How much will David Montgomery’s expected return this week impact the fantasy football numbers of Jahmyr Gibbs? Can a case be made that Gibbs should still be a starter on your fantasy team for Week 10? Here’s what the fantasy outlook for each Detroit Lions RB looks like this week.
Should You Start David Montgomery or Jahmyr Gibbs This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say that Montgomery is the player to start. His projected 11.6 points include 46 rushing yards, three receptions, and 24 receiving yards. That projected stat line slightly outperforms the consensus projections for Gibbs (11.5 points).
MORE: Fantasy Week 10 RB Start/Sit
My ranking for these running backs aligns with the consensus, but it is very close between these two this week. I will go with Montgomery being able to pick up where he left off before his injury, which was an impressive effort.
Fantasy Outlook for Montgomery This Week
In the two games before his rib injury in Week 6, Montgomery had topped the century mark in rushing yards in consecutive weeks, including 121 yards and a career-high three rushing touchdowns vs. the Green Bay Packers in Week 4. It was just the second time in his career that Montgomery had rushed for 100 or more yards in consecutive games, the other time coming in 2020 (Weeks 14 & 15).
And with all indications being that he will be able to return for this week’s game, the debate over which running back the Lions — and fantasy managers — should start will be loud, no doubt.
What helps to make Montgomery’s case so strong is the fact that he was a touchdown machine before his injury. In his first four games of the season — he was also inactive for Week 3’s win over Atlanta — Montgomery had six rushing touchdowns. Even with all his time missed with injuries, Montgomery is still tied for sixth in the NFL in rushing touchdowns.
Since indications are that Montgomery will not be on any carry restrictions when he returns, I expect the Lions to try and see if Montgomery can return to his pre-rib injury form.
Fantasy Outlook for Gibbs This Week
As the PFN Start/Sit Optimizer demonstrated with its points projections, this is a very close call in the decision on which Lions running back should start on your fantasy team this week.
Gibbs rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown last week vs. the Raiders, while also catching five passes for 37 yards. Over his last two games, Gibbs has averaged 157.5 scrimmage yards per game with two touchdowns.
The biggest knock against Gibbs, for this week anyway, is the fact that the Lions prefer the one-back formations, and with it sounding like Montgomery will not see his touches reduced, there just may not be enough time on the field for Gibbs to continue to put up his outstanding numbers.
The PFN Start/Sit Optimizer projects Gibbs to finish with 39 rush yards, with three catches for 20 yards.
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