RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 2 sourcesNFL training camps are underway as the preseason looms. But two key players aren't taking part in on-field drills -- and they're the two guys likely to be the top two picks in your fantasy draft this summer.
Both Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs are orchestrating minor hold-ins as their teams practice around them. The two 2023 draftees have emerged as the most electric young running backs in the game. Both have been freed from high value platoons, as Tyler Allgeier (Atlanta Falcons) is now an Arizona Cardinal and David Montgomery ( Detroit Lions ) is a Houston Texan. With Christian McCaffrey 30 years old and with nearly 2,500 career NFL touches on his resume and Jonathan Taylor having faded down the stretch for the Indianapolis Colts , Robinson and Gibbs appear to be the most obvious choices to go first and second overall when leagues across the nation scramble to remember their Yahoo passwords.
Would that change based on their contract status and hold-ins? Well, it depends.
Don't expect the Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson hold-ins to last through the preseason
Gibbs and Robinson are both aiming to eclipse the four-year, $64 million contract De'Von Achane signed this offseason to become the highest-paid running back in NFL history . While Achane is a bit more valuable to his team simply because of the lack of playmakers around him ( poor, poor Malik Willis ), this duo has been generally more effective on the field. Let's compare their 2025 seasons in terms of traditional and advanced stats:
A deal for either back probably starts at four years and $66 million, with something around $30 million guaranteed. That's a lot of money, certainly, but the Falcons have an estimated $37 million in salary cap space to spend this year and the Lions about $14 million . They're both slated to rank in the top 10 when it comes to estimated cap space for 2027. Paying big for running backs isn't always good business, but Detroit and Atlanta can afford it to keep players vital to their offensive identity around.
As such, don't expect these hold-ins to last. Both players are under contract through 2027, so ostensibly each side could choose to wait things out. But the first team to sign their stud running back will get a minor discount as the other works to top what's certain to be a record-setting contract. Those prices will only go up in 2027 and 2028, as the salary cap grows and player pay rises with it.
It's possible Gibbs and Robinson wait this out, rejoin their teams midway through the preseason and angle toward a 2027 extension. It seems more likely, however, the two sides hammer things out and we get two deals in quick succession.
So, the likely worst case scenario is that they enter 2026 with fewer preseason reps and a little rust to work off in Weeks 1-3. There's a benefit to that as well -- potentially fresher legs, though neither of these 23-year-olds looked especially tired late last season. The best case scenario is that the Lions and Falcons executive teams kick into gear after a week of headlines and get it done, leaving two star running backs to thrive -- and carry your fantasy team to glory this winter.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Will Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs hold-ins affect fantasy savior status?
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.