The Detroit Lions are the only team in the NFL this season with four players who each have at least 400 scrimmage yards and four scrimmage touchdowns. Two of the four players are David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, making it a difficult decision which player to start in your fantasy football lineup this week. Here is the fantasy outlook for each player.
Should You Start Jahmyr Gibbs or David Montgomery This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, our Consensus Rankings say that Gibbs is the player to start. His projected 14.0 points include 48 rushing yards, three catches, and 25 receiving yards. That projected stat line barely outperforms the consensus projections of Montgomery (11.6 points).
My ranking for these two running backs aligns with the consensus. Gibbs has been one of the best running backs in the NFL in recent weeks, and it’s difficult to keep someone like that off a fantasy lineup, even for someone as productive as Montgomery.
Fantasy Outlook for Gibbs This Week
Since returning from a hamstring injury in Week 7, Gibbs has put up some impressive numbers. In his last three games, Gibbs is averaging 99.0 rush yards per game on 5.8 yards per carry.
He has also averaged nearly six receptions a game (5.7) and over 40 receiving yards a game (43.3) over that span. In all, Gibbs’ 437 scrimmage yards since Week 7 leads all running backs.
Oh yeah, and he has four touchdowns over his last three games.
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He has the longest current streak of consecutive games with at least 100 scrimmage yards and a touchdown — three straight games. For the season, Gibbs is averaging over five yards a carry (5.3) and is averaging nearly 100 scrimmage yards a game (96.6).
He is a threat out of the backfield, both running and catching the ball, with the sudden ability to get into the end zone.
Not sure how you pass that up in your fantasy lineup.
Fantasy Outlook for Montgomery This Week
Montgomery, who will be facing his former team for the first time, returned from rib injuries last week to rush for over 100 yards for the third time in his last four games, finishing with 116 yards on just 12 carries — a 9.7 yards per carry average — and a touchdown.
The highlight of his return against the Los Angeles Chargers was a 75-yard touchdown run. Now, with a full game under his belt in his return, Montgomery gets to face a Chicago Bears defense that is second in the NFL against the run, allowing only 76.0 rush yards per game.
It is by no means an easy decision to start Gibbs instead of Montgomery, especially considering the fact that of all running backs with at least 50 rush attempts this season, no one is averaging more rush yards per game than Montgomery (83.5).
However, the Optimizer does project Montgomery to finish with 46 rushing yards, with three receptions and 24 receiving yards on top.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!