The Ultimate Twitter Battle: Is Antonio Gibson a Top 12 RB?

Welcome to the Twitter Battle Royale. The debate, “Is Antonio Gibson a Top 12 RB in 2021?”

Randal Kennedy ® @FF_Terminator 3 hours ago

What possible argument exists against Gibson? E3pSX0_XoAEb4Tq.jpg

Hutchinson Brown @tyfmnfl 3 hours ago

JD Mckissic. I’m not a anti Gibson guy but there is an argument against him.

Randal Kennedy ® @FF_Terminator 1 hour ago

With all due respect. If the argument is McKissic and an unusually high TD rate, then there is no argument.

Randal Kennedy ® @FF_Terminator 1 hour ago

Even IF McKissic remains as big a part of the offense as he was (doubtful because the QB will be no Check-down Charlie) it stands to reason the offense will not only be better, but more efficient. (Providing more opportunities) It also stands to reason Gibson will be better.

Rob @RobFFAddict 1 hour ago

This guy gets it. Keep preaching man. Let’s sink . I mean, if Gibson could finish as an RB1 as a rookie w/no RB experience, on a bad team & w/limited passing work… what happens when all those negatives turn into positives? 🤔🤔📈📈📈📈📈

Rob @RobFFAddict 3 hours ago

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Rob @RobFFAddict 3 hours ago

Antonio Gibson is a top 12 RB because he was one last year. He was a top 12 RB w/Haskins & Alex Smith at QB. He was a top 12 RB & he didn’t even play all 16 games. He was a top 12 RB & he didn’t even play RB in college. If he was a top 12 RB w/all of that, he’ll do it again.

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 3 hours ago

Technically in PPR he was RB13(RB12 in Std). He did this on 14.4 PPG in 14 games. However, 54 of his points came against Dallas. Their defense will be much improved, so I do not expect him to be scoring as high in each game. He also only saw 44 targets. JD McKissic saw 110

Rob @RobFFAddict 3 hours ago

, I’m so glad you brought up the target discrepancy. I imagine it’s the only argument you got. Gibson was a rookie last year. Never played RB in college really. Pass blocking was a brand new thing for him. I imagine Rivera didn’t wanna overload him w/too much….. TBC….

Rob @RobFFAddict 3 hours ago

in his rookie season especially w/no formal offseason. However, he was 7th among RB’s in YAC after a catch & second in broken tackle rate after the catch among RB’s. Washington didn’t want to overwhelm as a rookie. He showed he can do it. It won’t be the case in year 2.

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 3 hours ago

This probably plays into not overloading him too much a bit, but he only had 2 games where he had 60% snap share or more with a close third game being 59%. Other than that he was between 26% and 56%. In those 14 games he also only scored 11 TDs. Four of which came against Dallas

Rob @RobFFAddict 3 hours ago

The high TD rate will go down. No argument here, but the volume is going to go up. Way up & the defense, it’s going to be top-5. They won’t be in negative game scripts in ‘21, which favored McKissic. Not with that defense. Are we not expecting w/FitzMagic under center? I am. You?

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 3 hours ago

I am expecting Fitzmagic under center, but the last 3 years the Running Back with the highest amount of targets on his team was…Myles Gaskin last year. Jacquizz Rodgers is second for RBs that have been on a fitz led team with 45. That doesn’t include the fact…..TBC….

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 3 hours ago

That they drafted Dyami Brown and signed Curtis Samuel in Free Agency. I do not expect the targets to be there for him alone. He is going to have to be more efficient or score more TDs. He also had 0 receiving TDs. So all 11 came on the ground.

Rob @RobFFAddict 3 hours ago

Did you miss the part where Gibson literally played wide receiver in college? Ron Rivera compared him to CMC after drafting him. And Washington has already said they want him more involved in the passing game. That part of his game is going to increase….. TBC……

Rob @RobFFAddict 3 hours ago

His ground game…. Despite not having played RB in college, he somehow broke the second most tackles per attempt in the entire NFL. Only Mike Davis was better. & only CEH broke more tackles after a reception among RB’s. Do you not expect a guy w/those stats to get the ball more?

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 3 hours ago

He only had 71 touches in his final season in college as a “wide receiver” and 33 of those were rushes. so the wide receiver thing while true doesn’t mean much to me. If he broke so many tackles then why did he only have 795 yards and 11 TDs and 0 receiving? TBC

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 3 hours ago

He also only had 4 games with 15 or more carries. So he’s going to have to increase his volume and efficiency in the running game and increase volume in the passing game to surpass or match his stats last year because that CMC guy you mentioned will be back as well as Saquon.

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 3 hours ago

People also expect a big year out of Akers, Swift, Dobbins and CEH as well as rookie Najee Harris. I think Gibson is the lesser talent to them.

Rob @RobFFAddict 3 hours ago

Only 11 touchdowns? Is that good enough for you? They’re gonna be in scoring position more w/Fitzy. & only 780 yards? Dude averaged almost 5 YPC. Despite only having 33 carries in college. He was learning a brand new job. In the NFL. Against the best athletes in the world. TBC.

Rob @RobFFAddict 3 hours ago

Their top 5 defense is going to keep them in positive game scripts all season & Fitzy is gonna stabilize that offense leading to more scoring drives & more overall plays, which will increase his volume. McKissic is a JAG. Rivera invested a 3rd rounder into Gibson. Trust.

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 3 hours ago

Their defense is going to be stout no doubt! And Fitzy will put them in scoring position more often, BUT he has soooooo many more weapons than he did last year. He will actually have receivers outside of Terry to rely on in the red zone and out of it. McKissic probably is a JAG..

