Ameer Abdullah had the holes. He had the space. And for the one of the few times during this 2015 season for the Detroit Lions, he was actually able to run through those holes productively almost every time.

It has been a rocky season for the former Nebraska running back, taken by the Lions in the second round in May. He started off great, with a preseason run that caught the attention of the NFL world and an opening week of the season where he had a nifty cutback for a long touchdown.

Then his season – like the Lions season – went down. He struggled holding onto the ball. He lost carries and snaps. The nadir came at one of the low points of the Lions season – the 45-10 loss to Kansas City in Week 8 that signaled the end of general manager Martin Mayhew and team president Tom Lewand’s time with Detroit.

Abdullah played five snaps that day. He had one carry for 3 yards. That was it, even in a blowout. Done for the day.

Since then, the story said, he has been steadily improving. He has been averaging at least 3 yards per carry in every game since. His rushing yardage has gone from 15 against Green Bay in Week 10 to 44 against Oakland, 63 against Philadelphia on Thanksgiving and then a career-best 67 yards against Green Bay on Thursday. He's someone to keep an eye on in this final month in terms of his fantasy value for next season.

Lions HC Jim Caldwell on if Ameer Abdullah is in the doghouse for fumble problems: "No" ... Said Abdullah's role will change by game.

Related players; Joique Bell, Theo Riddick

Since Joique Bell's return in Week 7, Abdullah has nine touches for 46 yards while Bell has 12 touches for 91 yards. Bell out-touched Abdullah 7-to-1 in Week 8 versus Kansas City. The only relatively safe option in the Detroit backfield is Theo Riddick, who has 17 touches for 95 yards, including nine catches. He's the #22 RB in PPR formats year-to-date.

For the second consecutive week, and fourth time in the first five games, Detroit Lions rookie running back Ameer Abdullah fumbled.

Despite an added emphasis on ball security during practice this week, Abdullah had the ball punched free from his grasp by Chicago Bears linebacker Sam Acho in the third quarter of Detroit's 37-34 overtime win.

Abdullah was able to recover the ball, but only after a four-yard loss on the play. Worse yet, he suffered a stinger when tight end Tim Wright landed hard on the running back's shoulder during the scramble for the loose ball.

The mistake, which led to a Lions punt and landed Abdullah on the sidelines for most of the next two quarters with the stinger, came one week after he fumbled twice during Detroit's blowout loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Abdullah also put the ball on the ground in the season opener against San Diego and had another squirt free just after he was ruled down against the Denver Broncos. With Joique Bell inactive and Zach Zenner also banged up, it left mainly just Theo Riddick at RB.