Home NFL NFC Why Jahmyr Gibbs Should Be Your Top Fantasy Football Pick Over Saquon Barkley in 2025

Why Jahmyr Gibbs Should Be Your Top Fantasy Football Pick Over Saquon Barkley in 2025

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Why Jahmyr Gibbs Should Be Your Top Fantasy Football Pick Over Saquon Barkley in 2025
Jahmyr Gibbs leads fantasy football with explosive performances, projecting a stellar 2025 season for Detroit Lions fans.

Jahmyr Gibbs has quickly emerged as one of the most versatile and explosive running backs in fantasy football, combining speed, vision, and excellent pass-catching skills to deliver a consistently high PPR floor. After finishing as the top RB in PPR formats last season with the Detroit Lions, Gibbs is poised to maintain his strong performance into 2025, making Jahmyr Gibbs fantasy football projections an essential consideration for managers.

Known for his dynamic running style, Gibbs created immediate value for Detroit on all downs, particularly excelling on passing plays due to his route running, reliable hands, and ability to create yards after the catch. While questions remain about his effectiveness in pass protection and his struggles running inside on tight defensive fronts, his elite 4.36-second 40-yard dash and sharp quickness have allowed him to thrive as a rookie starter.

College Career and NFL Transition

Gibbs’ collegiate tenure at Alabama showcased his balanced skill set over 31 games, where he amassed 3,349 total yards, 23 touchdowns, and 104 receptions on 483 touches. His standout season came in 2022, with 151 carries for 926 yards and 7 scores, complemented by 44 catches for 444 yards and 3 receiving touchdowns. Notably, midseason 2022 saw him put together a sensational three-game stretch with 63 carries for 463 yards and 5 rushing touchdowns, alongside 10 receptions for 81 yards.

Jahmyr Gibbs
Image of: Jahmyr Gibbs

Transitioning into the NFL, Gibbs posted 1,261 combined yards, 11 touchdowns, and 52 receptions on 234 touches in his rookie year spanning 15 games, averaging 15.6 touches weekly. Despite a slow start featuring just 9.73 fantasy points per game over the first four games and a hamstring injury sidelining him for two weeks, he quickly rebounded once an injury to teammate David Montgomery opened up a larger role.

Strong Late-Season Production in Rookie Year

Following Montgomery’s knee injury, Gibbs demonstrated his ample talent across multiple weeks with impressive stat lines, including 37 carries for 220 yards and 2 touchdowns and 14 receptions for 95 yards in a two-game stretch that yielded 57.5 PPR fantasy points. During his final 12 games of the season, including playoffs, he totaled 935 combined yards, 12 touchdowns, and 35 catches while scoring over 20 fantasy points in five of those contests.

Although Gibbs’ yards per catch averaged a modest 6.1, and he did not record any runs over 40 yards, this aspect is expected to improve as he develops. Finishing the season as the 10th-best running back with 243.7 fantasy points, Gibbs showed strong consistency and upside that make him a dangerous weapon moving forward.

2024 Season Highlights and Usage Patterns

In the 2024 campaign, Gibbs maintained solid production with a 16.64 fantasy points per game average over his first five games. After posting two consecutive 100-plus-yard rushing performances, he remained effective through the following seven matchups, accumulating 131.70 fantasy points. Montgomery’s Week 15 injury once again elevated Gibbs’ workload to a high-volume back role, averaging 24.3 touches per game over the final four games.

During that stretch, Gibbs continued to exceed expectations, rushing for over 100 yards each game and contributing consistently in the passing game, as demonstrated by receiving totals of 4 to 6 catches per contest. This increased opportunity demonstrated his ability to handle an expanded role and further solidified his fantasy football value.

Expectations for Jahmyr Gibbs in 2025

Gibbs finished last season as the leading running back in fantasy points with 363.9, edging out Saquon Barkley, who missed Week 18. His floor proved reliable with six games of at least 25 fantasy points, five of those occurring late in the year. Currently ranked third in running back ADP behind Bijan Robinson and Barkley, Gibbs remains just a coin flip away from being the top overall back in many leagues.

The Lions’ ongoing tendency to rotate running backs is likely to persist, but Gibbs is on track to command an even greater share of touches and see his role expand as the season progresses. Basing projections on a conservative 275 touches, he is expected to surpass 1,800 total yards and reach 16 touchdowns, with a rise in receptions to around 60 while holding enormous upside for game-breaking performances.

At present, Gibbs is placed as the RB2 in 2025 PPR rankings, making him a compelling target for fantasy managers looking to balance reliability with explosive potential.

Projecting the Future Impact of Jahmyr Gibbs

Jahmyr Gibbs’ unique combination of speed, receiving ability, and vision positions him as a cornerstone in Detroit’s offense and a top fantasy asset. His steady improvement in both rushing and receiving touches, alongside durability, signals a bright future well beyond his rookie campaign. The comparison with Saquon Barkley underscores Gibbs’ trajectory as a rising star, especially with his capacity to deliver consistent high-floor performances.

For fantasy followers aiming to maximize their squads in 2025, understanding Jahmyr Gibbs fantasy football projections is critical, as his blend of consistent volume and explosive upside could redefine the running back landscape in leagues focusing on PPR scoring.

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