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The Detroit Lions had yet another disappointing season in 2018, in Matt Patricia's first season as head coach. One of the few bright spots on the team was Kenny Golladay.
Kenny Golladay flashed his potential in the offense by catching 19 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns in the first three weeks of the season. Detroit knew it had something special in Golladay.
As a result, the Lions saw Golden Tate as someone they could trade midway through the season. Golladay was giving them more production.
After Tate was traded in Week 7, Golladay continued to be a bright spot in a stagnant offense. Golladay was able to haul in 40 receptions, 586 yards, and two touchdowns in his last eight games.
Coming into 2019, higher expectations surround Kenny Golladay as he enters Year 3 in the NFL. This will be the first offseason in which Golladay spends time as the main target in the offense.
After an impressive 2018 campaign, what should we expect to see from the Lions' talented receiver? Here are three numbers to target for Kenny Golladay in 2019.
3. 8 Touchdowns
One of the benefits of being 6-foot-4 is that Golladay is able to use his big frame to bring in tough catches over defenders. That makes him a reliable target in the red zone for Matthew Stafford and the Lions.
Last season, it seemed Golladay was going to come close to reaching double-digit touchdowns. In the first three weeks, he caught three of them, but his touchdown production spiraled downward in the back half of the season.
Golladay ended the year with just five touchdowns, a number that will likely rise in 2019. It's tough to say if the Lions' offense will be much improved with Darrell Bevell calling plays. For now, Golladay will likely reach eight touchdowns in 2019, with the potential of cracking double digits.
2. 90 Receptions
Golladay is entering his third season in the NFL, but this will be the first one in which he is expected to be the focal point of the aerial attack. In 2018, Golladay had a career-high mark in receptions with 70.
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Stafford and Golladay are continuing to build chemistry on the field, learning each other's tendencies. People don't realize that it often takes time for a receiver and quarterback to get on the same page.
As both of them develop their chemistry, Golladay's production will likely improve. That includes bringing in more receptions. How much of an improvement should we expect?
Last season, Golladay was targeted 119 times and he caught 70 of those. This year, expect him to garner 130-135 targets, which could equate to nearly 90 receptions.
1. 16 Yards Per Reception
If one thing is certain for the Lions' young wideout, it's that at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, he can stretch the field with ease. In his two seasons in the NFL, Golladay has been able to average 15.7 yards per reception.
Even in college, Golladay was able to make big plays downfield for Northern Illinois, averaging 14.3 yards per reception. With a quarterback like Stafford who loves chucking the ball deep, Golladay should continue to get opportunities for big plays.
His career average for yards per catch is 15.7, but he will make that number improve in 2019. The Lions' receiver will total 16 yards per reception, which would be the second-most in his career. Golladay's career-high number in that category is 17 yards per reception.
If the Lions want to quickly forget about their 2018 campaign, Golladay is going to have to help the offense thrive through the air.
