Who Should I Start? Jahmyr Gibbs or Bucky Irving

Sunday, January 19, 12:16 AM

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed 14 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns during Saturday's loss to the Washington Commanders. He also caught six of his 11 targets for an additional 70 yards through the air. Although the Lions' season ended in an upset loss, Gibbs played phenomenal football, demonstrating elite efficiency on the ground and an exceptional target share through the air. He has firmly established himself as the centerpiece of Detroit's offense despite competing for touches with players like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and David Montgomery. In case there was still any debate, Gibbs is clearly a top running back option in redraft and dynasty leagues for fantasy football. He should be one of the first few players off the board in 2025 drafts, and he could join elite company atop the scoring leaderboard next year. His rushing efficiency, pass-catching skills, and nose for the end zone are unmatched, and his role in a highly productive offense is just the icing on the cake.

Monday, January 13, 12:53 AM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving rushed for 77 yards on 17 carries during Sunday's playoff loss to the Washington Commanders. He also caught two passes for an additional six yards through the air. In the loss, Irving averaged his lowest yards per carry since Week 9 (excluding his injury-shortened Week 14), which is not an indictment on his performance but rather a testament to just how well he's been running the football lately. He carved out the lead-back role once again on Sunday, registering 17 carries to Rachaad White's one. White has essentially been delegated to pass-catching situations, and even then, he continues to lose opportunities to Irving. It has been fascinating to watch this backfield dynamic develop throughout the season, with White slipping way down from the RB1 tier in fantasy football while Irving becomes one of the top running backs in dynasty fantasy football (and a mid-range RB1 in redraft leagues, too). Barring an unexpected change or addition within the Buccaneers' backfield, Irving should remain their primary ball carrier entering 2025.