Fantasy Football: One Potential Cut Candidate for Every NFC Team

Detroit Lions - Theo Riddick

Cap Savings: $3.425 million

Dead Money: $962,000

The Detroit Lions have come to depend on the pass-catching ability of Theo Riddick over the last few seasons, to the extent that the former Notre Dame man has at least 53 receptions in each of his last four campaigns. This past season brought 61 receptions for 384 yards but no touchdowns.

When it comes to actually carrying the ball, Riddick posted a career-high mark of 4.3 yards per attempt on his 40 carries, finishing with 171 scoreless yards. Overall, his 101 total touches were his fewest since 2014, and it was the first time in his career he didn't find the end zone.

Riddick’s skills and proficiency as a pass catcher have kept him around, but there is a case that the Lions have a player in Kerryon Johnson who could conceivably operate as a true workhorse back.

Johnson is clearly a more efficient rusher than Riddick, with 0.07 Rushing NEP per carry compared to Riddick’s -0.04. But Johnson was better than Riddick in the receiving game, too, with 0.32 Target NEP per target against Riddick’s 0.19, though Riddick saw 35 more targets.

The Lions are heading into a tough offseason, and it would make sense to increase Johnson’s workload as Detroit tries to retool on offense. If they're planning to feature Johnson, they can save some dough by releasing Riddick, who would almost certainly find work elsewhere as a pass-game maven.