Has Antonio Gibson been the best NFL rookie running back of 2020?

Antonio Gibson (Wikimedia Commons)

During American Thanksgiving on Thursday, football fans got to see the explosive running skills of Antonio Gibson of the Washington Football Team on the national stage. The 22-year-old native of Stockbridge, Georgia, was fantastic, as he had 20 carries for 115 yards, and three touchdowns, along with five catches for 21 yards, in a 41-16 Washington win over the Dallas Cowboys.

In the process, Washington moved into first place in the NFC East with a record of four wins and seven losses. That is not a misprint. Washington is indeed in first, and the awfulness of the NFC East deserves a post by itself that will be coming soon.

While there was a lot of talk heading into the season about rookie running backs Clyde Edwards-Helaire of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts, it has been the play of Gibson lately that deserves positive recognition. A product of the University of Memphis, Gibson was Washington’s third round pick, 66th overall in the 2020 National Football League Draft. He was selected after Edwards-Helaire, D’Andre Swift of the Detroit Lions, Taylor, Cam Akers of the Los Angeles Rams, J.K. Dobbins of the Baltimore Ravens, and A.J. Dillon of the Green Bay Packers.

However, while the aforementioned running backs have got themselves into a time share with their respective teams, it has been Gibson who is clear number one back in Washington. He is currently eighth among all NFL running backs in rushing yards with 645.

Even though Gibson is behind James Robinson of the Jacksonville Jaguars (762 yards), and Edwards-Helaire (655 yards), it is finding the end zone where he deserves his highest praise. After Thursday, Gibson is second in the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 11. Only Dalvin Cook of the Minnesota Vikings has more with 13. Robinson meanwhile has five rushing touchdowns, and Edwards-Helaire has four rushing touchdowns.

Despite being three games below .500, Washington is clearly in playoff contention. They just might get there with Gibson leading the way.

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