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Bijan Robinson vs. Jahmyr Gibbs: Who Should You Draft in PPR Fantasy Football? originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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If you're at the top of a 2026 full-PPR fantasy football draft and must choose between Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, you're facing one of the toughest first-round decisions, but nobody feels sorry for you.
Both running backs possess legitimate overall RB1 potential. Both are exemplary runners. Both are outstanding receivers. Furthermore, both operate within offenses capable of generating substantial fantasy points.
Let's break down each player and make the case for both before ultimately coming to a final choice.
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The Case for Bijan Robinson
Robinson had a stellar 2025 season, rushing for 1,478 yards and receiving 103 targets, showing top-tier efficiency as both a runner and receiver.
It's rarely the case that a player of Robinson's caliber benefits most when his backup departs, but in this instance, it is.
Tyler Allgeier is gone, which is a huge deal. Allgeier wasn't simply a backup who occasionally spelled Robinson. He received substantial work, particularly around the goal line.
According to FantasyPros, Allgeier scored eight rushing touchdowns, while Robinson had a total of 11 touchdowns. Robinson also only received 49.3% of Atlanta's red-zone rushing opportunities, highlighting a significant chance for growth.
If Robinson takes on some of the responsibilities that Allgeier used to handle, his potential for scoring touchdowns could rise without requiring him to become a better player, which is utterly terrifying.
The Case for Jahmyr Gibbs
Gibbs has maintained an average of over five yards per carry during the past two seasons, while also demonstrating exceptional receiving capabilities. PFF notes that he is the sole running back to record an average of at least 21 PPR points per game in each of the previous two seasons.
This efficiency is mind-boggling, and it's not a small sample size.
Like Bijan Robinson, Gibbs also loses his bothersome backup running back, David Montgomery.
Montgomery previously handled a significant portion of Detroit's rushing and red-zone duties. According to FantasyPros, Montgomery participated in over 42% of Detroit's red-zone snaps last season and scored six touchdowns that might have otherwise boosted Gibbs' fantasy stats.
This workload is now available, and Gibbs will most likely control it.
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The final verdict: Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs?
I'm really being picky here and wouldn't criticize anyone for selecting one of these backs with the first overall pick. If I had to decide, I would go with Jahmyr Gibbs.
Robinson is a remarkable fantasy football player, with the workload, receiving skills, and talent to potentially finish as the overall RB1. Choosing Bijan first isn't a poor choice.
However, as I think more about Gibbs, I increasingly believe that his blend of efficiency, receiving talent, touchdown potential, and an offensive setting offers him the best opportunity to become the top fantasy football scorer.
Gibbs has already shown us what his fantasy ceiling looks like. He isn't simply a player with theoretical upside; he's already produced at an elite PPR level.
The key statistic is that Bijan has more career touches than Gibbs, but Gibbs has been more efficient with each opportunity. For instance, in 2025, Bijan had 366 total touches compared to Gibbs's 320.
With Gibbs in for an increased workload, it's not a stretch to think he'll be more efficient with these touches once more.
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