Lions rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs leads the NFL in yards per carry, gaining an average of 5.7 yards every time he carries the ball. Gibbs has also been impressive as a receiving option.
Gibbs has caught 47 of the 61 passes thrown his way, netting 296 yards and a touchdown. It’s a productive start to the career as a receiver, too. But there’s room for more from Gibbs in the pass-catching department.
Coordinator Ben Johnson noted that while Gibbs’ pass protection has improved of late, he won’t commit to getting Gibbs more involved in the passing game.
“Remains to be seen. It’s week-to-week there,” Johnson said.
This would be a good week to make it happen. Detroit’s Week 16 foe, the Minnesota Vikings, is quite vulnerable to throws to the running back.
The Vikings allow the NFL’s highest opposing completion percentage overall at 69.6 percent. Their inability to stop opposing RBs from catching the ball spikes up that figure. Per SIS, the Vikings have allowed 77 completions on 81 pass attempts to opposing running backs. That’s over 95 percent!
Minnesota hasn’t given up a huge amount of yardage on those receptions; their 5.8 yards per catch allowed is the third-best in the league. However, they haven’t seen anyone like Gibbs in open space as a receiving threat. The Lions rookie’s acceleration, vision and top-end speed make him a lethal weapon.
When bigger, less creative, and less accomplished receivers than Gibbs, like Samaje Perine (7 catches, 60 yards) and Roschon Johnson (5 catches, 40 yards), are finding success against the Vikings out of the backfield, the idea of using Gibbs to attack Minnesota sure looks quite appealing.
David Montgomery, Gibbs’ backfield mate, is a good receiver in his own right and could be quite effective in that capacity in Minnesota, too. But Gibbs’ explosiveness and ability to force missed tackles in space looks like a great way for Johnson and the Lions to attack the tricky Minnesota defense.