Fantasy Football 2018: Early NFC North running back rankings

5. LeGarrette Blount, Detroit Lions

Trying to figure out the Lions backfield isn’t easy, and the signing of LeGarrette Blount only adds further questions. In all likelihood there will be a timeshare between Blount, Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick, although adding a rookie to the mix via the draft could further complicate things.

Blount edges out Abdullah and Riddick here. Abdullah hasn’t lived up to his second-round status yet, and struggled again in 2017. He rushed for just 552 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 3.3 yards per carry. Riddick is also tough to trust for fantasy as he’s primarily used as a pass-catching back.

Blount, for now, appears to be the early-down back. More importantly, he will likely take the bulk of the carries on the goal line. The 31-year-old did only find the end zone three times last season for the Super Bowl-winning Eagles, but he’s just two years removed from an 18-touchdown season in New England. Don’t expect those kind of numbers, but he should see more goal-line opportunities in Detroit.

In all honesty I’d want no part of this backfield. Adding a rookie in the early rounds could change things, but for now Blount gets the edge of the Lions’ running backs.