Second and third-year NFL players ready to break out in 2019

#3 Kerryon Johnson

For some reason Matt Patricia and that Lions coaching staff held onto the Patriots’ idea of multiple backs, even though Johnson was clearly the most talented guy in that backfield. His ability to be a threat to the edge in the outside zone game combined with the ability to cut upfield in one step and the power he can build up that way are special. He also has the jump-cut to press double-teams and then escape on the backdoor in gap scheme, which is very impressive as well. And to make him true feature back material – while he didn’t catch the ball at a very high rate at Auburn, he showed last season that he can make things happen off screen passes and is more than just a check-down option out of the backfield. Overall the rookie averaged 5.4 yards a carry, but in several games he was limited a lot by the number of touches he received. You could argue that his share of touches will remain capped to some degree, having finished the season on the sideline, but in the three games Detroit did hand him the ball 15 or more teams, his average was even better at 6.9 yards. With the Lions transitioning to more of a run-centric offense, their RB1 should be the center-piece of their new attack. I think adding two tight-ends in Jesse James from the Steelers and top-ten pick T.J. Hockenson out of Iowa will only strengthen the edges and allow Kerryon to get to the outside even more, which will create better cutback opportunities as defenders need to flow with the play and have a tough time adjusting to how things develop. I know Theo Riddick will still have an impact as a third down back, but I would actually be shocked if KJ didn’t finish top ten in rushing this upcoming season.