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Mikel Leshoure | Running Back

Team: Detroit Lions
Age / DOB:  (23) / 3/30/1990
Ht / Wt:  6'0' / 227
College: Illinois
Contract: view contract details
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Mikel Leshoure faced eight defenders in the box less often than any other running back last season.
Leshoure saw a stacked box just 6.05 percent of the time, yet still averaged a paltry 3.71 YPC. It's a scary number that reaffirms Leshoure's best role is as a short-yardage pounder. That's what he'll be this season as Reggie Bush was signed to jump-start the Lions' running game as the feature back. May 9 - 11:12 AM
Source: Pro Football Focus

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Date:
Mikel Leshoure - RB - Lions

Coach Jim Schwartz said he expects Mikel Leshoure to "make a big jump" in 2013.

"He flashed enough highs that gives us optimism that he can (be explosive), but he also had enough inconsistency to say that he's not there yet," said Schwartz. "We still have high hopes for him." Leshoure's 2012 season was essentially his rookie year after missing all of 2011 with a torn Achilles'. The team had just three runs of 20-plus yards last season, and Leshoure didn't have any of them.
Source: detroitlions.com
Feb 21 - 2:40 PM
Mikel Leshoure - RB - Lions

The Lions haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2004.

That season, Kevin Jones ran for 1,133 yards on a 6-10 team. New RBs coach Curtis Modkins, who oversaw the Bills' potent run game the past three years, believes he can get Detroit's out of the dumps. "(OC Scott Linehan) wants people to have to defend everything," Modkins said. "Whether we run it or pass it, I want a defense to have to defend the possibility of both and be afraid of both." The Lions have a pair of serviceable backs in Mikel Leshoure and Joique Bell, but have prioritized more of a home-run hitter in the draft or free agency.
Source: detroitlions.com
Feb 12 - 10:52 PM
Mikel Leshoure - RB - Lions

Mikel Leshoure rushed 15 times for 57 yards in Detroit's Week 17 loss to the Bears, adding three catches for an additional 20 yards.

It was a fitting end to the former second-round pick's first healthy NFL season. Although it wouldn't be wise to be too harsh on a player coming back from an explosion-sapping Achilles' injury, Leshoure proved to be little more than a grinding plodder in 2012. He'll finish with just 798 yards rushing on 215 carries (3.7 yards per carry), and only 214 receiving yards (15.3 per game). If not for his monopoly on goal-line touches — which resulted in nine rushing scores — Leshoure would have gone down as a mega-bust for fantasy purposes. He won't be a player you'll want to rely on as an RB2 in 2013.
Sun, Dec 30, 2012 04:40:00 PM
Mikel Leshoure - RB - Lions

Mikel Leshoure's longest run this season is 16 yards.

Leshoure has sustained fantasy value by rushing for nine touchdowns in 13 games, but he's shown very little burst. The power back is managing a mere 3.70 YPC on his 200 carries compared to a 5.10 YPC mark for backup Joique Bell. The Lions have turned this backfield into a timeshare of late, with Bell netting 12.2 touches per game over the last four weeks.
Related: Joique Bell
Source: Detroit News
Wed, Dec 26, 2012 10:51:00 AM
Mikel Leshoure - RB - Lions

Mikel Leshoure rushed 15 times for 46 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's loss to the Falcons.

He added three catches for 20 yards. Leshoure fumbled after a Calvin Johnson 49-yard catch-and-run early in the first quarter, but was able to get in the end zone on a goal-line carry to put the Lions within a one-score game. He averaged just 3.1 yards-per-carry and ceded all passing-down snaps to Joique Bell. Leshoure hasn't topped 57 yards on the ground in five weeks and will be just a flex option for Week 17 against the Bears.
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 12:19:00 AM
Mikel Leshoure - RB - Lions

Although he remained limited in Friday's practice, Mikel Leshoure (calf) is officially probable for Saturday's game against the Falcons.

Leshoure will be ready to roll against the Falcons, and proved in Week 15 he remains locked-in as the Lions' goal-line back. He's the No. 21 runner in Rotoworld's Week 16 ranks.
Fri, Dec 21, 2012 06:17:00 PM
Mikel Leshoure - RB - Lions

Mikel Leshoure (calf) remained limited in Thursday's practice.

Leshoure rarely gets in full practices these days, but will be ready to go for Saturday night's tilt with the Falcons. He's the No. 21 back in Rotoworld's Week 16 ranks.
Source: Tim Twentyman on Twitter
Thu, Dec 20, 2012 04:06:00 PM
Mikel Leshoure - RB - Lions

Mikel Leshoure (calf) was limited in Wednesday's practice.

