ESPN Ranks Jahmyr Gibbs Among Top 3 NFL Running Backs for 2025

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, one NFC scout described Gibbs’ electrifying speed at 5-foot-9 and 200 pounds as capable of “turning a game on its head” in an instant. Fowler also noted that Gibbs’ 6.4 yards per touch was the highest for any player with at least 250 touches in a season over the last 10 years.

An AFC executive acknowledged concerns about Gibbs’ size but emphasized that his quickness, vision, and playmaking instincts make him one of the toughest matchups in the league.

At just 23 years old, Gibbs has made significant strides in the eyes of analysts. He was ranked No. 8 in ESPN’s running back list last year and has also appeared in several other offseason rankings. Notably, CBS Sports ranked him No. 32 in their Top 100 NFL players and No. 6 in their Top 25 Under 25 list, moving up 19 places from the previous year.

Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles topped ESPN’s running back rankings. Meanwhile, Gibbs’ backfield partner Montgomery and ex-Lions rusher D’Andre Swift, now with the Chicago Bears, also earned votes, as did Seattle’s Kenneth Walker III.