Lions notes: Kerryon Johnson 1 of 6 ‘most infuriatingly misused players’ in the NFL

Many Detroit Lions fans have griped about the team’s usage of rookie running back Kerryon Johnson. The Lions’ second-round pick is averaging 5.7 yards per carry, good for fourth best among all qualifying NFL running backs. However, he only has 50 carries through his first five games, while LeGarrette Blount—who is averaging just 2.5 yards per carry—has almost as many rushes, at 47.

Well, Lions fans aren’t the only ones that are frustrated by the Lions’ running back usage. Danny Kelly of The Ringer listed Johnson as one of The Six Most Infuriatingly Misused Players in the NFL.

“Johnson’s been incredibly efficient—he ranks first in Football Outsiders’ DVOA, and ninth in success rate (52 percent), but is stuck in a timeshare with veteran back LeGarrette Blount, who’s been useful in short-yardage and goal-line situations but sluggish everywhere else, averaging just 2.5 yards per carry,” Kelly wrote.

He definitely has a point, and I think almost all Lions fans can agree that Johnson needs a bigger percentage of touches from the Lions backfield. However, an increase Johnson’s usage wouldn’t have necessarily changed outcome of previous losses.

• Lions head coach Matt Patricia has a pretty good history against the Dolphins’ Week 7 starting quarterback Brock Osweiler:

• Remember when the Lions’ offensive line ranked sixth-best in the league after Week 5? Well, apparently they had a really bad bye week, because Pro Football Focus dropped them to 16 this week with no explanation as to why.

• If you’re not in Michigan or a very specific part of Florida and don’t have NFL Sunday Ticket, good luck watching the Lions play on Sunday:

• Want to catch up with former Lions DT Akeem Spence, who will be facing his former team as a member of the Dolphins this week? MiamiDolphins.com has a 10 things to know about Spence interview where the defender talks about how he feels facing his former team.

• NFL Films has a great video on Darius Slay, his upbringing, his rise in the NFL and his life as a father:

• Three of four writers at the Detroit News are taking the Lions (+3) against the Dolphins this week.