The Lions have made a habit of limiting Leshoure's practice reps since he made his season debut in Week 3, but he's yet to come close to missing a game. Although back-up Joique Bell has seen a recent uptick in snaps, Leshoure should operate as the Lions' primary chain-mover and goal-line back against the Falcons.
Source: Anwar Richardson on Twitter
Wed, Dec 19, 2012 04:08:00 PM
Mikel Leshoure - RB - Lions

Mikel Leshoure rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in Week 15 versus the Cardinals.

Leshoure added two receptions for a meager four yards on three targets in the passing game. The bruising back returned to his goal-line duties by punching in a one-yard score to open up the game's scoring. No. 2 back Joique Bell played passing downs and generated 37 yards on nine touches. Leshoure hasn't topped 57 yards on the ground in four weeks and is merely just a flex option for Week 16 against the Falcons.
Sun, Dec 16, 2012 07:50:00 PM
Mikel Leshoure - RB - Lions

Mikel Leshoure rushed 14 times for 49 yards in Detroit's Week 14 loss to the Packers.

It was a troubling night for Leshoure, who ceded major playing time to Joique Bell. Bell touched the ball 17 times, rolling up 96 yards. Leshoure got the ball just eight times after Detroit's opening drive. However, the biggest development may have been Bell's second quarter touch from the Packers' six-yard line. Leshoure failed to convert a 3rd-and-1 from the Packers' four on Detroit's opening drive, and never got the ball inside the red zone again. With Bell monopolizing passing-down snaps, Leshoure's fantasy value will be in a world of trouble if he's no longer the Lions' clear-cut goal-line back.
Related: Joique Bell
Mon, Dec 10, 2012 12:12:00 AM
Mikel Leshoure - RB - Lions

Lions OC Scott Linehan reiterated that Joique Bell will take on a bigger role going forward.

"Him rattling off really the three explosive runs that we've had this year certainly gives him more opportunities I think in our offense, not just in the games," Linehan said of Bell. "I think you'll see him playing a little bit more throughout the game." It could be a blow to the value of Mikel Leshoure, whose fantasy production has been propped up by short touchdowns the past five weeks.
Related: Joique Bell
Source: detroitlions.com
Fri, Dec 7, 2012 10:52:00 AM
Mikel Leshoure - RB - Lions

Mikel Leshoure rushed 21 times for 57 yards with a touchdown and added two catches for 16 yards in the Lions' Week 13 loss to the Colts.

Leshoure's touchdown was of the standard variety as he took a handoff from Matthew Stafford at the six-yard line and bounced his way over the line. He now has seven touchdowns on the year and six in his last five games, but the inability to churn up yardage is concerning. Leshoure is averaging a mere 3.76 YPC. He's a RB2 candidate against the Packers next week simply because he's the goal-line back in a high-scoring offense.
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 06:18:00 PM
Mikel Leshoure - RB - Lions

Mikel Leshoure (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Colts, as expected.

Leshoure gave owners an early-week scare when he missed Wednesday's practice, but it turned out to be a mere precaution. Expect his usual 12-15 carries plus goal-line work against a Colts' defense giving up 4.77 yards per carry. DT Corey Williams (knee) is also active, but he'll come off the bench behind Nick Fairley. Titus Young is inactive, as expected. Ryan Broyles draws another the start. The rest of the Lions' inactives: QB Kellen Moore, CB Jonte Green, T Jason Fox, T Corey Hilliard, WR Brian Robiskie and DE Ronnell Lewis.
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 11:39:00 AM
Mikel Leshoure - RB - Lions

Mikel Leshoure (ankle) was limited in Friday's practice, but is listed as probable for Week 13 against the Colts.

The Lions are typically liberal with their usage of questionable tags, so the fact that they assigned "probable" to Leshoure indicates that they have no worries about his ankle. Start him as a confident RB2 against Indianapolis.
Fri, Nov 30, 2012 04:16:00 PM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Matthew Stafford
2Shaun Hill
3Kellen Moore
4Alex Carder
RB1Reggie Bush
2Mikel Leshoure
3Joique Bell
4Theo Riddick
5Steven Miller
GLB1Mikel Leshoure
2Reggie Bush
3RB1Reggie Bush
2Joique Bell
FB1Shaun Chapas
WR11Calvin Johnson
2Ryan Broyles
3Mike Thomas
4Brian Robiskie
5Chastin West
WR21Nate Burleson
2Corey Fuller
3Kris Durham
4Lance Long
5Devin Thomas
WR31Ryan Broyles
TE1Brandon Pettigrew
2Tony Scheffler
3Michael Williams
4Dominique Curry
5Nathan Overbay
K1David Akers
2Havard Rugland