Just like in 2023, the Detroit Lions are set to have one of the best running backs rooms in the NFL in 2024, with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs leading a rushing attack that was top five in the league last season.
Gibbs and Montgomery are a great compliment to one another, as Montgomery is the tough, between-the-tackles runner and Gibbs is a more well-rounded back who can make explosive plays, both on the ground and through the air.
The pair almost combined for 2,000 yards on the ground, with the former finishing with 945 and the latter with 1,015. Making those numbers more impressive is the fact that Montgomery missed three games and Gibbs missed two, and the backs had to share work.
Looking ahead to this coming season, Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema believes the Lions have the third-best running backs room in the NFL, behind only the San Francisco 49ers (No. 1) and Miami Dolphins (No. 2).
The Lions, led by David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, were a top-five team in rushing touchdowns (24), missed tackles forced (96), explosive run plays (55) and rushing grade (90.2) in 2023.
Gibbs is primed to be even better in 2024, so expect Detroit to stay near the top of these rankings.
It's certainly understandable for the Niners to be No. 1, considering they have the best running back in the NFL in Christian McCaffrey, but San Fran doesn't have the kind of one-two punch Detroit has and would be in a bad way if McCaffrey gets hurt.
The Dolphins do have a good one-two punch based on what we saw from Raheem Mostert last season, but he has a checkered past with injuries and is 32 years old, so there's no telling if he'll be able to keep it up for another season.
You can definitely make the argument that the Lions could be No. 1 on a list that measures the entire room, and I think they should be No. 2, at least. We'll see how right or wrong I am once the 2024 campaign is all said and done.
