Fans should expect to see a lot of Pacheco on Thursday night. They'll see a lot of Lions rookie first-round pick Jahmyr Gibbs as well.
While Gibbs is expected to split time with free-agent addition David Montgomery, he should see the field in a variety of roles. He was a capable dual-threat at Alabama and averaged 6.1 yards per carry and 10.1 yards per catch in 2022.
Gibbs is -130 (bet $130 to win $100) to top 3.5 receptions on Thursday. While that's a loft number for a rookie running back, I'd take the over here.
I'd expect offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to use Gibbs similarly to how he used D'Andre Swift in last year's backfield committee. Swift was frequently a contributor in the passing game and reached four receptions in five of his final seven games.
Gibbs is a more dynamic and explosive player than Swift, so Johnson could turn to the rookie even more frequently in the passing game. Four or five receptions should be Gibbs' floor.
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