Running Back – Alabama

5’11, 200 lbs.

Strengths

Jahmyr Gibbs has had fantasy managers excited for years now. Despite holding offers from over a dozen powerhouse programs, the high school phenom chose to sign locally with the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets, where he went on to show his superstar potential with 13 scores and 1,974 yards from scrimmage in his two seasons. The hype surrounding him began to skyrocket when he chose to enter the transfer portal and sign with Alabama in December of 2021. Over the 2022 season, he proved to be one of the best all-purpose backs in the country.  

Gibbs is a quick-twitch athlete with solid footwork and patience at the line of scrimmage. His short burst ability is elite, and his rapid acceleration allows him to reach top-end speeds in a hurry. He is the smoothest runner in this class once he gets to the second level, where he appears to glide past defenders with ease. His open-field cuts are quick and fluid and while he isn’t built to run through tacklers, he has an outstanding balance at the point of contact. Furthermore, while he may not be the fastest back of the draft class, he has shown that he can hit the homerun ball from anywhere on the field. 

What makes Gibbs extremely dangerous is his versatility to move around the offense as a pass catcher. He has shown off a diverse route tree that allows him to create mismatches by motioning out wide, lining up in the slot, or running routes from the backfield. Finally, he has solid hands and adjusts his body well as a receiver.

Weaknesses

Gibbs’ lack of size is his biggest knock as a player. We’ll see exactly what he measures in at with the upcoming NFL Combine. He’s been a durable running back but has never been asked to shoulder the load of a backfield alone. While he may end up being more of a change-of-pace player rather than the featured back we all hope he becomes. 

Though Gibbs is a good receiving back, he could improve some aspects in passing situations. Pass blocking is a weakness he will have to improve on at the NFL level. Additionally, to maximize his abilities as a vertical threat, he will need to get better at locating and tracking deep balls. He could also be more aggressive at the point of catch, as NFL defenders will close gaps quicker and create more breakups. 

NFL Fit and Draft Capital

Expect Gibbs to be one of the top backs taken in this year’s NFL Draft. He is likely to be an early Day 2 pick, with Day 1 potential if a team feels it’s the right situation. A team like the Cowboys would be a great landing spot if they were to decide to let Tony Pollard walk in free agency. Regardless of where he lands, he will likely go off the board quickly in round one of your upcoming dynasty fantasy football rookie drafts.

All in all, he has the tools to become a solid all-purpose back at the NFL level, with an upside as high as Jamaal Charles or Alvin Kamara. That’s the type of upside you get from these elite pass-catching type of running backs in fantasy football. 

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