Lions and Jahmyr Gibbs receive slightly disrespectful RB ranking from ESPN originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Detroit Lions have just paid running back Jahmyr Gibbs a lot of money, as the former first-rounder has truly become a superstar.
The three-time Pro Bowler has been incredible over the past three seasons and could be in for a massive 2026 season as the full-time running back, with David Montgomery now with the Houston Texans.
But before the season could even begin, Gibbs received a slightly disrespectful ranking from ESPN's Mike Clay, who named Gibbs and the Lions' backfield as the fifth-best in the league.
Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs receives No. 5 ranking from ESPNThere are plenty of good running backs in the NFL that are close to, or within the same tier as Gibbs. But Gibbs and the Lions getting ranked at No. 5 feels a bit too low.
Clay's top-ranked RB room is the Indianapolis Colts, led by Jonathan Taylor. While he's been a great RB, it is a little odd that he's four spots ahead of Gibbs.
Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles is No. 2, and while Barkley is certainly a good running back and should be top-5, placing him ahead of Gibbs after his down 2025 season seems, once again, a little odd.
Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers and Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons rank at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, in Clay's RB ranking. Both of those backs do have a legitimate case to be in front of Gibbs.
However, thanks to Taylor and Barkley's high ranking, Gibbs has been pushed down to No. 5 in Clay's ranking. Calling Gibbs the fifth-best RB in the NFL just doesn't seem right.
He ran for 1,223 yards on 243 attempts with 13 touchdowns, along with 77 receptions for 616 yards and five touchdowns as a receiver. Gibbs did that with a worse offensive line than some of the other four RBs ranked ahead of him.
Gibbs getting ranked at No. 5 when it seems likely he is primed for a major breakout season and could be next year's No. 1 RB is slightly disrespectful.
This isn't an egregious snub or low ranking, as these top-five RBs are all clearly among the elite in the NFL, and there's no question they deserve such rankings. But Gibbs being at the bottom of this group does feel a little too low for the star Lions RB.
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