Name: Joique Bell
Team: Detroit Lions
Position: Running Back
Years Pro: 3
Draft stock: (Stagnant) Usually, back-up running backs only get notoriety once the player ahead of him goes down with a gruesome injury. Therefore, the buzz surrounding Bell will likely only grow if Reggie Bush goes down due to injury once again. As of now, Bell remains a sleeper candidate with a team that’s full of offensive weapons.
2012 fantasy impact: It wasn’t Bell’s 414 rushing yards that shocked me: instead, his 485 receiving yards are what made me take Bell’s 2012 statistics seriously. Matthew Stafford loves to sling it, so if Bell keeps catching the ball out of the backfield then the sky is the limit for this second-string running back.
Best-case scenario: Bush misses a bulk of time and Bell uses his in-game experience from 2012 to his advantage and matures into a bonafide every-down running back. Suddenly, the Lions have a running-back competition on their hands.
Worst-case scenario: Bell’s carries are nonexistent due to Bush’s arrival in Detroit. Stafford looks to pass the ball, yet Bell doesn’t capitalize and his pass-catching skills deteriorate due to lack of NFL snaps.
Where you should draft him: The 12th round is a perfect place for a guy like Bell. However, don’t be surprised if he goes earlier than that or way later — it’s all about how much faith you have in Bush to stay healthy.
Devin O’Barr is the Content Commentator for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DevinOBarrRS, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
