The Detroit Lions lost their No. 1 rusher Sunday when starter Ameer Abdullah went down with a foot injury against the Tennessee Titans.
Through a game and a half this season, Abdullah produced 158 total yards and one receiving touchdown for 20 points. It’s a solid contribution for a running back ESPN Fantasy ranked 32nd at his position and 75th overall entering the 2016 season.
Now, with Abdullah shelved, rushing duties will fall on the shoulders of Theo Riddick and Dwayne Washington, who have emerged as possible fantasy replacements.
Behind Abdullah, Riddick has seen more of the ball than Washington has. In Week 1, he had seven carries compared to Washington’s two. Through three quarters in Week 2, Riddick recorded 11 carries, while Washington had just three.
The main difference has come in the receiving category, as Riddick has eight receptions and Washington has none.
Riddick has shown in the past he is more of a dual threat in Detroit’s backfield with an emphasis on receiving. In 2015, he caught 80 passes for 697 yards and three receiving touchdowns to go with 133 rushing yards.
Given his dual-threat capabilities, Riddick is the more appealing back to pick up for fantasy teams in a Lions offense that will be looking for receiving help following Calvin Johnson’s retirement.
Moreover, he’s shown some improved footwork and strength on the ball, via the NFL:
Washington, meanwhile, is an unproven rookie who saw his playing time increase with Zach Zenner inactive for the first two games of the year.
For fantasy owners who want to replace Abdullah with one of his teammates, Riddick looks like the better option as an RB2 or flex player.
Stats courtesy of NFL.com.
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