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It seems like every year, fantasy owners struggle with deciding how high to pick Reggie Bush. He’s talented and explosive enough to rip off a huge play at any time, but he’s yet to find a role that’s allowed him to dominate for an entire season. Now a member of the Detroit Lions, Bush is in a good situation with a great offense. Yet, it’s still unclear what type of role he’ll have with the Lions. He could break out for 1,000 rushing yards like he did in 2011, or he could end up being used as a situational back with added receiving responsibilities. Best case: Bush is a reliable No. 1 fantasy back for the entirety of 2013. Worst case: he gets hurt or plays in a situational role with only a couple breakout weeks. Either way, it’s tough to ignore his upside.
Bush’s fantasy draft stock elevates with his move to the Lions. The Lions have a better overall offense than the Miami Dolphins and Bush could see significantly more action inside the red zone. Matthew Stafford will find ways to capitalize on Bush’s pass-catching abilities and Bush could even line up as a receiver at times. His injury risk remains a big concern, but the thought of a healthy Bush in a high-powered Lions offense should have fantasy owners considering him in the early rounds.
It’s hard to expect Bush to get much more than 250 carries for the season, but his abilities in the passing game make up for it. Don’t be surprised if Bush rushes for 800-plus yards with over 500 receiving yards. He could even see some time as a punt returner for the Lions. All things considered, Bush will have multiple ways to get into the end zone in 2013. If he stays healthy and the Lions decide to make him a staple of their offense, it could turn out to be the best year of his career.
Jesse Schwartz is an NFL New York Jets Writer at www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter.
