Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell has become an afterthought to fantasy owners due to his summer-long absence from preseason games and practices. This could be damaging oversight, however.
Fantasy football draft strategy: Joique Bell a potential steal for fantasy owners
There’s still an asset in the Lions backfield who hasn’t received enough consideration from fantasy owners. We break down Joique Bell’s fantasy potential.
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In a recent article by beat reporter Dave Birkett, Bell confirmed that he will carry the load for the Lions’ backfield upon his return, and it will be the first time in his career where he gets to do so. Though “carrying the load” is a subjective term as to how much of the running game he will occupy, it is at least fair to assume that Bell will be in for a significant number of snaps this season.
Fantasy Spin: Whether fantasy owners want to designate Bell as "the bellcow" or not, a seventh-round ADP for someone who could garner a massive volume qualifies as a steal. Bell is coming off of back-to-back season posting over 1,100 total yards despite being part of a timeshare with Reggie Bush and Theo Riddick, and could be in line for more work, health permitting.
Should Bell occupy a larger share of the backfield, it’s not out of the realm of possibility to see him improve on his yardage total from years past. He should be on every fantasy owner’s radar in the seventh round.
