Fantasy Upside
After some fumbling problems limited his playing time during his rookie season, Ameer Abdullah’s 2016 campaign was cut short due to a foot injury that required surgery. He won the starting job heading in to the regular season, but finished with only 101 yards on 18 carries. Abdullah was fully cleared to return this past winter and believes he still has the capability to be a premier running back in the league. He has great speed, especially on the turf at Ford Field. Even with Theo Riddick on the roster, Abdullah is a receiving threat out of the backfield, having caught 25 passes in his first NFL season.
Fantasy Downside
Abdullah has been beaten up a bit in his first two professional seasons, missing most of last season. He also had offseason shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. His career-high of carries is just 16 and he’s rushed for over 50 yards only four times in 18 games. Thanks to a poor offensive line, the Lions ground game has been a work in progress the past few of seasons, finishing last in 2015 and 30th in 2016 (82 yards per game).
2017 Bottom Line
If he remains healthy, Abdullah should lead the team in carries and yards. With his speed, Abdullah has the potential for some big games, especially if Detroit continues to feed him the rock. However, with Riddick being the primary pass-catcher out of the backfield and Zach Zenner stealing the short-yardage and goal-line carries, Ameer’s upside may be somewhat limited. Draft Abdullah expecting him to be your No. 2 RB, but he is definitely the back to own from this offense.
Week 2 vs. Tennessee
As the Detroit offense was having its way against the Colts last Sunday, Ameer Abdullah led the team with 12 carries for 63 yards. He also caught five passes for 57 yards and a TD. Matthew Stafford threw 39 passes, as just 24 running plays were called in the shootout. Ameer is the clear No. 1 back, with Theo Riddick receiving seven rushes and Dwayne Washington stealing a goal line score. Abdullah has another good matchup in the home opener this week, so keep him in your starting lineup.
Week 1 at Indianapolis
After splitting time with Joique Bell during his rookie campaign, Ameer Abdullah heads in to the ’16 regular season knowing that the starting RB role is his. He had some fumble issues last season, but the speedy back has the chance to take it to the house on any given play. While Theo Riddick will be the pass-catching specialist out of the backfield for the Lions, look for Ameer to finish with between 15-20 touches. Abdullah makes for a QB2 play in the opener at Indy.
Ameer Abdullah Preseason Preview
Fantasy Upside
After a roller-coaster rookie season, Ameer Abdullah heads in to the preseason as the Lions’ top RB. Despite fumble problems and seeing limited action during a couple games in the middle of the season, he led the Lions with 143 carries and 597 yards (4.2 yards per attempt). He also showed good hands out of the backfield, catching 25 passes for 183 yards. Ameer had a much better second half of the season, with new-OC Jim Bob Cooter calling the plays, as he collected 75 carries for 357 yards (4.8 yards per rush) during the final seven weeks. He is a breakaway runner that ended up leading the NFL in kick-return yards in his first season.
Fantasy Downside
Abdullah missed OTAs and minicamp, recovering from off-season should surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder in January. His rookie campaign saw him fumble four times, losing two. The most carries he had in a game during his rookie campaign was 16 and he rushed for over 50 yards just three times. Detroit was last in the league at running the ball last season, averaging just 83 yards per game on the ground.
Bottom Line
Once healthy, Abdullah should again lead the team in carries and yards and, with is speed, has the potential for some big games, especially if Detroit continues to feed him the rock. However, with Theo Riddick being the primary pass-catcher out of the backfield and either Stevan Ridley (if heh makes the final cut) or Zach Zenner receiving the short-yardage and goal-line carries, his upside is somewhat limited. Draft Ameer expecting him to be your RB2.
Week 17 at Chicago
Against the 49ers last week, Ameer Abdullah led Detroit with 39 rushing yards on eight carries. He also caught four passes for nine yards. Theo Riddick saw 14 total touches, including seven rushing attempts in the win, while Joique Bell received nine total touches. With all three RBs healthy, the Lions backfield will remain crowded for the season finale. In the win over the Bears in October, Ameer totaled 69 yards on 17 touches.
Week 16 vs. San Francisco
In the win over the Saints on Monday night, Ameer Abdullah led the Lions with nine rushes for a career-high 77 yards and also caught two passes for 12 yards. He scored his third NFL TD (first rushing since his initial carry in Week 1), but also lost a fumble that helped New Orleans get back into the contest. Ameer and Joique Bell will continue to split time for the final two games, but Detroit has another favorable matchup at home against a San Fran D that allows nearly 130 rushing yards per game.
Week 15 at New Orleans
Ameer Abdullah finished with nine touches for 44 yards in the loss to the Rams last week. Coincidentally, Joique Bell also had nine touches, but was more effective, totaling 75 yards. Neither RB found the end zone and Ameer hasn’t scored since Week 3. In the previous three contests Abdullah was receiving the bulk of the carries, but expect Bell to remain part of the ground attack, limiting both RB’s productiveness. Despite the Saints poor defense, the rookie doesn’t make for a good fantasy play on Monday night.
Week 14 at St. Louis
With help from a 36-yard run in the first half last week versus the Packers, Ameer Abdullah finished with a team-high13 carries for 67 yards. Joique Bell saw only eight rushing attempts, with a few of those coming in the game’s final minutes. With the Lions out of the playoff picture, the rookie will continue to see the bulk of the RB playing time. The Rams have allowed opponents over 115 yards per game on the ground, making Abdullah again a flex play.
Week 13 vs. Green Bay
In the easy win against the Eagles last Thursday, Ameer Abdullah rushed 16 times for 63 yards and also had a 12-yard reception. The 75 total yards from scrimmage were his most since Week 1, when he scored the lone rushing TD of his career. Ameer has been hanging on to the ball and will continue to see more touches than Joique Bell if he continues to do so. Abdullah had a long kick return against the Pack a few weeks ago, but ran for only 15 yards on five rushes. He is more of a flex play on Thursday night.
Week 12 vs. Philadelphia
After not seeing much action in the previous couple games, Ameer Abdullah led the Detroit ground game with 12 carries for 44 yards in the win over Oakland last Sunday. Abdullah had just seven total touches in the last two contests, but was handed the ball twice as many times as Joique Bell and Theo Riddick. With the Lions out of the race, look for them to continue to see what the rookie can do. Philadelphia is allowing 374 yards per game, but Abdullah makes for no more than a flex start on Thursday.
