Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick Post-Week 1 Fantasy Advice

The Detroit Lions earned an impressive season-opening road win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, and their running backs provided a critical spark for both the team and fantasy players relying on their production.

Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick didn’t put up head-turning numbers on the ground, but they were each a force in the passing attack and found the end zone in the 39-35 shootout.

Here is a look at their stats from Sunday’s contest:

Player	Carries	Rushing Yards	Touchdown Runs	Catches	Targets	Receiving Yards	Touchdown Catches
Ameer Abdullah	12	63	0	5	5	57	1
Theo Riddick	7	45	1	5	5	63	1

It's clear Abdullah and Riddick will be Detroit’s workhorses this season, as quarterback Matthew Stafford was Detroit’s third-leading rusher Sunday. However, the Lions probably aren’t going to pound teams on the ground, which makes each running back a risky play.

In the last five years, Stafford has attempted more than 600 passes four times and more than 700 passes once. Last year was the one time in that span he didn’t reach 600 passing attempts, but he came in just short at 592.

He appeared to be on that course again during Sunday’s game, attempting 39 passes. Considering the Lions defense ranked 23rd in the league in points allowed per game last season and struggled against the Colts, Detroit may have to air it out in 2016 to keep up with the opposition.

Fantasy players can take solace in the fact that Abdullah and Riddick took full advantage of their carries Sunday. Abdullah posted 5.3 yards per carry, while Riddick averaged 6.4.

Don’t get too excited about Riddick’s rushing totals yet, since he tallied a combined 209 rushing yards over the last three seasons. Last year’s 133 represented a career high.

Abdullah, who showed promise with 597 rushing yards as a rookie last year, was the primary runner Sunday, getting 12 carries compared to Riddick’s seven. Although Riddick found the end zone twice, Abdullah has the better track record.

However, the fantasy value for each of these running backs comes through the air. That makes sense in Detroit’s pass-happy offense, especially since Stafford will have to spread Calvin Johnson’s targets around after his retirement.

Golden Tate was the only Lions player to tally more catches than the two running backs Sunday, and he checked in with seven.

Riddick and Abdullah were efficient, catching all 10 of their combined targets, which should help them build trust with Stafford moving forward. They also averaged 12 yards per reception, which is a testament to their shiftiness in the open field and ability to make defenders miss after hauling in receptions.

Bleacher Report’s Ian Kenyon was particularly impressed with Riddick:

The interchangeable receiving numbers are more encouraging for those looking to rely on Abdullah this year. He had only 183 receiving yards and one touchdown catch in 2015, while Riddick tallied 697 yards through the air as the team’s third-leading receiver behind Johnson and Tate.

Riddick has been the pass-catching back for Detroit, but Abdullah’s performance indicates the two backs could share that role this season.

There are some fantasy risks with the Detroit backfield, including the fact that each player's individual ceiling is limited by the presence of the other. The Lions are unlikely to turn to either one for 20-plus carries per game, but Abdullah has demonstrated he can be an impact player on the ground.

Between that and the impact each had in Sunday’s passing attack, Riddick and Abdullah are both worthy of a start in the flex spot, especially in points-per-reception leagues.

Riddick should continue to contribute when Stafford looks to pass, while Abdullah followed up his solid rookie season with a positive showing Sunday. And the Lions offense appears to be capable of matching teams like the Colts in shootouts.

All of those factors should prove to be beneficial for fantasy players this year.