line up more as a receiver this training camp than he did in past summers, sometimes with another back in the backfield, and new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing stressed getting the ball in better catch-and-runs situations.
"He definitely put me in a lot of different spots to get the ball," Gibbs said. "I don’t want to put too much out there."
Gibbs said he's ready for a bigger workload if that comes his way. Last year he finished seventh in the NFL in touches by a back with 320, and entering his fourth season he said he's comfortable doing whatever he can to help the Lions and his fantasy teams win games.
"I’m good," he said. "I mean, I’ve always done that. When I was in high school I played receiver, too. College I played a lot of it. Nothing I’m not used to."
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs says he's 'easy' choice for No. 1 pick in fantasy
