Week 7 vs. Minnesota
Joique Bell missed his third straight game last week, but is expected to play on Sunday against Minnesota. Ameer Abdullah has had trouble hanging on to the ball, but Joique has had his own issues, averaging just 1.1 yards per carry in three games. He was limited to 18 total yards on six touches in the Week 2 loss to the Vikings and does not make for a good fantasy start in the rematch.
Week 6 vs. Chicago
Battling an Achilles injury, Joique Bell has missed the past two contests. He is expected back this week, but the Lions ground game hasn’t done much with or without him this season. Bell doesn’t make for a good fantasy start, however, as he’ll likely be brought back into the mix slowly against a decent Chicago defense.
Week 5 vs. Arizona
Joique Bell missed last Monday’s game at Seattle with an ankle injury and likely will be out at home on Sunday. Even if he is able to play, Bell is averaging just over a yard per carry and will find himself behind rookie Ameer Abdullah on the depth chart.
Week 4 at Seattle
The Lions ran for just 28 yards in the loss to Denver last Sunday. Joique Bell led the team with 10 rushes, but for only six yards. He did have a one-yard touchdown plunge, so it wasn’t a complete disappointment for fantasy owners. In three games, Joique has been held to 22 yards on 20 rushing attempts, as the ground attack has had all sorts of problems. Ameer Abdullah is seeing more playing time than Bell, a trend that will likely continue, as long as he holds onto the ball. In Seattle on Monday night, this is likely a time to leave Bell on your bench.
Week 3 vs. Denver
With the Lions behind for most of the game in Minnesota last week, Joique Bell finished with just two rushing yards and 16 receiving yards. He had just six touches in the defeat and the Detroit running backs totaled just 12 rushing attempts. Ameer Abdullah had six carries, but the ground game was slowed throughout. In the home opener on Sunday night, Joique will be facing a Denver defense that has allowed just 243 total yards per game. You’re better off looking elsewhere for a starting RB.
Week 2 vs. Minnesota
Rookie Ameer Abdullah was definitely the better RB for the Lions in the opener, as he totaled 94 yards on 11 touches. Joique Bell, who missed the preseason after recovering from a couple off-season surgeries, was held to just 41 yards on eight touches. Joique should remain the team’s short-yardage back, but don’t be surprised if Abdullah continues to see more action. While Bell totaled 200 yards with a score in the two games against Minnesota in 2014, he should be considered more of a flex option in Week 2.
Week 1 vs. San Diego
After battling knee and Achilles injuries during the offseason, Joique Bell has been a full participant at practice this week and should be ready to go against San Diego. Even though Reggie Bush is out of the way from stealing his touches, Bell now has rookie Ameer Abdullah to compete with. Joique heads into the season as the Lions top RB and should receive at least 15 touches in the opener.
Fantasy Upside
With Reggie Bush battling injuries for much of last season, Joique Bell took over the Detroit starting RB position and had a breakout season. The former Wayne State product posted career-highs in carries (223) and rushing yards (860) and tied his high of eight total TDs. He totaled over 100 yards four times in ’14 and is a bruising back at 229 pounds, but with soft hands – averaging 46 receptions in his three NFL seasons.
Fantasy Downside
Bell had off-season knee and Achilles tendon surgeries, forcing him to miss spring workouts. The Lions drafted Ameer Abdullah and you can expect to see him splitting time with Bell, possibly similar to the role Bush played when healthy last season. Joique does not have a 100-yard rushing game in his career and despite his solid year, Detroit still ranked just 28th in rushing.
Bottom Line
Joique will receive the majority of the carries out of the Detroit backfield, but don’t expect him to have more than about 20 total touches per contest (he averaged 17.1 touches last year). With Abdullah and Theo Riddick capable of carrying the backfield load as well, the Lions will look to use all three RBs and keep Bell fresh as the season wears on. Bell recently predicted a 1,200-yard rushing season; but if he’s over 1,000 and close to double-digits in touchdowns, it’ll be a good year.
Wild Card – Joique Bell vs. Dallas Cowboys
With Reggie Bush back and healthy, he and Joique Bell have been splitting playing time. But, it’s been Bell who continues to receive the bulk of the rushing attempts. In the regular season finale at Green Bay last week, Joique ran for 60 yards on 13 carries. He finished the season with nearly 1,200 total yards and eight TDs. The Dallas D allowed only 103 yards per game on the ground, so look for Bell to have an average outing on Sunday.
Week 17 – Joique Bell vs. Green Bay Packers
Even though Reggie Bush had 13 touches for 98 yards at Chicago last week, Joique Bell finished with a good game too. He led the Lions with 13 carries for 74 yards and a nice, 17-yard TD run that gave Detroit the lead in the fourth quarter. The two RBs will continue to split action, with Joique likely receiving more of the rushing attempts. The Packers limited Bell to just 33 yards on 15 carries in September, so if you’re season is still going, he makes for an RB2 play.
