Jahmyr Gibbs vs Josh Jacobs: Who Should You Start?
Jahmyr Gibbs and Josh Jacobs are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Jahmyr Gibbs averaged 19.3 PPG across 17 games with the Detroit Lions, while Josh Jacobs posted 14.6 PPG in 15 appearances for the Green Bay Packers.
A 4.7-PPG gap gives Jahmyr Gibbs the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Jahmyr Gibbs is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 77 targets into 616 yards, while Josh Jacobs profiles as a more traditional rusher with 929 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Jahmyr Gibbs carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.
Jahmyr Gibbs has his bye in Week 5, and Josh Jacobs rests in Week 10. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.
