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Detroit running backs

Lions kicking tires on incoming rookies

There have been a couple of stories lately about the Detroit Lions showing an interest in some of the top running back prospects -- D'Andre Swift, Jonathan Taylor, Zack Moss. It makes sense, with the team having only Kerryon Johnson at the position. Johnson has missed 14 of 32 games in his two years in the league.

It's been a long time since the Lions have had a viable running game. As a recent trivia question here noted, they haven't ranked above-average in rushing since 1998. And they haven't had a standout fantasy back of late either.

Over the last 10 years, among running backs who've started at least half the time in any of those seasons, they've barely snuck two tailbacks into the top 100 in fantasy scoring. Jahvid Best, way back in 2010, was the 91st-best back in the last decade. Reggie Bush, in 2013, was 64th. That's all the Lions on the list.

TOP 100 FANTASY RBS, PER GAME NUMBERS (2010-2019)
YearPlayerStRunRecTotalTDFFPts
2019Christian McCaffrey, Car.1686.762.8149.51.2129.5
2018Todd Gurley, LAR1489.441.4130.81.5726.7
2016LeVeon Bell, Pitt.12105.751.3157.0.7826.6
2016David Johnson, Ariz.1677.454.9132.41.2725.9
2017Todd Gurley, LAR1587.052.5139.51.2725.8
2013Jamaal Charles, K.C.1585.846.2132.01.2725.5
2010Arian Foster, Hou.16101.037.8138.81.1324.8
2018Saquon Barkley, NYG1681.745.1126.8.9624.1
2018Christian McCaffrey, Car.1668.654.2122.8.8524.1
2011Arian Foster, Hou.1394.247.5141.6.9223.8
2018Alvin Kamara, N.O.1558.947.3106.11.2723.6
2011Ray Rice, Balt.1685.344.0129.3.9823.6
2014LeVeon Bell, Pitt.1685.153.4138.4.6923.2
2017LeVeon Bell, Pitt.1586.143.7129.7.7323.0
2018Melvin Gordon, LAC1273.840.8114.61.2223.0
2015Devonta Freeman, Atl.1377.939.6117.51.0022.8
2014DeMarco Murray, Dall.16115.326.0141.3.8122.6
2017Alvin Kamara, N.O.1351.557.7109.21.0322.5
2018Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.1595.637.8133.4.6022.1
2011LeSean McCoy, Phil.1587.321.0108.31.3322.0
2012Adrian Peterson, Min.16131.113.6144.6.8322.0
2014Matt Forte, Chi.1664.950.5115.4.6721.9
2018James Conner, Pitt.1374.838.2113.11.0521.8
2016Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.15108.724.2132.91.0721.8
2015DeAngelo Williams, Pitt.1080.132.0112.11.1321.5
2013Matt Forte, Chi.1683.737.1120.8.7721.3
2014Arian Foster, Hou.1395.825.2121.01.0521.3
2011Fred Jackson, Buff.1093.444.2137.6.6021.3
2019Dalvin Cook, Min.1481.137.1118.1.9321.2
2010Darren McFadden, Oak.1389.039.0128.0.7721.0
2018Kareem Hunt, K.C.1174.934.4109.31.2720.9
2013LeSean McCoy, Phil.16100.433.7134.1.6920.8
2017Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.1098.326.9125.2.9020.5
2019Derrick Henry, Ten.15102.713.7116.41.2020.0
2010LeSean McCoy, Phil.1572.039.5111.5.6019.9
2019Aaron Jones, G.B.1667.829.697.41.1919.9
2019Kenyan Drake, Ariz.880.421.4101.81.0419.9
2016LeSean McCoy, Buff.1584.523.7108.2.9619.9
2019Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.1684.826.3111.1.8819.7
2012Doug Martin, T.B.1690.929.5120.4.7519.6
2016Melvin Gordon, S.D.1376.732.2108.9.9219.6
2019Austin Ekeler, LAC1634.862.196.9.6919.6
