First Down Blog: Antonio Gibson set to produce right away

Multiple times each week, Brad Evans, in this space, will ramble on about whatever random, likely tequila-influenced fantasy football/betting thoughts are coursing through his often-moronic mind. Today’s (second!) topic: Washington’s crazy backfield.

Coachspeak is often a dangerous preponderance, a booby trap that if triggered will hurtle decapitating sharp objects at a victim’s gullible dome. 

Tampa head coach Bruce Arians has taught a masterclass on the subject. Once again polluting naive brains with thoughts that Ronald Jones remains “the guy” when a 25-year-old, 1,600-total-yard rusher from only a season ago lurks over his shoulder, his treachery continues to hilariously distort reality. 

Don’t just take his words with a single grain of salt, throw in the entire mine. 

Incredulous stares toward any coach’s hyperbole normally applies, but once in a great while, buying their snake oil really can be a magic elixir. 

Take Ron Rivera in Washington. 

Earlier this summer when asked about rookie running back Antonio Gibson, a mysterious though extraordinarily talented prospect from Memphis, the head coach compared him to Christian McCaffrey. Yes, that Christian McCaffrey, the Carolina Panther who ran roughshod through the competition in 2019 earning an ultra-exclusive seat alongside Marshall Faulk and Roger Craig at the 1,000-1,000 table all the while guiding fantasy investors to instant riches and bragging rights. It was a bold claim, one most didn’t take seriously. 

However, with ancient Adrian Peterson inching closer to rollicking bocce games inside the Burly Gates Retirement Community, Rivera’s unbelievable description may not be a heaping pile of dinosaur dung after all. The future HOFer’s release paves the way for Gibson to shine. 

Described as the franchise’s secret weapon in a recent brilliant The Athletic piece, Gibson, though unpolished, is a premier playmaker. As detailed in “50 lines about 50 players,” it’s impossible to get this seducing factoid off the mind — on 71 career touches with Memphis, Gibson forced 33 missed tackles. When the rock is in his hands, it takes a ravenous horde to take the dude down. Elusive and ultra-versatile, his role is rapidly expanding. For a rebuilding franchise embroiled in controversy, he and Alex Smith are feel-good stories; warm and fuzzy stain removers. 

Though Gibson will concede grips to leftovers J.D. McKissic, Bryce Love and possibly Peyton Barber, he’s a likely 12- to 14-touch rusher Week 1 versus Philadelphia. Script agnostic due to his multidimensionality, the youngster’s workload should steadily climb as the season progresses. Now presumably worth at least a Round 7-8 selection in 12-team 0.5 PPR leagues, chasing his upside is optimal. If everything clicks, he could be this year’s Devin Singletary, a tertiary first-year rusher capable of carving a RB2 path. And that’s probably underselling it. 

Watch out Jonathan Taylor, Cam Akers, D'Andre Swift, J.K. Dobbins and Zack Moss, behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire, arguably, there isn’t a rookie rusher with more upside than Washington’s enigma. 

Rivera isn’t bending the truth.