Detroit Lions: Theo Riddick is the best candidate to replace Golden Tate
Showtime is over in Motown but continuing in Philadelphia and the Detroit Lions get a third-round pick from the Eagles. But who’s the heir to the YAC throne?
Golden Tate will always be the Yards After Catch King, just not with the Detroit Lions. On Tuesday, the Lions shipped their leading wide receiver to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2019 third round pick. Who is heir to the YAC throne in Detroit now? I believe it’s running back Theo Riddick.
Not nearly as effective at breaking tackles, Riddick is a problem for opposing teams as he has a habit of making defenders whiff. According to Pro Football Focus, the sixth-year running back makes people miss more than 25 percent of the time he’s touching the ball.
But this year’s been a different story for Riddick. Whether it’s the playcalling or just losing a step, the sixth-year running back’s receiving (23 catches, 138 yards) and rushing (eight carries, 30 yards) numbers have been lackluster, to say the least. Yet with the trade of Tate, Riddick likely sees an uptick in production.
Tate was leading the Lions with 44 receptions and 517 yards to go along with three touchdowns before departing Tuesday afternoon before the trade deadline. Almost a quarter of the receiving production is now gone.
It’ll take several players coming together to replace Tate’s void. The hype behind rookie wide receiver Brandon Powell is real and so is the endorsement from his former teammate. He’ll need more time to prove he’s a legitimate contender for the crown.
T.J. Jones will step up his role but by no means brings physicality as a pass catcher. There’s simply no way of finding a perfect solution to Tate’s exodus.
Riddick is a safety valve underneath and an easy target to dump off to for quarterback Matthew Stafford. It’s also easy for defenses to figure him out. An expanded role is a just what this third-down specialist needs to increase his productivity and still show the NFL he can be a weapon.
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A complete switch of positions is unlikely for running back Theo Riddick. But I still believe he’ll be the new YAC King in the Motor City now that Showtime is over in Detroit.