Lions OC Anthony Lynn will use ‘hot hand’ approach in backfield

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn says he’s going to ride the hot hand at RB. “If you go in the game and you’re ballin’, you’re gonna stay in there,” per The Athletic’s Chris Burke. This isn’t a new approach to backfields, but it is the most annoying for fantasy football players. Projecting touches is the key to winning at fantasy, and backfields like the Lions are where projections go to die.

The Lions took a similar approach last season when Adrian Peterson, D’Andre Swift and Kerryon Johnson split work. That approach left the Lions backfield mostly unusable in fantasy, especially when considering their lack of red zone trips. This off season Peterson and Johnson were let go, but the team brought in ex-Packers back Jamaal Williams and are contemplating signing Todd Gurley.

Nothing this offseason has led us to believe Swift will lead the way in work. Lynn has also called Williams “a classic A back,” while labeling Swift as a “speed-space back,” per Burke. There’s no doubt Swift’s upside is still the best due to his ability and work in the passing game, but this is shaping up to be a backfield to avoid in 2021 fantasy football.