The Detroit Lions have a big game coming up in Week 8 on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys and the team could be without one of its best players on offense, as Reggie Bush missed practice on Friday, which is never a good sign and fantasy owners may want to look at replacements, including his backup Joique Bell as well as options like Mike James, Zac Stacy, Peyton Hillis and Steven Jackson as well as Le'Veon Bell and Giovani Bernard.
The game on Sunday is an important one for the Lions, as they are coming off of a tough loss to the Cincinnati Bengals from a last second field goal and heading into their bye week they would love to get a win. The schedule gets harder after the bye and at the very least, if Bush can't go, he has a capable backup in Joique Bell and also will have time to heal into the bye. Bush has already missed time this season and while he has been very productive, the Lions also know that Bell can be a very solid stand-in for him, especially in the passing game, where him and Bush are fairly close in skills.
The Lions love to throw to their backs and Bell was fantastic at it last season and with Bush missing practice on Friday and getting his leg taped up according to Pro Football Talk, fantasy owners should at least be prepared for the idea that Bush could miss the game or could be limited in his capacity with the leg issue. Bush has been very productive this season and has rushed for over 400 yards and he also has added a touchdown in just under 100 carries and he also has added over 20 catches for 305 yards and he has already missed on game in Week 3 this season.
Bush had 94 total yards in the game last week on 23 carries and he is one of the leaders in total yards and while the Lions will miss him on Sunday, Bell is capable. Over the past three weeks Bush has had at least three catches in each game while rushing for 50, 78 and 44 yards and that came after his best game, rushing for 139 yards and a score against the Bears in a win.
Bell has been slowed since Bush came back healthy, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been involved, as he has had at least five carries in each of the last four games and he also has added at least four targets in each of the past few weeks. If Bush is limited at all, expect the Lions to use Bell more on third downs and that makes him very valuable in PPR leagues. He had 20 carries in the game Bush missed with four catches and even if Bush plays, he could have a solid say on Sunday afternoon.
Bell has played in three games this season and he is coming into this week after his best matchup, as he rushed for 19 times for 93 yards in his season-best game and those numbers could go higher this week against the Raiders, who have been pretty bad against running backs in the red zone. Bell has 184 yards already and he has also been a factor in the passing game. Zac Stacy and Giovani Bernard are also very good options if Bush can't go and if he is limited, they could come through for fantasy owners.