2010Peyton Hillis, Cle.1478.630.5109.1.7919.5
2011Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac.16100.423.4123.8.6919.2
2017Kareem Hunt, K.C.1586.130.3116.5.6719.2
2014Marshawn Lynch, Sea.1681.622.9104.61.0619.1
2012Arian Foster, Hou.1689.013.6102.61.0619.1
2019Saquon Barkley, NYG1377.233.7110.8.6218.8
2010Frank Gore, S.F.1177.541.1118.6.4518.8
2011Matt Forte, Chi.1283.140.8123.9.3318.7
2013DeMarco Murray, Dall.1480.125.0105.1.7118.6
2013Knowshon Moreno, Mia.1664.934.399.1.8118.5
2010Adrian Peterson, Min.1586.522.7109.3.8718.5
2016DeMarco Murray, Ten.1680.423.6104.0.7918.5
2011Michael Bush, Oak.982.234.1116.3.5618.1
2017Melvin Gordon, LAC1669.129.898.8.7518.0
2010Jamaal Charles, K.C.1691.729.3120.9.5017.9
2016Devonta Freeman, Atl.1667.428.996.3.8117.9
2019Alvin Kamara, N.O.1456.938.195.0.4317.9
2017Mark Ingram, N.O.1670.326.096.3.7517.8
2017Leonard Fournette, Jac.1380.023.2103.2.7717.7
2012Ray Rice, Balt.1671.429.9101.3.6317.7
2013Reggie Bush, Det.1471.936.1108.0.5017.7
2018Aaron Jones, G.B.867.520.688.11.0017.6
2019Leonard Fournette, Jac.1576.834.8111.6.2017.4
2018Joe Mixon, Cin.1483.421.1104.6.6417.4
2015Todd Gurley, St.L.1291.415.3106.7.8317.3
2013Marshawn Lynch, Sea.1678.619.898.3.8817.3
2011Darren Sproles, N.O.1637.744.482.1.6317.3
2010Chris Johnson, Ten.1685.315.3100.6.7517.3
2010Ray Rice, Balt.1676.334.8111.0.3817.3
2014Eddie Lacy, G.B.1671.226.797.9.8117.3
2018James White, N.E.1626.646.973.5.7517.3
2011Adrian Peterson, Min.1280.811.692.41.0817.2
2011Ryan Mathews, S.D.1477.932.5110.4.4317.2
2010Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac.1494.622.6117.2.5017.2
2015Mark Ingram, N.O.1264.133.897.8.5317.1
2012LeSean McCoy, Phil.1270.031.1101.1.4217.1
2012Marshawn Lynch, Sea.1699.412.3111.6.7517.1
2014Jamaal Charles, K.C.1568.919.488.3.9317.1
2013Adrian Peterson, Min.1490.412.2102.6.7917.1
2012Trent Richardson, Cle.1563.324.587.8.8017.0
2013LeVeon Bell, Pitt.1366.230.796.8.6216.8
2013Shane Vereen, N.E.826.053.479.4.5016.8
2014Jeremy Hill, Cin.9103.29.3112.6.6716.8
2010Matt Forte, Chi.1666.834.2101.0.5816.8
2018Phillip Lindsay, Den.976.814.291.0.8916.8
2015Matt Forte, Chi.1369.129.999.0.5616.7
2015Adrian Peterson, Min.1692.813.9106.7.6916.7
2010Jahvid Best, Det.942.140.082.1.5616.7
2012Darren Sproles, N.O.1318.851.370.1.6416.6
2017LeSean McCoy, Buff.1671.128.099.1.5016.6
2011DeMarco Murray, Dall.8103.320.0123.3.2516.6
2018Nick Chubb, Cle.1082.314.997.2.8016.5
2011Marshawn Lynch, Sea.1580.314.194.4.8716.5
2016Jordan Howard, Chi.1395.818.6114.5.5416.4
2019Mark Ingram, Balt.1567.916.584.31.0416.4
2012C.J. Spiller, Buff.1677.828.7106.4.5016.3
2019Nick Chubb, Cle.1693.417.4110.8.5016.3

Kerryon Johnson has some ability; he averaged 5.4 yards per carry as a rookie, on a team that didn't have a great offensive line and has never really committed to its running game. But he was down at 3.6 per attempt last year, prior to getting hurt. Makes a lot of sense that Detroit would look to add to that backfield, bringing in a complement to Johnson -- maybe somebody who can even step into a leading role in the not too distant future.

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index