Like most teams around the NFL, the Detroit Lions could use some positive momentum—and this year, it’s more crucial than ever. The team enters the 2025-26 season without both of its longtime coordinators on offense and defense, a significant shake-up that brings plenty of uncertainty.
Still, head coach Dan Campbell has proven to be a steadying force, and Detroit boasts a strong core of returning talent. If those players continue to perform at a high level, the Lions have a real shot at making a deep postseason run—and perhaps finally reaching the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.
With the 2025–26 NFL season still a couple of months out and the league deep in its offseason, now’s the perfect time to take stock of returning talent across the league. Evaluating which top-tier players are still in place helps give a clearer picture of a team’s potential heading into the new year.
In that spirit, one NFL analyst has begun ranking the league’s best at each position—and it’s great news for the Detroit Lions. A standout Lions player has landed near the top of the list, a promising sign for a team aiming to build on recent success and finally break through to the Super Bowl.
Detroit Lions Have an ‘Elite’ RB
In a July 7 feature for ESPN, Jeremy Fowler surveyed NFL executives, coaches, and scouts to rank the top 10 running backs heading into the 2025–26 season—and one Detroit Lions back earned a spot among the league’s elite.
“Rushing success stories were all over the NFL map,” Fowler wrote. “The running back in Philly galvanized a Super Bowl run. The running back in Baltimore completely changed the Ravens’ offense. And young backs in Detroit and Atlanta showed major star power.”
That Lions standout is part of a youth movement at the position and continues to cement his place as a rising star. With the departure of key coordinators and high expectations in Detroit, having a top-tier back is exactly the kind of good news the franchise needs as it chases its first Super Bowl appearance.
Jahmyr Gibbs came in at No. 3 on ESPN’s running back rankings—trailing only Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry—which is a huge statement for a player entering just his third NFL season.
Being ranked that high this early in his career highlights just how impactful Gibbs has been for the Lions. His blend of speed, versatility, and explosiveness has quickly made him one of the most dynamic backs in the league. With Detroit navigating a coaching transition, having a top-tier talent like Gibbs gives them a major advantage as they look to build on last season’s success and make a serious run at their first Super Bowl appearance.
And the recognition is well deserved. In 2024, Jahmyr Gibbs led the NFL with 20 rushing touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the league’s most dangerous offensive weapons.
As noted by Jeremy Fowler in the ESPN piece, “Gibbs’ raw speed at 5-foot-9 and 200 pounds can ‘flip the game upside down’ on one play,” according to an NFC scout. Fowler also highlighted that Gibbs averaged 6.4 yards per touch last season—the highest mark by any player with at least 250 touches in a single season over the last 10 years.
It’s that kind of game-breaking ability that makes Gibbs a cornerstone for Detroit as they push for their long-awaited Super Bowl breakthrough.
Lions Star Gets Compared to Reggie Bush
An AFC executive compared Jahmyr Gibbs to a more physical version of Reggie Bush, saying, “He’s a lot like Reggie Bush, just with a little bit more power. Size will always be a little bit more of an issue with him, but his speed, instincts, and ability to change the game are a problem and may be the best in the league.”
That kind of praise only adds to the growing excitement in Detroit. With Gibbs’ explosiveness and David Montgomery’s physical running style complementing each other, the Lions’ backfield is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic in the NFL. Expectations are high—and with good reason. Fans should be in for a show this season.
It’s also notable that Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranked Jahmyr Gibbs as the No. 2 running back in their 2025 fantasy football rankings. According to PFF, “The Lions have a new offensive coordinator and new running backs coach, which could lead to an increase in chances for Gibbs, pushing him closer to the top of the fantasy draft board.”
With a potential uptick in touches and his already elite efficiency, Gibbs is poised to become not just a real-life difference-maker, but a fantasy football star as well. For both Lions fans and fantasy managers, the arrow is pointing straight up.
