FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 12/20/2012 11:09pm et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure (calf) was limited in practice Thursday, Dec. 20.

Huddle Up: It was the second straight limited practice for Leshoure, who has rushed for a score in 4 of the past 5 games.

Posted: 12/18/2012 2:21pm et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure has scored eight touchdowns on 185 carries, but he has by far the most rushes of any NFL runner without a single carry of at least 20 yards.

Huddle Up: The lack of big plays aside, Leshoure has been a dependable No. 2 back with an average of 11.24 fantasy points per game (Huddle Performance scoring).

Posted: 12/11/2012 11:40pm et

Detroit Lions RBs Mikel Leshoure and Joique Bell split the running load pretty evenly in their Week 14 game against the Green Bay Packers. Leshoure had 14 carries, and Bell carried the ball 12 times. However, Bell played more snaps (43) than Leshoure (31). Both runners were equally effective; Leshoure had effective runs on seven of his 14 tries, and Bell was efficient on six of his 12 carries, with an efficient run being a carry for four or more yards on first down, half the remaining distance on second down or picking up a first down on third or fourth down. Bell had 19 yards after contact and Leshoure gained 14. Leshoure showed he continues to be indecisive in the backfield, which hurts his momentum as he hits holes. Bell is running with more authority and is more of the total package, but his lack of top-end speed and strength makes him more of a complementary back.

Huddle Up: While Leshoure has racked up 7 TDs to Bell's 3, the Lions remain a pass-first team and that's where Bell has the big advantage with 39 catches to Leshoure's 26, including an 8-2 edge over the past 2 weeks. In all, Bell's 39 catches rank ninth among all NFL backs.

Posted: 11/30/2012 5:42pm et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure (ankle) was limited in practice Friday, Nov. 30, and is probable for Week 13.

Huddle Up: Good news for anyone who might have panicked when he missed Wednesday's practice. Joique Bell will steal carries, but LeShoure is a solid play.

Posted: 11/29/2012 12:06pm et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure returned to practice Thursday, Nov. 29.

Huddle Up: There was an early-week scare about Leshoure's availability this week and a subsequent rush to pick up Joique Bell. Now it looks as if Leshoure will return to his usual role, with Bell joining Kevin Smith as Detroit's backup plan.

Posted: 11/28/2012 1:03pm et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure (undisclosed) is not practicing Wednesday, Nov. 28.

Huddle Up: Joique Bell has been playing well behind Leshoure, so this is a bit troubling. No word on why Leshoure missed practice, though; keep an eye on his status the rest of the week.

Posted: 11/17/2012 11:15pm et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure said he is working on being more decisive when carrying the ball and be productive during games. Leshoure said he is also trying to make more defensive players miss tackles when he runs.

Huddle Up: Leshoure created some serious fantasy buzz in Week 9 when he ran for 70 yards and 3 TDs against the Jags, but followed that up with a disappointing 43-yard, no-score effort last week against the Vikings. His fantasy owners are most definitely hoping for more of the former than the latter in Week 11.

Posted: 11/7/2012 7:04pm et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure (ankle) practiced in full Wednesday, Nov. 7.

Huddle Up: Leshoure figures to be in a lot more fantasy starting lineups this week coming off his monster 3-TD, 70-yard outing against the Jaguars in Week 9.

Posted: 11/1/2012 12:18pm et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure is returning to practice Thursday, Nov. 1.

Huddle Up: Leshoure left the Lions' Week 8 game prematurely, with Joique Bell finishing up in the Detroit backfield, and after Leshoure missed practice Wednesday there was concern head coach Jim Schwartz was blowing smoke when he said Leshoure wasn't injured. Now that he's back at practice, however, there is less reason for fantasy owners to be concerned about Leshoure's availability this week.

Posted: 10/31/2012 1:22pm et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure (leg) is not practicing Wednesday, Oct. 31.

Huddle Up: According to Jim Schwartz, Leshoure missed practice for "personal reasons." That would be fine and dandy when forecasting Leshoure's output this week except for the fact Joique Bell took over in the second half of last week's game with no apparent injury to Leshoure. It looks like his value is plummeting, at least in the short term.

