The Detroit Lions running back Kerryon Johnson has had a tremendous start to his career in the NFL, and Football Outsiders is backing that up with their statistical analysis.

For the unfamiliar, Football Outsiders is a website based in “Innovative Statistics and Intelligent Analysis” where they break down NFL statistics by applying them situationally. One of their most commonly well-known is DVOA — Defense-adjusted Value Over Average.

DVOA — explained in detail — as it applies to running backs, applies a numerical value to a player, per play, over an average running back in the same game situations. The higher the number, the more valuable a player is above the average NFL running back.

Football Outsiders keeps an updated list of DVOA and after four weeks, Johnson is considered the most valuable runner in the NFL, producing a league-leading 35.5 percent higher than the average NFL running back.

When examining simple rushing yards output with no adjustments, Johnson has 216 yards on the season, which ranks 16th in the NFL, but DVOA illustrates his efficiency as he has been producing against four top-16 run defenses. According to Football Outsiders, the Jets rank 16th in run defense, 49ers rank ninth, Patriots rank 13th, and the Cowboys rank 11th.

LeGarrette Blount — who is splitting snaps and touches almost evenly with Johnson — has a DVOA rank of 37th, producing 37.5 percent below the average NFL running back.

So while coach Patricia has said “it doesn’t matter who’s in the game, whoever’s not in the game” with regards to the position, the variance in production between the two backs tells a different story.