League heavy-hitters put Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs near the top of the NFL’s RB rankings

Jahmyr Gibbs is earning top-tier respect across the NFL, and the evidence is not just fan chatter or team-specific buzz. In ESPN’s annual summer positional ranking of the league’s top running backs, the Lions star is rated second at the position for 2026, finishing just behind Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson.

The ranking method matters because it is rooted in peer evaluation. ESPN polled “more than 70” voters, including NFL coaches, executives, and scouts, and asked each group to submit a top-10 list at the running back position. ESPN then averaged those ballots to form the final order. The premise is simple, even if the output is imperfect: it offers a snapshot of how valued a player looks to decision-makers who spend their careers studying roles, traits, and matchups.

Within that framework, Gibbs’ placement reads as a step forward. Coverage tied to the ESPN vote notes that he jumped from No. 3 to No. 2, which suggests the perception of his overall value improved year over year rather than simply holding steady. One coordinator cited in the coverage described Gibbs as uniquely dangerous with the ball in his hands, emphasizing pace, vision, and the way he creates angles after getting to the second level.

That same evaluation also extends beyond rushing. The coordinator comments reported alongside the ranking point to Gibbs as an impact weapon in the passing game, with the view that his gear changes how defenses react once he is in space. For a running back used as both a runner and a problem-solver in passing situations, that kind of two-way recognition can be more consequential than a ranking that treats the position as one-dimensional.

The vote totals also appear grounded in on-field production. The reporting tied to the ESPN exercise highlights a production benchmark for Gibbs since entering the league, citing 39 rushing touchdowns over three years while splitting time, and notes that it ranks second among running backs over that span. Taken together, the ranking paints Gibbs as a player who combines game-changing traits with the kind of scoring output that holds up even when touches are not guaranteed every week.

Still, the list should be interpreted for what it is. Positional rankings are not depth charts, and a top-2 label does not automatically translate into a particular statistical season or a specific playoff outcome. Front offices evaluate more than trait and reputation, including offensive schematics, quarterback fit, blocking design, and how a player’s usage profile affects efficiency and durability across a full schedule.

For Detroit, the practical takeaway is that Gibbs remains viewed as a foundation piece at the position, not a complementary option. With that level of league-wide respect attached to his name, the offseason question becomes less about whether he is capable and more about how fully the Lions can structure an offense around his strengths while keeping him in the most advantageous situations.

What to watch next is whether Gibbs’ role and production align with the traits that voters highlighted, particularly his effectiveness as a runner who can separate quickly and as a receiving threat that can raise the ceiling of Detroit’s play-calling. In an NFL where small differences in leverage and matchup pressure decide drives, having the league’s decision-makers labeling you a near-unanimous top-tier back is a meaningful indicator of expectations for 2026.