The top 100 highlights
My fourth selection for the Top 100 highlight series from the 70-61 group is
Jay Ajayi
Ajayi began last season as a mid to late round flyer of a draft pick. By mid season he was a definite RB2 with breakout game potential. By season’s end he was statistically a true fantasy RB1. It wasn’t like Ajayi wasn’t on people’s radar during draft time. He showed flashes of what he could become briefly in 2015. Then with Lamar Miller gone in 2016 the door was open for him to become the man. It just took him a little longer to turn the handle and step on through. By the end of the preseason when most Fantasy drafts occur. He really hadn’t performed well enough to give Fantasy team Managers any real idea of what to expect. He finished the season with almost 1300 rushing yards. I don’t think anyone expected that, including the Miami Dolphins. Well you can be certain that nobody will be sleeping on Jay Ajayi this year.
Jay Ajayi finished last season as a legitimate Fantasy RB1. What can we actually expect to get from him this year? Much of the same my friends. Much of the same, and possibly even a little bit better. You can go out and bet the farm that Adam Gase will involve Ajayi even more this year. Every indication is that Ajayi is eager, and ready to become Miami’s bell cow Back. Something there are very few of in today’s NFL. Running Backs thrive in an Adam Gase system. Even average Running Backs put up good numbers. Ajayi’s three 200+ yard games last season are evidence enough that he is way better than average. It took about a quarter of the season before Miami fully involved him last year. That won’t be the case this year. Ryan Tannehill’s further development, and increased level of confidence after making the playoffs last year. That can only help keep the opposing Defence honest, and Ajayi should find plenty of running room. Playing against the Buffalo Bills twice during the Fantasy playoffs has got to have Fantasy Managers just drooling. Keep in mind that two of the three games Ajayi rushed for over 200 yards came against the Bills last year.
I must sound like the president of the Jay Ajayi fan club right about now. To clarify, drafting Ajayi does come with a few concerns. First of all the sample size of actual NFL experience is just too small. Remove the three 200+ yard games from last year’s stats. Ajayi only averaged 54 yards per game, and one touchdown for every three games played. Average that over a 16 game season, and your final stat line would be, 864 yards rushing with 5 touchdowns. That doesn’t sound like an RB1 to me. Now how eager are you itching to draft him?
What I believe is that Jay Ajayi finished what was statistically a very good season last year. In spite of being improperly utilized for most of the season during a transitional year for the team. I don’t think Adam Gase will overlook Ajayi this year, and that the Miami Dolphins will be fully prepared to start the season. If you draft Jay Ajayi as your RB1 you should be fine. If somehow you are able to draft him as your RB2 then obviously you scored a great draft position. Either way you are in good shape if Jay Ajayi is on your Fantasy team.
