Antonio Gibson is Washington’s bell-cow, but can he be yours in fantasy?

What can we expect out of Antonio Gibson’s rookie season with Washington?

When the Washington Football Team drafted Antonio Gibson in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Memphis, they knew exactly what they were doing. It didn’t matter to them that he only had 33 career carries playing for Mike Norvell on the Memphis Tigers. They saw the versatility he had as a runner and a pass-catcher. He has no emerged as Washington’s bona fide bell-cow.

The Fantasy Footballers discussed what Gibson’s rookie season with Washington could look like. Though they had a feeling he’d end up getting a lot of touches as a rookie, the release of future Pro Football Hall of Fame Adrian Peterson signifies to all of us it’s Gibson’s time to shine in the nation’s capital. While he will get his touches, is he good enough to be your new guy in fantasy?

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The guys view Gibson as their RB22, which puts him in the vicinity of strong running backs such as Melvin Gordon, Todd Gurley and David Johnson. All four men will be good enough to be most team’s RB2, but what are the chances Gibson outperforms his ADP and ends up being a low-end RB1 in your fantasy football league?

What are the chances Antonio Gibson could be your RB1 this fantasy season?

While Andy Holloway is skeptical of the amount of carries Gibson will get in his rookie season with Washington, his colleagues Jason Moore and Mike Wright are all-in on Gibson pushing close to 200. Though Peyton Barber, Bryce Love and J.D. McKissic will all get carries, Washington did draft Gibson to be their featured back. Peterson said so on his way out the door earlier this week.

So while the guys view Gibson as Washington’s sure-fire starting running back and have him slated to be RB22 this season, firmly in a fantasy starting lineup, what are the chances he goes beyond low-end RB2 status, possibly up to low-end RB1 status? Though the opportunities will be there, he’s probably not getting to that tier because of the offense he plays in.

What you have to remember is this is Dwayne Haskins‘ second year as the starter. Though he may have a strong rapport with his wide receiver Terry McLaurin from their days playing together with the Ohio State Buckeyes, if Washington is going to be a halfway-decent football team, it will be because of its defense and not because of its offense. Gibson can shine, but he’s not an RB1 yet.