DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 18: Detroit Lions running back Kerryon Johnson #33 celebrates his touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter at Ford Field on November 18, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

With a shift in offensive philosophy, has running back Kerryon Johnson overtaken Matthew Stafford as the Detroit Lions’ most valuable player?

Less than two years ago, the Detroit Lions most potent offensive weapon was quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Lions fielded the sixth best aerial attack in the NFL in 2017, averaging 261 passing yards a contest and tied for fourth with 29 passing touchdowns.

But there was a shift in offensive philosophy with the hiring of new head coach Matt Patricia last offseason. A new dedication to the run plus some offensive struggles led the Lions’ passing game to drop all he the way to 20th last season, averaging just 224 yards per game and scoring 22 touchdowns.

With the hiring of new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell this offseason, the rushing attack figures to take a more prominent role in the Motor City in 2019. So much so that the Lions’ most valuable player may no longer be Stafford. Instead, one insider believes it’s 2018 second-round selection, running back Kerryon Johnson.

Justin Rogers of The Detroit News recently ranked the Lions’ top 25 players based on value. And Rogers gave Detroit’s second-year runner the top spot over Stafford. Here’s his explanation as to why …

“Gone is the era of three yards and cloud of dust, but the team’s brass has made it clear, both in words and actions, the Lions will be committed to the run. Johnson might not be a traditional bell cow in the backfield, but he’s a star in the making, with the ability to pop off a big gain on any touch. He’ll be the engine that makes Detroit’s offense go.”

Although Johnson was limited to just 10 games last season due to a knee injury, the first-year rusher showed the potential to become the league’s next great running back. Kerryon’s stat-line for his rookie season ended up being 641 total rushing yards along and four total touchdowns. But it was his 5.4 yards per carry average that has the NFL buzzing.

With Bevell as the Lions’ new offensive coordinator, Johnson figures to benefit the most. After all, the former Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks OC helped to make running backs like Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch into future Hall of Famers. The hope is Bevell can begin to do the same with Kerryon in Detroit.

Although the path to success is laid before him, Kerryon Johnson will first need to prove he can be available. One of the reasons the talented runner out of Auburn fell to the 43rd pick in the 2018 NFL Draft is his troubling injury history, one that extends all the way back to high school. If Johnson is truly the Detroit Lions’ most valuable player, the franchise has put their hopes on a running back that has struggled to remain healthy his entire football career.