2018 Detroit Lions Pride of Detroit Awards: Offensive Player of the Year

You know it was a rough year when Detroit Lions fans nominated just two players for Offensive Player of the Year.

To call the Detroit Lions’ 2018 offensive output disappointing would be the biggest understatement one could make. With such a big offseason focus on the running game, expectations for Detroit’s offense were through the roof.

Unfortunately, Matthew Stafford had his worst season in five years, offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter called some very uninspiring games, and the offensive line didn’t quite live up to its billing.

So this year, it’s just a two-horse race for Offensive Player of the Year. Here are your candidates.

Kerryon Johnson

Stats: 118 rushes, 641 yard (5.4 YPC), 3 TDs; 32 catches 213 yards, 1 TD

The running game is officially back in Detroit after Kerryon Johnson’s fantastic rookie season. The former Auburn running back averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2018, which was the second highest mark among all NFL running backs.

He was a human highlight machine and produced six plays of 20+ yards in the running game—the most by a Lions player in a single season since 2013.

His lists of accomplishments is too long to list here, so simply enjoy the highlights provided above.

Kenny Golladay

Stats: 70 catches, 1063 yards, 5 TDs; 1 forced fumble

Golladay already won our Breakout Player of the Year award for 2018, and for good reason. The second-year player made a case for being the team’s No. 1 receiver going forward. After Golden Tate was traded and Marvin Jones Jr. was injured, Golladay literally assumed the WR1 role and did a pretty good job at it. Though he disappeared at times, he also proved capable of embarrassing some players.

Hi, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.