The 2018 season was a rollercoaster ride for the Detroit Lions. They finished with a 6-10 record after some inconsistent performances throughout the campaign. However, one of the bright spots was the play of their running backs. The Lions had a number of talented ball carriers on their roster, each of whom made significant contributions. In this article, we take a closer look at the Detroit Lions running back stats from the 2018 season.
The Running Backs
The Lions had four running backs who saw significant playing time in 2018. These were Kerryon Johnson, LeGarrette Blount, Theo Riddick, and Zach Zenner. Johnson was the primary back for most of the season, while Blount and Zenner saw more limited action. Riddick was primarily used as a receiving threat out of the backfield. Let's take a closer look at the individual performances of these players.
Kerryon Johnson
Johnson was the Lions' second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and he quickly established himself as the team's top running back. He played in 10 games, racking up 641 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Johnson's 5.4 yards per carry average was the best in the NFL among running backs with at least 100 carries. Unfortunately, Johnson suffered a knee injury in Week 11 and missed the rest of the season.
LeGarrette Blount
Blount was signed by the Lions in the offseason to provide a veteran presence in the backfield. He played in all 16 games, rushing for 418 yards and five touchdowns. Blount's role was primarily as a short-yardage back, and he was effective in that role, converting 12 of 15 attempts on third or fourth down and one yard to go.
Theo Riddick
Riddick is primarily a receiving back, and he again excelled in that role in 2018. He caught 61 passes for 384 yards and no touchdowns. While Riddick's rushing numbers were down (40 carries, 171 yards, and no touchdowns), he remained a valuable weapon in the passing game.
Zach Zenner
Zenner was a bit of a wildcard in 2018. He played in eight games, rushing for 265 yards and three touchdowns. Zenner had a couple of big games, including a 93-yard performance against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16. However, he was also held to 21 yards or fewer in four of his eight games.
Team Stats
Now that we've looked at the individual performances of the Lions' running backs, let's take a look at the team stats. The Lions finished 23rd in the NFL in rushing yards per game, averaging just 103.8. They were also tied for 25th in rushing touchdowns with 10. However, the Lions were much more effective running the ball in the second half of the season, averaging 120.5 rushing yards per game over their final six games.
Conclusion
While the Detroit Lions had a disappointing season in 2018, their running backs were a bright spot. Kerryon Johnson showed flashes of brilliance before his injury, LeGarrette Blount was effective in short-yardage situations, Theo Riddick remained a valuable receiving option, and Zach Zenner provided some big plays. While the Lions' rushing attack was inconsistent, there is reason to be optimistic about this group moving forward.
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