The Lions are saying nice things about Ameer Abdullah. They're more than just paying lip service to him, too, considering they didn't add a noteworthy running back in either free agency or the draft. To hear running backs coach David Walker talk, they're fully committed to the youngster.

"Ameer's our guy," says Walker. "Theo [Riddick] has his role, and then the other guys, they got to kind of fit where they fit and that’s how we’ll go."

The problem is that Abdullah will need to make his fantasy impact without getting any chances in the passing game (that will be Riddick). He'll probably give way to a bigger back near the goal line, preventing him from scoring a lot of touchdowns.

And there's the simple reality that he's playing in an offense that doesn't run the ball often or well.

A year ago, no team had fewer rushing attempts than Detroit. Only two teams had fewer rushing yards, and only four had fewer touchdowns.

NFL TEAM RUSHING, 2016
TeamAttRkYardsRkTDRk
Buffalo Bills 49222,6301291
Dallas Cowboys 49912,3962242
Tennessee Titans 47642,18731610T
San Francisco 49ers 45852,01941513T
Atlanta Falcons 421121,9285203T
Oakland Raiders 434111,9226176T
New England Patriots 48231,8727195
Houston Texans 45661,8598829T
Miami Dolphins 405181,82491415
Carolina Panthers 4537T1,814101610T
Philadelphia Eagles 438101,813111610T
New York Jets 418131,802121022T
Cincinnati Bengals 44691,76913176T
Pittsburgh Steelers 40916T1,760141316T
Kansas City 412141,748151513T
New Orleans Saints 404191,74216176T
Chicago Bears 38025T1,735171022T
Arizona Cardinals 399211,73218203T
Cleveland Browns 35031T1,712191316T
Green Bay Packers 374291,701201120T
Washington 379271,69621176T
Jacksonville Jaguars 392241,63122829T
Indianapolis Colts 40916T1,628231316T
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4537T1,61624829T
Seattle Seahawks 403201,591251316T
San Diego Chargers 39822T1,510261022T
Denver Broncos 410151,484271120T
Baltimore Ravens 367301,463281022T
New York Giants 39822T1,41229632
Detroit Lions 35031T1,31030926T
Los Angeles Rams 375281,25231926T
Minnesota Vikings 38025T1,20532926T

--Andy Richardson