4 Mid-Round Fantasy Football Running Backs With Workhorse Potential
Jay Ajayi, Miami Dolphins
| Jay Ajayi | ESPN | Fantasy Pros | My Fantasy League | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Draft Position | 63 | 60 | 75 | 66 |
Jay Ajayi struggled from an efficiency standpoint in 2015, posting a 34.69 percent Success Rate -- which measures the percentage of positive runs, measured by Net Expected Points (NEP), made by a back -- on just 49 rushes. While the most unproven of this group, Ajayi is one of the only ones who has true three-down workhorse potential.
Dolphins Head Coach Adam Gase said he wants his running backs to play all three downs. The Dolphins used their backs in a similar capacity last season, with Lamar Miller mostly dominating the touches. Right now, it would appear that rookie Kenyan Drake has the upper hand when it comes to passing work, but the potential is there for Ajayi to establish himself as a workhorse if he shows well in the passing game during training camp and the pre-season.
While most think of Coach Gase as a quarterback whisperer after what he did for Peyton Manning and Jay Cutler over the past three seasons, he also produced some solid fantasy seasons for his running backs during that time. Below are his running backs' totals during his time as offensive coordinator.
| Team | Rushing Attempts (Rank) | Rushing Yards (Rank) | Rushing TD (Rank) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Broncos | 461 (11) | 1,873 (15) | 16 (7) |
| 2014 Broncos | 443 (12) | 1,785 (15) | 15 (9) |
| 2015 Bears | 469 (6) | 1,851 (11) | 13 (12) |
Gase's offenses also fed his running backs in the passing game, as they averaged 105 targets, 76 catches, and 683 yards during those three seasons.
Another factor that has gone in Ajayi's favor this offseason is Miami making it a point to improve their offensive line. They brought in Kraig Urbik, Jermon Bushrod, and Sam Young in free agency, while also having the uber-talented Laremy Tunsil fall to them with the 13th pick.
We've seen so little from Ajayi thus far in his NFL career that it is hard to recommend spending an early pick on him, especially considering how bad Miami's offense was last year. If his ADP remains near where it is right now, though, his upside is impossible to ignore.