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 2 hours ago

But he still got 110 TARGETS!!! Lets say we reduce that by 20% and give it to Gibby. McKissic is still getting almost 90 targets and Gibby is getting about 60-65. He will have to be uber-efficient with those.

Rob @RobFFAddict 2 hours ago

Ok, so let me get this straight? You’re agreeing Washington will score more points, be more efficient offensively, be in better game scripts which favor Gibson, get more targets & NOT finish top-12 when he did that already last season?

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 2 hours ago

Yes because unlike last year he isn’t 1 out of 2(maybe 3) threats to score on offense. Now he is 1 out of 4 or 5 or possibly 6. I also think that there will be more competition returning to the position that pushes him down

Rob @RobFFAddict 2 hours ago

Wait, so who did they add? Last year it was just Gibson & McLaurin, so 2. & now he’s one of our 5 cuz Samuel was added. Who else came on board? The math doesn’t add up for me there. I actually view Samuel as a benefit for Gibson. It’ll get more defenders out of the box. TBC….

Rob @RobFFAddict 2 hours ago

To think, he could actually improve upon his 4.7 YPC average. We can’t forget this is a dude who is 21 & didn’t play the position in college. & he finished top-12 on a bad team & didn’t even play all 16 games. This is a fantasy owner’s dream. What more do you want?

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 2 hours ago

They added Samuel and Dyami Brown so that’s 4. The third option from last year would have been Logan Thomas who is still there, so there is your fifth. Fitzmagic will snipe a few rushing TDs from him as well. Samuel will get carries. Half his touches in college were rushing TBC..

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 2 hours ago

So this dream you have of calling him a WR isn’t going to cut it. He was a hybrid in college, so not playing the position I don’t feel like is as strong of an argument as you think. Also top 13*. I believe he is a candidate for regression in efficiency. And has more competition

Rob @RobFFAddict 2 hours ago

Ok, Brown was a 3rd rounder. I’ll be sure to let Davante Adams’ owners know Amari Rodgers was a threat. Gibson isn’t being threatened by Brown (& I like him). He is a hybrid. He barely played RB in college & came into the NFL & on an efficiency stance was one of the best. TBC….

Rob @RobFFAddict 2 hours ago

Regression might come, but it’ll be made up for by playing 17 games, better offensive efficiency & a higher scoring offense. We also can’t ignore what Rivera & Turner did w/CMC & his workload. Same coaches in Washington. They compared Gibson to CMC. 🔥🔥🔥

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 2 hours ago

McCaffrey has had over 100 targets in every season he’s been healthy. If Gibson is McCaffrey 2.0 despite COVID why did he not have more? I do not think he is as good of a receiving option as everyone wants him to b. he had 250 yards receiving in 14 games That doesn’t do it for me

Rob @RobFFAddict 2 hours ago

I’m gonna use your own words against you cuz it’s fun & more effective. So you estimated Gibson would get 65 targets. Using his same catch rate from ‘20 that’s 52 catches. He had 168 carries in 13 games, so 206 on 16 games. So we’re at 258 touches & you’ve said you expect…TBC..

Rob @RobFFAddict 2 hours ago

a more efficient offense, which means more carries. We’re creeping ever closer to that 275 touch threshold that almost guarantees an RB1 finish. James Robinson in Jacksonville was at 289 and he was RB7 & he missed 2 games. Every advanced metric has Gibson way above J-Rob.

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 2 hours ago

With that math yeah he probably can finish as an RB1. But with his other stats including the fact that outside of Dallas he never cracked 100 yards rushing I think he is going to fall short. I will concede.

Rob @RobFFAddict 2 hours ago

You keep bringing up that Dallas game like we can’t count on that again. But doesn’t Washington play them twice or am I mistaken? Did their defense get better? No? So, we can likely count on Gibson lighting them up again, right? Oh & one game during playoffs. 😋😋😋

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 2 hours ago

Yeah their defense did improve. If you don’t think that idk what to tell you. Will Dallas be a top 5 defense? Hell no. But they will be improved.

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 2 hours ago

*whispers* Gibson was a third-rounder, you said so yourself. Why is that different?

Rob @RobFFAddict 2 hours ago

I think you made my case. Can the state rest? I mean, if the defense is gonna do my job….

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 3 hours ago

I know you said TBC, but only 11 is important to me because 4 of those came against Dallas. My 91 year old grandmother could have scored against Dallas, so those are outlier games to me. And you keep touting him as a receiver converted to RB when he was basically used as an RB

Rob @RobFFAddict 3 hours ago

Okay, if we’re gonna start interrupting… I thought this was a gentlemen’s agreement. 😛 There was no offseason last year. Legit college rookie RB’s struggle w/pass protection. This ain’t uncommon. Rivera simplified his plate, which was good coaching.

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 2 hours ago

Hahahahah I am sorry. Though I am not sure what that has to do with Gibby scoring 4 TDs against Dallas’ horrendous defense and 7 against the rest of the league? Rivera is a great coach and person and I agree that reducing Gibby’s workload was smart. I personally do not see it…

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 2 hours ago

expanding to a place that he maintains an RB 1 status especially with the improvements to his offense and other offenses in the league

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 3 hours ago

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DynastyFreak001 @Branchtana001 2 hours ago

I really like Gibson, but I’m starting to get the feeling he’s giving Akers a run for his money for being the most overhyped player of the offseason.

Shane Barrett @ffShaneB 2 hours ago

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Geoff Lambert

Geoff has been playing fantasy football since 1996 and covering it professionally since 2015. In addition to being the founder of GoingFor2.com and The Armchair Fantasy Show, Geoff has contributed to FantasyPros, FantasyLife, and the now-defunct RotoWriters, while also appearing on a multitude of fantasy podcasts. Geoff's favorite professional teams are the 49ers, the Pelicans and the Nationals.

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