Jahmyr Gibbs | Alabama 5’9” 199 lbs. | 03/20/2002 (21)
Jahmyr Gibbs was drafted by the Detroit Lions, becoming the second running back and 12th overall player taken in the 2023 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE PRODUCTION
Jahmyr Gibbs began his college career at Georgia Tech, where he dominated immediately, especially as a receiving threat. In just seven games, he racked up 24 receptions for 303 yards. He put together an even more impressive campaign the following season before transferring to Alabama. In 2022, as Alabama’s lead RB, Jahmyr Gibbs had his most efficient season to date. He averaged 6.1 YPC on 151 attempts and added another 44 receptions, which led the team.
Before we move on, let’s take a closer look at the receiving profile. If you’ve been following college football and the pre-draft process, you probably know that Gibbs is a quality pass-catcher. But when you compare his production to other strong receiving prospects from recent draft classes, he really jumps off the page. Check out these two charts from Campus2Canton.com, which compare an RB’s market share of team receptions and receiving yards against the average fantasy RB1.
As you can see, Gibbs cleared the “top-12” threshold easily in all three of his collegiate seasons, and he was well above his peers as a freshman and sophomore.
ATHLETIC TESTING
At the Combine, Jahmyr Gibbs measured in at 5’ 9” and 199 lbs. He also showed off his blazing speed with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash. His vertical jump came in at 33.5”. Due to his diminutive size, Gibbs had a relative athletic score of just 7.97. However, his speed grade was predictably elite.
DRAFT ANALYSIS
Jahmyr Gibbs is a first-round pick! An early first-round pick! This is not a drill!
My jaw dropped when it was announced that the Detroit Lions were selecting Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th pick. Prior to Thursday night, I would have put the Lions near the bottom of my list of teams likely to draft an RB early. As it turns out, the team was ecstatic to land Gibbs and would have considered him as high as sixth overall.
After some initial hesitation, I am very excited about this landing spot. The depth chart may appear crowded, but the team is too invested and Gibbs is too talented to keep him in a limited role. Honestly, I won’t be surprised if D’Andre Swift is traded for a late pick at some point this offseason. Meanwhile, the offensive environment is absolutely perfect for Gibbs. The Lions have a high-powered offense that ranked first in PPR points at the RB position last season, and statue-QB Jared Goff likes to check it down early and often.
FANTASY INSIGHTS
Jahmyr Gibbs is worthy of the 1.02 in rookie drafts, even Superflex rookie drafts. Yes, you heard me correctly. I won’t fault anyone for taking the swing on Anthony Richardson’s tantalizing upside at a higher-scoring position, but Gibbs has a ton of upside in his own right. Analytically, he is among the best-receiving prospects at RB that we’ve seen in the last decade. From the moment he steps on the field, Gibbs will be one of the few RBs in the NFL capable of a 100-target season. And that’s a ceiling worth chasing.
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