Detroit Lions: No starting-caliber running back
No offense intended to Abdullah, who is a very dynamic running back, but he really can’t be the best option for Detroit’s offense, right?
During a solid rookie campaign in which he worked himself into nine starts, Abdullah rushed for 597 yards (4.2 yards per carry) and two touchdowns. He opened the 2016 campaign as the starter but ended up missing all but two games after tearing a ligament in his foot.
All told, in 18 total games, Abdullah has accumulated just over 52 total yards per game and four total touchdowns. Those are complementary back numbers, not numbers you’d expect from a starting-caliber running back in the NFL.
Yet the Lions expect Abdullah to be their starter in 2017.
They also have Theo Riddick, Matt Asiata and Zach Zenner at their disposal. Essentially, they have four running backs who, if they were merged together into one body would have the requisite set of skills to be a darn good starter.
But apart from one another, the running backs on Detroit’s roster are incomplete.