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Last week, we noted that Kerryon Johnson finished third in Rookie of the Year among our FanPulse voters across the SB Nation platforms. But it’s not just fans that are noticing the year the Detroit Lions running back is having.
ESPN handed out midseason NFL awards this week, and while Johnson didn’t finish first in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, he was among the finalists—finishing fourth overall. He only received two votes from the eight-analyst panel at ESPN, but one of those writers, Football Outsiders’ Aaron Schatz, gave him a first-place vote.
The OROY 1st place vote for Kerryon Johnson is me. So is the DPOY 2nd place vote for Tre'Davious White. Mahomes was my MVP pick. https://t.co/UksyZeEqiF
— Aaron Schatz (@FO_ASchatz) November 7, 2018
It would make sense for Schatz to back Kerryon, because his statistics support that choice. Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric ranks Johnson as the third most valuable running back in the NFL—behind just Phillip Lindsay and Todd Gurley.
Johnson current ranks third in rushing yards (503) among rookies but first in yards per carry (5.7).
- Wide receiver Andy Jones didn’t spend all that long off the team. After getting waived from the Lions following their game against the Vikings (in which he played two offensive snaps), Jone is back on the team’s practice squad. He replaces tight end Hakeem Valles, who was waived by the team Wednesday for the second time this year.
- For whatever reason, opposing teams aren’t blitzing the Lions very often this season:
These offenses are getting BLITZED the most/least this season.
— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) November 7, 2018
I'll add which QBs are making defenses pay for blitzing in a bit.#GoNiners #Browns #GoSaints #DUUUVAL #InBrotherhood #RavensFlock #DaBears #GoPats #OnePride #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/wpEVb6JyIf
- Matt Patricia was mentioned on CBS Sports’ Hot Seat Power Rankings this week because of what was a pretty awful week from Monday to Sunday. However, they conclude that “this doesn’t feel like a one-and-done type of situation.”
- Here are your game sound and radio calls from the Lions-Vikings game:
Check out the sights and sounds from #DETvsMIN. @ThinkFordFirst pic.twitter.com/GKB8m0y4Dy
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 7, 2018
- After firing special teams coordinator Joe Marciano, Matt Patricia said that assistant special teams coach Devin Fitzsimmons would be taking many of the duties, but it would be a team effort to fully replace him.
- Your daily Bruce Irvin update: The former Raiders edge rusher signed with the Falcons on Wednesday. The biggest surprise: Look at the teams he passed on:
DE Bruce Irvin to @vxmcclure23 after agreeing to terms with Falcons: “This was a dream [come] true. The Patriots and Steelers offered more money, but being able to play for my city and my people, you just can’t put a price on that.”
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) November 7, 2018