Jason Wood 25 Posted July 15, 2018 Share Posted July 15, 2018 Kerryon my wayward son! No team typifies "in search of runners" like the Lions. It's been more than a decade since the Lions had a 1,000-yard rusher. Hard to imagine the same team that gave us Barry Sanders is now incapable of producing a fantasy star at running back. The Lions hope they've broken the curse with the selection of Kerryon Johnson in this year's draft. But Johnson's path is far from assured. LeGarrette Blount signed. Theo Riddick remains. Ameer Abdullah remains (although his spot seems tenuous). And new head coach Matt Patricia is used to a committee approach from his long stint mentoring under Bill Belichick. Yet, on pure talent, Johnson could be the cream that rises to the top. How are you approaching Kerryon this season? Are you willing to lump him into the mix with other rookies like Ronald Jones, Royce Freeman, and Derrius Guice? Or is he a bigger reach because of the Lions' tendencies and the veteran-laden depth chart? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TripItUp 3,942 Posted July 15, 2018 Share Posted July 15, 2018 one of the toughest players to project for. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
prgromek 67 Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 I'd say there's a good chance he ends up the guy in Detroit. a 31-year old Blount and Theo Riddick (3.4 ypc career) are much less of a threat than it might appear at first glance. the Lions have invested a lot in the offensive line. worth the risk where you can get him in drafts right now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheDirtyWord 948 Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Just now, prgromek said: I'd say there's a good chance he ends up the guy in Detroit. a 31-year old Blount and Theo Riddick (3.4 ypc career) are much less of a threat than it might appear at first glance. the Lions have invested a lot in the offensive line. worth the risk where you can get him in drafts right now. Couple this with the fact that in 7 losses last year, Lions gave up 31.3 PPG, and I suspect controlling game flow via a sustained ground attack will be a priority for Patricia. Lions finished 31st in rushing attempts last year. Would be stunned to see that repeated. Will he wind up the guy? I think his path to playing time is there for the taking no doubt. But Patricia knows exactly what Blount is...not so much with Kerryon, so he does have a low floor. But he’ll be a Round 5 ADP in 5-6 weeks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
barackdhouse 2,037 Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Lions offense could really soar this year. Gotta figure goal line works goes to Blount and most 3rd down passing situations go to Riddick. So KJ is capped for this year a little. But if he can be the early down guy that they moved up in the draft to get, I don't see why he can't be a ROY candidate if there were such an award for people not named Barkley. I think I like him more than Jones, Chubb, or Michel in 2018. Guice I'm not sure and I like Penny more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
reggio1 51 Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 I posted this in another Kerryon thread, but anyone else concerned about his pedestrian YPC average in college compared to other top RB's? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ilov80s 29,085 Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 12 hours ago, TripItUp said: one of the toughest players to project for. Agreed- there is a pretty wide range of outcomes and a lot of factors to justify almost any kind of workload and outcome. The positives: high pick, traded up to get him, weak competition at RB, good offense, potentially good o-line. Negatives: wasn't evaluated by many in the industry as a guy worthy of such a high pick, Lions have used a committee approach, he may not get many passes and Blount could steal GL work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheDirtyWord 948 Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 7 hours ago, barackdhouse said: Lions offense could really soar this year. Gotta figure goal line works goes to Blount and most 3rd down passing situations go to Riddick. So KJ is capped for this year a little. But if he can be the early down guy that they moved up in the draft to get, I don't see why he can't be a ROY candidate if there were such an award for people not named Barkley. I think I like him more than Jones, Chubb, or Michel in 2018. Guice I'm not sure and I like Penny more. I don’t know this for sure, but I would think limiting Riddick’s time on the field might be a goal for DET moving forward. He’s got a 3.4 career YPC. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
travdogg 2,998 Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 They clearly like him, I don't think anybody expected him to be drafted as high as he was, and they traded up to get him. If anybody breaks out in this backfield, I'd bet on it being him. That said, Riddick is an excellent 3rd down back, and Blount has made a habit in recent years of getting more work than expected. Johnson isn't a guy who I'm targeting at all, and I'm ok if that ends up being a mistake. The Lions haven't run well in years, and while they changed at HC, they didn't at OC, and I expect that is because they are mostly happy with how the offense has performed. I'll say 800 yards and 4 TD's. Optimally a flex option, but I think most leagues will have someone who likes him a lot more than I do. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ilov80s 29,085 Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 6 hours ago, TheDirtyWord said: I don’t know this for sure, but I would think limiting Riddick’s time on the field might be a goal for DET moving forward. He’s got a 3.4 career YPC. They definitely don't want Theo running the ball much. He's a pass catching back who is good at getting open in tight spaces and picking up extra yards when 1 on 1 with a defeder. He doesn't have a skillset for much else. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheDirtyWord 948 Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 1 hour ago, Ilov80s said: They definitely don't want Theo running the ball much. He's a pass catching back who is good at getting open in tight spaces and picking up extra yards when 1 on 1 with a defeder. He doesn't have a skillset for much else. I think part of the problem the Lions have with their personnel is how Blount/Riddick are so one-dimensional that their mere presence on the field gives away pass/run look. Riddick has carried the ball on just a shade lower than 20% of his offensive snaps the last two years. And yet still managed just a 3 point something YPC. Blount carried the ball on 53% of his offensive snaps the last two seasons (obviously with two different teams) but offers absolutely nothing in the passing game. So the degree the Lions can truly alternate between Blount/Riddick without a healthy dose of Kerryon, seems limited. And quite frankly, I see Riddick taking a backseat. He’s part of the problem there. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jabarony 706 Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 Lions RB & Lions 2nd round pick. That's already 2 strikes. I'll let someone else take him. I know - they should add me to the staff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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