Posted: 9/28/2012 5:08pm et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure (groin) was limited during practice Friday, Sept. 28, and is listed as questionable for Week 4.

Huddle Up: One week after bursting onto the fantasy scene, Leshoure finds himself on the injury report with one of those bothersome injuries for running backs. Couple that with the fact the Vikings have allowed the least fantasy points to running backs this season and this could be a bad weekend for the second-year back.

Posted: 9/25/2012 10:37pm et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure said it felt good to get his feet wet during the team's Week 3 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Leshoure started the game, the first of his career, and rushed for 100 yards on 26 carries, including his first career touchdown run. He also caught four passes for 34 yards. Most of his production came in the first half, when he rushed 16 times for 61 yards. 'I didn't have any expectations as far as how many touches I would get, but I got good work,' he said. 'Going forward, I feel good.' The Lions worked in RB Joique Bell on the final two drives of the fourth quarter, but head coach Jim Schwartz said it was because Leshoure played a lot and they simply wanted to have a fresher player on the field due to the heat. Leshoure said he wasn't fatigued and he did play in overtime. 'Joique got on a roll and they kept him in the game,' Leshoure added.

Huddle Up: Expect Leshoure's featured role to continue as the the Lions try to establish a running attack that has long been MIA in the Motor City. Surprisingly, it was Bell and not Kevin Smith, the team's top back in the first 2 games, who was called upon for relief work late in Week 3.

Posted: 9/23/2012 10:06pm et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure rushed for 100 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries in Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans.

Huddle Up: The Lions wasted no time in utilizing Leshoure giving the second-year RB the start in his regular-season debut. The team's leading rusher, Kevin Smith, didn't record a carry Sunday. Leshoure also added 4 catches for 34 yards.

Posted: 9/19/2012 12:40pm et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure returned to practice Wednesday, Sept. 19, after serving a two-game suspension for marijuana possession. Leshoure split first-team reps with RB Kevin Smith and should play in Week 3.

Huddle Up: Assuming Leshoure can live up to his draft status, he should eventually overtake Smith for the starting gig and garner the lion's share of playing time. That is not a given, however, and there is the ever-present threat of off-field knuckleheadery from Leshoure.

Posted: 9/19/2012 12:03am et

Updating a previous report, and refuting what offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said Tuesday, Sept. 18, head coach Jim Schwartz said RB Mikel Leshoure isn't necessarily a certainty to play against the Tennessee Titans. 'I don't know if it's a given, but he's on his way,' Schwartz said. 'He did a good job of staying with it. He was suspended (so) he wasn't allowed to be at our games or our practices, but he could still work out in our facility and go to team meetings, stuff like that. So we saw him around last week. He's worked really hard to be ready when his number's called. We've been waiting a long time to call his number, so we know he'll be ready.'

Huddle Up: Leshoure isn't dealing with an injury, so expect him to get some touches Sunday. As for the RB being "heavily involved in the game plan," as Linehan talked about earlier Tuesday, that seems to be a little far-fetched with Leshoure having been unable to practice with the team since the preseason. Fantasy wise, it's best to keep Leshoure on your bench this week and see how his debut plays out In Nashville.

Posted: 9/18/2012 6:57pm et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure, who will be coming off his two-game suspension in Week 3, will be "heavily" involved in the game plan against the Tennessee Titans, according to offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. 'We'll see how much he's ready to go in this game, but he'll certainly be involved heavily in the game plan and we'll go from there,' Linehan said. 'We've always felt like he was going to be a big boost for us once he came back in the lineup.'

Huddle Up: It certainly would stand to reason that the Lions will want to see what they have in Leshoure, their 2011 second-round pick who has yet to log a regular-season NFL carry, but "heavily involved in the game plan" is music to a fantasy GM's ears, particularly when it involves a RB. Make a claim for Leshoure if he's somehow still on waivers in your league, but if he's already on your roster, it's likely best to leave him on your bench wait and see how Sunday goes unless you're scraping the bottom of the barrel at the position.

