Should I Pick Up The Lions RB This Week?

The Detroit Lions have gone from having one of many league’s prime dashing assaults to a staff probably in a determined seek for somebody to hold the ball this week.

This results in the query of whether or not it is best to add seldom-used Devine Ozigbo from the fantasy soccer waiver wire for this week’s sport vs. the Ravens in Baltimore.

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Ought to Devin Ozigbo Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 7?

First, it was rookie Jahmyr Gibbs taking place with injured ribs that compelled him out of the lineup in Weeks 5 and 6. He has been restricted in follow this week and his standing for Sunday is up within the air.

Then, David Montgomery, the Lions’ main rusher, was knocked out of final week’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with an harm to his ribs. Montgomery will not be anticipated to be out there for Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Ravens.

Now, it’s Craig Reynolds, the staff’s third-leading rusher, who has been coping with a hamstring difficulty this week.

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So the Lions, who rank prime 10 within the NFL in each dashing offense (124.2 YPG) and dashing touchdowns (9), are immediately not sure who will carry the ball in Baltimore.

If all three can not go versus the Ravens, the query will most likely be answered as as to whether it’s the gamers or the system that makes up the Lions’ prolific dashing assault. Detroit additionally will doubtless have a veteran working again, although hardly ever used, in Ozigbo out there for this matchup.

So, given the unsure working again scenario in Detroit, ought to fantasy managers take into account choosing up Ozigbo off the waiver wire and placing him within the lineup this week? The query will not be as far-fetched as it might seem.

For starters, somebody must carry the ball for Detroit on this sport. The Lions are fourth within the NFL in rush makes an attempt (187), so utilizing the working sport is a key a part of their success on offense, irrespective of which again is getting the carries.

Take into account that final week, after Montgomery left the sport together with his harm, and with the Lions already with out Gibbs, Reynolds stepped in and carried the ball 10 occasions — albeit for less than 15 yards. Reynolds entered the sport with simply 14 rush makes an attempt in 5 video games all season.

Assuming all three are out this weekend, or at the very least restricted, the door can be open for a participant like Ozigbo to get an opportunity.

Now, the speculation does exist that the Lions may simply let quarterback Jared Goff air it out extra on Sunday. Goff is having a stable season to date, finishing practically 70% of his passes (69.5%) for 11 TD passes and simply three interceptions.

However a better have a look at the numbers reveals that having Goff move the ball extra isn’t essentially a bonus for the Lions. Since 2021 with Goff at quarterback, the Lions are 11-4-1 in video games during which Goff has fewer than 35 move makes an attempt, and they’re simply 6-15 when he throws the ball 35 occasions or extra.

Final week in opposition to the Buccaneers, Detroit’s working sport doubtless felt the consequences of all its accidents, because it completed with season lows in rush makes an attempt (22), rush yards (40), and yards per carry (1.8). The Lions had been additionally held with out a dashing landing for the primary time all season.

And with Ozigbo, you might have a component of the unknown, as he has carried the ball all of 17 occasions for 34 yards in his NFL profession. He has but to attain a landing in his profession.

So, due to their dependence on their dashing offense, the Lions could also be compelled to present Ozigbo some carries this week. But when final week proved something, the concept that Detroit can simply plug any working again within the backfield and achieve success will not be an correct plan of assault.