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TheDetroit Lions have one of the best backfield tandems in the NFL in Reggie Bush and Joique Bell; however, both struggled last week, even in Detroit’s victory over the New York Giants in Week 1 of the 2014 season.
The win didn’t come because of Bell or Bush. On the ground, both backs combined for just 66 rushing yards on 24 carries, with Bell getting a three-yard touchdown run when the game was already decided. Each back also struggled in the passing game, combining for just seven receptions and 54 yards. This performance came against a Giants defense that was on the field for over 36 minutes.
This week, the Lions travel to Carolina to take on the Carolina Panthers, the reigning NFC South Champions. The Panthers have one of the best defenses in the league with star players like Greg Hardy and Luke Kuechly. In the Panthers’ Week 1 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Carolina defense held Tampa Bay RB Doug Martin to just nine yards on nine carries and the Buccaneers were held to just 264 yards of total offense.
Both of Detroit’s RBs should be seeing the bench this week in fantasy football leagues. If the Lions’ backs struggled against the Giants, they will struggle even more against a much better defense, especially the front seven. With the Panthers having a dominant front seven, the Lions and QB Matthew Stafford will look to exploit the Panthers through the air, especially with Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate, rather than using Bell and Bush on the ground.
If you have no other choice than to use Bush or Bell in your starting lineup, they should only be used as flex players and nothing else.
Brian Kalchik is a Detroit Lions writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