Posted: 9/18/2012 12:20am et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure had his two-game suspension by the NFL officially lifted Monday, Sept. 17. The team has a roster exemption that expires Wednesday, Sept. 19, or once he is activated from the reserve/suspended list.

Huddle Up: While Leshoure has yet to log a regular-season carry, he should be on any fantasy owner's radar who needs RB help or depth, provided he's still available. Kevin Smith has been a solid performer, but Leshoure will get his share of carries as the Lions see what they have in the second-year back.

Posted: 9/13/2012 6:58pm et

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said the team will give RB Mikel Leshoure carries Week 3 after he completes his two-game suspension. Linehan said he hopes Leshoure will be able to build on what he did during the preseason. Linehan said he has not thought about how he will split carries between Leshoure and RB Kevin Smith.

Huddle Up: Smith had a productive opener, but his history of fragility has fantasy owners and the Lions wary. Enter Leshoure, whose rookie campaign a year ago was wiped out by a torn Achilles', and then came the NFL-imposed disciplinary ban to start this year. Expect him to cut into Smith's time in gradual increments as he gets up to regular-season speed.

Posted: 8/15/2012 11:27am et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure returned to practice Wednesday, Aug. 15.

Huddle Up: It's news any time a Lions back makes it to practice. Still no Jahvid Best, and Leshoure has been suspended to start the season so Kevin Smith is still the back to have in Detroit. If Leshoure can stay healthy, however, he's worth a stash at the bottom of your roster.

Posted: 8/9/2012 5:35pm et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure (hamstring) said he hopes to return to practice at some point next week. 'I'm starting to run now. You never know how these days go, but I hope to get back on the field next week,' Leshoure said.

Huddle Up: Leshoure is suspended for the first two games of the regular season but he'll be sorely needed if/when Jahvid Best is shut down. Kevin Smith can't handle 20+ touches per game.

Posted: 8/7/2012 2:35pm et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure (hamstring) is getting closer to returning to action but remains day to day, according to head coach Jim Schwartz. Leshoure is running as part of his rehab program.

Huddle Up: Leshoure has to be champing at the bit after missing all 2011 with a torn Achilles'. In light of that, it's no surprise that the hamstring issue has cropped up early in camp as the RB works himself back into game shape. Regardless, Leshoure will miss the first 2 games of the regular season with a disciplinary suspension. After that, though, he has the potential to earn the Lions' starting gig and put up fantasy points.

Posted: 8/2/2012 7:15pm et

Detroit Lions RBs Jahvid Best (concussion) and Mikel Leshoure (hamstring), CB Chris Greenwood (abdomen) and FS Louis Delmas (knee) did not participate in practice Thursday, Aug. 2.

Huddle Up: The Lions' backfield is muddled behind QB Matthew Stafford, and this bears watching on an otherwise potent unit. Best's concussion history, which limited him to 6 games a year ago and still is causing lingering symptoms, is cause for serious concern in camp. Leshoure, meanhile, missed all of his rookie season with a torn Achilles' and is suspended for the first two games of the regular season. The Lions and fantasy owners are just looking for some much-needed clarity.

Posted: 7/28/2012 2:10pm et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure (hamstring) suffered a hamstring injury during practice Saturday, July 28. He is considered day-to-day at this point.

Huddle Up: Detroit Lions running backs... You just have to laugh.

Posted: 7/28/2012 1:28am et

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure (knee) was fast and able to make cuts in practice Friday, July 27. He was working with the second team, and he did not show any ill-effects of last season's Achilles' injury.

Huddle Up: Several reporters have mentioned that Leshoure looked good. Even Coach Schwartz chimed in. "He was making cuts as they appeared," Schwartz said. "He was a running back. He wasn’t doing rehab. He wasn’t doing foot patterns. He wasn’t controlling the action. He was reacting to defenders. That’s an important step."

Posted: 6/13/2012 8:39pm et

The NFL is expected to suspend Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure two games for his two marijuana-related incidents this offseason. He is also expected to be fined two additional game checks as part of the punishment.

Huddle Up: That means Leshoure's pro debut will come in Week 3 of his second NFL season, provided he doesn't get busted again. Leshoure was the Lions' 2011 second-round pick but missed the season with a torn Achilles' tendon.