Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs is on the cusp of greatness entering his third season in the NFL.
Splitting a timeshare with David Montgomery last year, Gibbs racked up 1,412 yards rushing and added 52 receptions for 517 yards receiving and 20 total touchdowns.
It earned him plenty of respect from Pro Football Focus (PFF), which ranked him No. 46 in the company’s top-50 NFL players entering the 2025 season.
However, many fans consider this spot too low, considering one running back ranked ahead of him.
Fans Livid Over Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs Snub by PFF
As part of Gibbs’ rankings announcement, PFF posted on X several metrics (including postseason stats) where the Lions running back ranked top-3 in the NFL, including rushing grade (91.4, 3rd), total yards (2,104, 3rd), runs of 10 or more yards (46, 3rd) and touchdowns (22, 1st).
To note all of these achievements only to give Gibbs the No. 4 ranking at his position seemed contradictory to many fans.
“Please explain how hes 3rd or 1st for all those stats yet hes rb 4,” a fan pleaded.
A poll on the platform found 82% of respondents (likely Lions fans) believe that Gibbs was ranked too low.
However, they weren’t alone in their reservations about the ranking.
“As a Vikings fan I can tell you this is way too low for Jahmyr Gibbs,” one fan replied. “If we’re looking forward to 2025 and beyond Gibbs is the best RB in the league. Absolute nightmare for defenses. I feel like Lions under-use him at times.”
That’s a fair assessment, considering Montgomery saw 221 touches last season as the team’s official starter. The Lions generally rode the hot hand, leading to Gibbs seeing more touches throughout the year.
But when Montgomery missed the final three games of the regular season is Gibbs truly thrived. He averaged 121.7 rushing yards per game and 40.7 receiving yards per game in the final three games of the season without Montgomery.
More importantly, Gibbs’ efficiency did not drop off despite the added workload at that stage of the season.
Fans Take Issue With Bijan Robinson’s Rank Ahead of Gibbs
The biggest critique of Gibbs’ place in PFF’s rankings came with third-year Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson ranked ahead of him at No. 35 overall.
Gibbs has outproduced Robinson through their first two seasons despite less competition for carries in the Falcons backfield.
“Wow you guys really, really missed. Everyone’s saying Jahmyr Gibbs is Top 3 RB after Barkley & Henry, but you guys have him below Bijan whom he’s outplayed in each of his first 2 years? Why? Because Bijan was a more popular pick coming out of college? Do you even follow the NFL,” one fan wrote, referring to Robinson’s selection at No. 8 overall was ahead of Gibbs, selected No. 12 overall, in the 2023 draft.
Robinson took 365 regular-season touches last year for a combined 1,887 yards from scrimmage. Meanwhile, Gibbs outgained Robinson with 1,929 yards from scrimmage in the regular season on just 302 touches.
There’s a serious case that Gibbs should at least be ahead of Robinson before it becomes splitting hairs with the other backs ahead of him.
Derrick Henry claimed the top spot by a running back at No. 8 overall, followed by Saquon Barkley at No. 22.
