Week 7 at Miami Dolphins
After being a non-factor for the first month of the season, LeGarrette Blount scored his first two TDs of the year two weeks ago in the win over the Pack. While Blount finished with just 22 yards on 12 carries, his first quarter one-yard plunges kept him relevant in the Detroit backfield. Kerryon Johnson will continue to be the more explosive RB, with Blount being used in short-yardage situations. He has not reached 50 rushing yards in any game with the Lions, and likely will not at Miami on Sunday. Blount should only be started if you’re out of other options.
Week 5 vs. Green Bay Packers
While Kerryon Johnson carried the ball nine times for 55 last week at Dallas, LeGarrette Blount received seven rushes for only 12 yards. During the first month of the season, Blount has just 95 yards on 35 carries, a 2.7 yards-per-attempt average. He has yet to find the end zone and will continue to lose playing time and touches to the rookie. Blount should remain on your bench at home versus an average Green Bay run defense.
Week 4 at Dallas Cowboys
Facing his former team in the Patriots last Sunday night, LeGarrette Blount carried the ball a season-high 16 times for 48 yards and caught two passes for 17 yards, as the Lions offense dominated the time of possession. However, it was rookie Kerryon Johnson who had the better game, rushing for 101 yards, also on 16 carries. The rookie will continue to receive more playing time as he has been the more explosive runner during the first three weeks. The Cowboys are ranked 11th at stopping the run, so Blount should only be used if you’re out of other RB options.
Week 3 vs. New England Patriots
Before being ejected in the fourth quarter of last week’s loss at San Francisco for coming off the bench in defense of Matthew Stafford, LeGarrette Blount carried the ball eight times for 38 yards. In his first two games as a Lion, Blount has rushed for just 35 yards on 12 carries. He’s finding out that the Detroit offensive line isn’t as easy to run behind as New England’s and Philadelphia’s, which he was able to experience the past few seasons. Blount will be facing his former team on Sunday night, so you know he’d like to have a good game. Unfortunately, the Lions may be playing from behind again, which will limit his touches.
Week 2 at San Francisco 49ers
Last Monday at home versus the Jets, LeGarrette Blount was given the ball on the Lions' first offensive snap, which resulted in a seven-yard loss. On the night, he carried the ball just four times for negative three yards and looked very slow, especially behind an offensive line that couldn’t open any holes. Even though San Francisco allowed 116 yards at Minnesota last week, there is no reason to start Blount based on his Week 1 performance.
Week 1 vs. New York Jets
LeGarrette Blount will play under the Monday night spotlight in his first game with the Lions. He ran for over 750 yards last season with Philadelphia but is expected to split the backfield touches with Ameer Abdullah and rookie Kerryon Johnson. Blount will likely receive the short-yardage and goal-line carries, but he won’t receive enough carries for him to be worthy of a fantasy start.
Fantasy Upside
Last season with the Super Bowl Champion Eagles, LeGarrette Blount showed he still has something left in the tank, leading the team with 766 rushing yards on a healthy 4.4 yards per carry. He hasn’t missed a game since 2015 and still has some elusiveness, galloping for a 68-yarder against the Chargers last year. At nearly 250 pounds, Blount is a goal-line weapon the Lions will hope to feature, as he has scored 28 total TDs over the past three seasons.
Fantasy Downside
After plowing through defenses for over 1,100 yards and 18 TDs in 2016, Blount scored just twice on the ground last season. Nearing the end of his RB career, the 31-year-old had more than 15 carries in a game only twice in 2017. He is not much of a threat in the passing game, having registered double-digit receptions in just one season during his career. The Lions have not had a 100-yard rusher in over four years and the only game Blount eclipsed the century mark last season was aided by that long run versus the Chargers.
2018 Bottom Line
While Blount is expected to be the starter when the season begins, look for rookie Kerryon Johnson to receive plenty of playing time and touches as well. Blount may remain the team’s short-yardage back, as he passes the baton to Johnson, but the veteran’s best years are behind him. Blount likely won’t have too much fantasy value, especially during the second half of the season. Having both of the Detroit main ball-carriers as a handcuff may be your best option.
Super Bowl vs. New England Patriots
What matters in this different one-game format is not so much how many points we project each player for but how much each player costs per point. In FanDuel's half-point PPR format, here's how we value the running backs in terms of dollar/FanDuel point: Rex Burkhead>Jay Ajayi>Dion Lewis>LeGarrette Blount>Corey Clement>James Develin.
As for DraftKings' full PPR scoring, here's how we value the running backs in terms of dollar/DraftKings point: Jay Ajayi>Rex Burkhead>Dion Lewis>James White>LeGarrette Blount>Corey Clement>James Develin.
NFC Conference Championship vs. Minnesota Vikings
Jay Ajayi's early fumble against the Falcons led to a continued split in the backfield against the Falcons last week. However, Blount still only received 9 carries. It's tough sledding, too, this week against a Vikings defense that is top-three in aFPA to RBs. He's a contrarian DFS play, at best, and you are hoping he falls into the end zone.
Divisional Round vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Eagles have the third-lowest implied team total in Vegas this week at 19 points as an underdog. Plus, the Falcons are first in our aFPA vs. RB rankings. Before a meaningless Week 17 game, Blount saw fewer than double-digit touches in four straight games. He's not a reliable option for the divisional round.
