Jahmyr Gibbs looks like he’s headed for a big year. In PPR formats, I think he’s the best back short of McCaffrey, Bijan and Breece. But I wouldn’t sleep on Detroit’s other running back.
David Montgomery was very productive last year, running for 1,015 yards and punching in 13 touchdowns. And I don’t see him going away anytime soon.
As heavily as the Lions rely on the run, Montgomery could be headed for another season with top-20 numbers. Detroit has scored 23 and 27 rushing touchdowns the last two years, and I expect Montgomery will continue to see more goal-line carries than Gibbs. He’s a bigger, more physical runner.
It’s the passing game where Gibbs should separate. I expect they’ll be more effective using him on those plays (now that he’s been around for a year). Montgomery, meanwhile, caught only 16 passes in 14 games last year. That’s a big strike against him in PPR formats.
The overall power of the offense, however, shouldn’t be underestimated. The Lions will be putting up big numbers, and their running backs will be heavily involved. That should make for a pair of productive players.
In a typical NFL season, there will be a team with two backs finishing with top-20 numbers. The Lions look like the team most likely to have that second productive back. In each of the last two seasons, Detroit’s 2nd-best back has finished with better overall numbers than the 2nd-best back on any other team.
(Montgomery was their No. 2 guy last year, while in 2022 they got good production out of both Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift.)
| BEST BACKS WHO DIDN'T LEAD THEIR OWN TEAM | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Rushing | Receiving | PPR | Rk |
| 2002 | Moe Williams, Min. | 84-414-11 | 27-251-0 | 159.5 | 29 |
| 2003 | T.J. Duckett, Atl. | 197-779-11 | 11-94-0 | 164.3 | 27 |
| 2004 | Larry Johnson, K.C. | 120-581-9 | 22-278-2 | 173.9 | 27 |
| 2005 | Tatum Bell, Den. | 173-921-8 | 18-104-0 | 168.5 | 24 |
| 2006 | Deuce McAllister, N.O. | 244-1057-10 | 30-198-0 | 221.5 | 16 |
| 2007 | Chester Taylor, Min. | 157-844-7 | 29-281-0 | 183.5 | 19 |
| 2008 | Derrick Ward, NYG | 182-1025-2 | 41-384-0 | 193.9 | 20 |
| 2009 | DeAngelo Williams, Car. | 216-1117-7 | 29-252-0 | 209.9 | 16 |
| 2010 | Thomas Jones, K.C. | 245-896-6 | 14-122-0 | 151.8 | 27 |
| 2011 | Mike Tolbert, S.D. | 121-490-8 | 54-433-2 | 206.3 | 16 |
| 2012 | Joique Bell, Det. | 82-414-3 | 52-485-0 | 159.9 | 23 |
| 2013 | Joique Bell, Det. | 166-650-8 | 53-547-0 | 222.7 | 14 |
| 2014 | Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 168-680-5 | 43-349-2 | 187.9 | 18 |
| 2015 | Charles Sims, T.B. | 107-529-0 | 51-561-4 | 184.0 | 16 |
| 2016 | Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 118-520-8 | 31-421-3 | 191.1 | 20 |
| 2017 | Mark Ingram, N.O. | 230-1124-12 | 58-416-0 | 284.0 | 6 |
| 2018 | Jordan Howard, Chi. | 250-935-9 | 20-145-0 | 182.0 | 21 |
| 2019 | Melvin Gordon, LAC | 162-612-8 | 42-296-1 | 186.8 | 22 |
| 2020 | Nick Chubb, Cle. | 190-1067-12 | 16-150-0 | 209.7 | 11 |
| 2021 | Melvin Gordon, Den. | 203-918-8 | 28-213-2 | 201.1 | 18 |
| 2022 | • D'Andre Swift, Det. | 99-542-5 | 48-389-3 | 191.1 | 21 |
| 2023 | • David Montgomery, Det. | 219-1015-13 | 16-117-0 | 209.2 | 17 |
—Ian Allan