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Detroit Lions: Would Carlos Hyde ignite the rushing attack?

By Steven Mullenax

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 24: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes for a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars during their NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 24: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes for a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars during their NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Of all the free agent running backs on the open market, could Carlos Hyde be the perfect fit to reignite the Detroit Lions’ underwhelming rushing attack?

San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde is coming off his best season as a professional. In 2017, the 27-year old ran for 938 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He also caught a career-high 59 receptions for 350 yards. And all signs point to Hyde being available when the free agent market opens up next month.

As for the Detroit Lions, they had the worst rushing attack in the NFL last season. They finished the year totaling 1,221 team rushing yards. And their leading rusher was Ameer Abdullah, who ran for 552 yards and four scores in 2017.

Both Hyde and the Lions could be on a collision course this offseason. Detroit desperately needs a workhorse back that can put the “motor” back into the Motor City. And the former second round selection figures to be one of the Lions’ top options in free agency.

One fantasy football expert believes these two could be the perfect match.

"“Hyde is coming off the best fantasy season of his career, as he finished with a personal-best 59 catches and ranked eighth in PPR points among running backs,” wrote Michael Fabiano on NFL.com. “With the San Francisco 49ers giving Jimmy Garoppolo a massive new deal, I’d expect the team to go with a cheaper backfield option … That would leave Hyde to the free-agent market, where the Lions could add him as a replacement for draft disappointment Ameer Abdullah.”"

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In Carlos Hyde, the Detroit Lions would get a dynamic running back who is still entering into the prime of his career. If the Lions were able to secure a veteran like Hyde and pair him with a rookie back in the upcoming NFL draft, then combined them with the talented Theo Riddick, likely the NFL’s top receiving threat out of the back, it could be the perfect combination of players to reignite the Lions’ stagnate rushing attack.

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