Theo Riddick (RB, DET) – 2015 Fantasy Football Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Take him late in the draft as a FLEX play in deeper leagues.

CURRENT ADP: 198 STD, 153 PPR

ANALYSIS: Theo Riddick’s in a tough spot. Both 2015 2nd rounder Ameer Abdullah and the perpetually underrated Joique Bell look to be getting lion’s share of carries in front of the third year man from Notre Dame.

But Riddick has one thing going for him - his receiving ability. He was targeted 50 times in 2014, good for 21st amongst RBs. The Lions’ have also looked Riddick’s way in the red zone. He caught four TDs (as many as Matt Forte); all of them within 11 yards of the end zone.

Expect that target trend to continue. Last season the Lions targeted their running backs more than any team except the Saints, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi’s former team. Reggie Bush led the Lions’ backs in targets and receptions last year but is now a 49er. Riddick should be in line to pick up some additional numbers as a result.

Don’t expect much from Riddick as a runner however. He averaged a little over three yards a game last season. You can get three yards a game by falling over at the line of scrimmage a few times. He's just too small to be effective as anything more than a once-in-a-while outside run guy in that aspect of his game.

Unless Detroit’s backfield gets decimated by injuries, Riddick is clearly not a first choice. He can however, be a respectable flex play in deeper leagues