The Detroit Lions surprised many in the 2023 NFL Draft by selecting running back Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick. It marked the second significant investment into the position by Detroit in the offseason, signaling a different approach offensively in 2023.
Detroit had already signed running back David Montgomery earlier in the spring, awarding him a three-year contract worth $18 million to make him a featured piece of the offense. The selection of Gibbs created questions regarding how the Lions running backs would be deployed this fall.
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- David Montgomery stats (2022): 801 rushing yards, 4 yards per carry, 316 receiving yards
While definitive answers on the Lions’ backfield and the usage rate and running back won’t come until September, there is early buzz out of training camp on how Montgomery and Gibbs will be deployed.
Colton Pouncey of The Athletic explained that Detroit intends to use Montgomery and Gibbs as “co-starters” this season. The Lions’ coaching staff has provided Montgomery with a heavy share of the carries with the first-team offense early in camp, but Detroit is equally high on Gibbs and has a role in mind for him.
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Pouncey believes, based on conversations with club officials and watching Lions’ practices, that there will be of plenty of instances where Gibbs and Montgomery are on the field together. However, the two ball-carriers will largely play specific roles in Detroit.
Montgomery will be the early-down back and handle a majority of carries in short-yardage situations. In 2022, he converted 2-of-3 carries from inside the 5-yard line into touchdowns and 37.2 percent of his carries inside the 10-yard line last fall were converted into touchdowns.
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Gibbs will take on an Austin Ekeler-like role for the Lions. While he was an explosive runner at Alabama, the 5-foot-11 offensive weapon’s best skills are his elusiveness, ability to generate yards after the catch and his pass-catching. However, it will be important for Detroit to strike a proper balance between run-and-pass plays with Gibbs or Montgomery on the field so as to not telegraph to the defense what’s about to happen.
From a fantasy perspective, both running backs are projected to be high-end RB2s this upcoming season. Montgomery will assume the role that made Jamaal Williams a breakout player in 2022, while Gibbs provides Detroit with a better version of what D’Andre Swift was supposed to be.
