Theo Riddick released: Fantasy context for 2019

Theo Riddick released – Fantasy Context

Kerryon Johnson

Kerryon Johnson sees a massive boost to his fantasy upside with this news. Currently the RB19 in terms of ADP, Johnson should climb up right around where I have him ranked at 14th overall. In fact, he will be drafted as a top-12 running back in many leagues. Kerryon is a talented running back who will finally be handed the feature back role he was drafted for. A tough runner with plus receiving skills, Johnson is perfectly capable of playing an every down role for the Lions. During the games the two backs played together last season Riddick ran 23.6 routes per game to Johnson’s 15.4. As one may expect that resulted in more targets for Riddick who saw 45 over those eight games compared to just 25 for Kerryon. Firmly in the explosive third tier of fantasy running backs, Johnson is now in line to put up an RB1 fantasy season. Draft him with confidence in the third round.

C.J. Anderson

With Theo Riddick out of the picture, Anderson appears to have a more concrete week to week role in terms of touches. Still more of a flex3 option due to what seems to be touchdown-dependent fantasy value, Anderson now has more weekly upside. Expected to take over the LaGarette Blount role, a healthy Kerryon Johnson likely means Anderson still may not see much more than the 7.8 carries per game Blount saw last season. Heading into the preseason Anderson projects as more of a bye week filler type than a desired flex option.

Ty Johnson

Ty Johnson is a talented rookie who may now see involvement in the weekly gameplan on offense. He may not be the receiving threat that Riddick was but he offers plus special teams ability, and is far less expensive. He has some juice as a runner and could offer a solid change of pace element to the offense. Ty Johnson remains third on the depth chart here but is an injury to Kerryon Johnson or Anderson away from becoming fantasy relevant. In the event of an injury to Anderson he becomes a flex2. In the event of an injury to Kerryon he becomes a flex option with low end RB2 with upside. Ty Johnson is now someone to consider at the backend of drafts in deeper leagues. He is also an upside dart throw in the latter rounds of deeper best ball formats.