Detroit Lions

Fantasy Football 2016 Preview: Detroit Lions running backs

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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With no more Joique Bell, there are four Lions running backs who could be worth a look at fairly affordable prices this fantasy football season.

Aug 18, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions running backs Theo Riddick (25) runs the ball during the first quarter of a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

The Lions offense struggled last year forcing Detroit to make an offensive coordinator chance mid-season from Joe Lombardi to Jim Bob Cooter. Cooter took over midway through last season, and the Lions managed to win six of their last eight games while moving the ball pretty well. Not much of that success came on the ground, though, as the Lions running backs struggled to get much traction and the team finished near the bottom of most rushing statistics.

This season, the Lions running backs are still part of a timeshare, but Joique Bell who was one of the man backs has moved on. There is potential for growth and production from the rest of the backfield, but the timeshare is still a bit murky coming into the regular season.

To help you get ready for the season, we’ve been working our way through the NFL with a series of daily previews of each of the running back situations around the NFL. So far we have examined the Colts, Jaguars, Titans, Texans, Falcons, Saints, Buccaneers, Panthers, Patriots, Jets, Bills, Dolphins, Redskins, Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Broncos, Raiders, Chiefs, Chargers, 49ers, Seahawks, Rams, Cardinals, Ravens, Steelers, Browns, Bengals, Packers, Vikings, and Bears. The Lions close out our series today as we get ready for the start of the regular season.

Our premise throughout the preseason has been that while most teams just have one quarterback and tight end that are noteworthy for fantasy, every team has multiple running backs and wide receivers that you need to know heading into the season.

You can find all our coverage throughout the season on the FanSided fantasy football hub or check out the related content box. For more running back coverage, make sure to check out my top Week 1 waiver wire pickups, my top 10 breakout RB candidates, and my full RB rankings. If you’ve already drafted and are setting your Week 1 lineups, check out my full Week 1 rankings

Stay tuned to our FanSided fantasy football hub all season where you’ll find fantasy coverage including sleepers, rankings, injury news, and overall strategy tips. Another way to get all our coverage is to follow @FansidedFantasy on Twitter where I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have. I’ll also keep you up to date on all our latest coverage, and even help you through any lineup conundrums you find yourself in as the season starts.

As we have for every other team in the NFL, we start our look at the Lions running backs with an overview of team rushing offense on the next slide, and then we’ll take a look at each player on the depth chart individually. For each player, I’ll let you know their ADP (average draft position) and what I think their potential will be to contribute to your fantasy team in the upcoming 2016 season.

Jan 3, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears linebacker John Timu (53) tackles Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah (21) during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Lions Running Backs-Overall Outlook

The Detroit rushing totals from last season aren’t pretty. The team ranked third-from-last in rush attempts with just 22 carries per game. They weren’t effective when the did keep the ball on the ground finishing second-to-last in the league in rushing yards. They did finish 24th in rushing touchdowns and 26th in yards per carry, but they had the lowest rushing play percentage of any team in the NFL.

The Lions running backs have to do better if the Lions want to contend in a solid NFC North, and they’ll need better play up front to achieve that. Most of the Lions troubles on the ground game were due to poor line play, and they did at least try to improve the O-line by adding Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow in the draft. Decker will start right away with the disappointing Riley Reiff at the other tackle and the interior spots filled by Larry Warford, Laken Tomlinson, and center Travis Swanson. While some were dealing with injury, as a whole they’ll have to play better if any of the Lions running backs are going to be any good for fantasy football.

The team’s leading rusher last year was Ameer Abdullah, and he’ll be the early-down option again this season. Pass-catching specialist Theo Riddick is back as well while Zach Zenner and Dwayne Washington could also get carries as short-yardage specialists.

Let’s take a look at each of the Bears running backs one by one coming into the season and what I think their fantasy potential is for 2016. We’ll examine the upside of each option, where they’re currently being drafted (according to fantasypros.com ADP), and what you can expect from them this season.

Aug 27, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah (21) carries the ball in the first half against the Detroit Lions at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Ameer Abdullah

Abdullah got a lot of hype going into last year with a big preseason, but he had a disappointing season overall averaging just 37 rushing yards per game while taking his 143 carries for 597 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

This offseason, he has been working to become a more well-rounded back since he wasn’t much of a factor in the teams’ passing game last year. While Theo Riddick will be the third-down specialist, Abdullah would boost his value quite a bit if he improved his pass-catching since the offense is pretty pass-heavy.

Abdullah came along slowly this preseason sitting out the Lions first two games before running for 16 yards on four carries in Preseason Week 3. He had a 15-yard touchdown scamper that was called back due to penalty in that game, and he looked locked in as the team’s top running back.

For fantasy purposes Abdullah is one of the Lions running backs to own, but he isn’t a locked in weekly starter since his production is so erratic. He only managed over 70 yards once last season, although his production in the second half with Cooter in control was better than his rough first few weeks.

He was drafted as a RB4 as the 31st back off the draft board in the ninth round. He is a starter, so he has a high floor due to the fact that he’ll get the work, but he has yet to show he can do much with his touches behind this offensive line. He can be a “safe” depth pick, but you don’t want to have to count on him for much.

Aug 27, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Detroit Lions running back Theo Riddick (25) runs during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Theo Riddick

Since the Lions running backs struggled to get anything going on the ground, every play turned into a passing down which is why Riddick ended up being so busy last season. He hauled in an impressive 80 catches for a total of 697 yards and three touchdowns while adding 133 yards on 42 carries.

Riddick never had a 100-yard game, but he caught at least five passes in ten of the Lions 16 games including a ten-catch performance against the Cardinals in Week 5. In PPR leagues where just hauling in passes is rewarded with fantasy points, Riddick has enough potential to be a low-end flex play when we get to bye weeks.

He won’t get enough red zone work or early-down play in the current time share to be a regular starter, but like Abdullah his volume of work does make him worth a roster spot in PPR formats at least. Riddick’s ADP reflects his spot as a depth play as he was drafted in the 13th round as the 42nd RB taken. Like the other Lions running backs, he isn’t a horrible depth spot on your roster, but his ceiling is limited unless the Lions can block better this year

Sep 1, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions running back Dwayne Washington (36) runs the ball during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Other Lions running backs

The Lions kept two other running backs on their active roster heading into Week 1. Either one could emerge as short-yardage and goalline options and vulture touchdowns from Abdullah and Riddick.

Zach Zenner will probably be the option to get more carries of the two, but he wasn’t solid enough for Detroit to go with just three backs. Zenner had a strong preseason last year but only got 17 carries last season in six games played. He ended up with 60 yards on those carries while adding 11 more on two catches. This preseason, Zenner totaled 47 yards on the ground on 19 carries and added 55 yards on five catches. He is a special teams contributor as well which is enough to make Zenner a name to know in case Riddick or Abdullah get hurt or struggle this season. He isn’t worth a roster spot at this point, though.

The other Detroit RB who kept his roster spot is rookie Dwayne Washington who the team took in the seventh round out of Washington. He had a unexceptional preseason where fumbling issues were his most notable trait until Preseason Week 4 when he went off for 68 yards and a touchdown.

Washington is a ways from contributing except on special teams, but it is worth noting that his solid preseason was enough for the Lions to let go veteran Jacquizz Rodgers. Washington isn’t worth a roster spot while he’s part of this four-man committee, but he did play ahead of Zenner in the Lions final game of the preseason which could indicate he’d have a role in case of injury.