Detroit Lions

Lions' Riddick, Tate were two toughest pass-catchers to tackle in 2015

Published Jan. 8, 2016 10:44 a.m. ET

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Detroit Lions running back Theo Riddick and wide receiver Golden Tate typically make the most of every reception. Both of them can take a short pass and turn it into long gain, thanks to their exceptional ability after the catch.

Riddick led the NFL with 36 broken tackles after a catch this season; Tate was right behind him with 30.

Riddick enjoyed a breakout season in 2015. The third-year back became a major part of the offense, recording 80 receptions for 697 yards -- both franchise record for a running back. He is a valuable weapon for quarterback Matthew Stafford to have in the fold, since he can exploit favorable matchups against linebackers.

Tate wasn't as productive in 2015 as he was in 2014. After recording a career-high 1,331 receiving yards in his first season with the Lions, his production dipped to 813 yards. He averaged fewer than 10 yards per catch for the first time in his professional career, but he fought hard for every yard he gained.

With Calvin Johnson's future plans up in the air, Stafford would be wise to lean on these two a lot moving forward.

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