Derrick Henry vs Jahmyr Gibbs: Who Should You Start?
Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens) finished the 2025 season averaging 16.0 fantasy points per game in 17 games. Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit Lions) came in at 19.3 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.
Jahmyr Gibbs carries a 3.3-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.
Jahmyr Gibbs is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 77 targets into 616 yards, while Derrick Henry profiles as a more traditional rusher with 1595 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Jahmyr Gibbs carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.
One scheduling note: Derrick Henry is off Week 14 and Jahmyr Gibbs Week 5. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
