Week 9 vs. Oakland Raiders
So long, Jay Ajayi. Insert Kenyan Drake. However, Drake's volume does not look like it will be the same as Ajayi's based on offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen's comments this week. This will be a committee. It is a good matchup against a 20th-ranked Raiders defense in our aFPA vs. RB rankings but a committee means you should expect low-end RB2 numbers from Drake, as the offensive line is still horrendous in Miami.
Week 4 vs. New Orleans Saints (game in London)
Jay Ajayi is the bell cow in this offense. Even against the Saints, no other Dolphins RBs are starting lineup considerations.
Wild Card Round at Pittsburgh
No Dolphins RB other than Jay Ajayi is worth a start on Wild Card Weekend. Kenyan Drake is included in that.
Week 17 vs. New England
The Dolphins have already locked up a playoff spot, but they said they are playing to win Week 17 against the Patriots. The problem is they are still playing the Patriots. One could envision the Dolphins giving Drake more work to keep Ajayi fresh for the postseason, but this has to be looked at as a long shot Week 17 play, at best.
Week 15 at New York Jets
Drake is only a change-of-pace back to Jay Ajayi. He should be nowhere near your fantasy lineups this week.
Week 9 vs. New York Jets
The retirement of Arian Foster is not enough to make Kenyan Drake a fantasy factor, because of the emergence of Jay Ajayi. He should not be in your fantasy lineups.
Week 5 vs. Tennessee
Head Coach Adam Gase said he will do away from the four-man committee this week, but we still don't know what the split will be between Jay Ajayi and Kenyan Drake. Because of that, both are not good options for your starting lineup Week 5 against the Titans.
Week 4 at Cincinnati
In his first start with Arian Foster sidelined, Drake turned 11 touches into 48 yards. Of the Dolphins running back carries in Week 3, Drake only received 41 percent of those. This is a full blown committee. On a short week, Drake should not be on your flex radar for Week 4 on the road against the Bengals.
Week 3 vs. Cleveland
Drake could emerge with Arian Foster out if Jay Ajayi continues to struggle. After Ajayi's fumble last week, Drake carried two times for 12 yards and a touchdown and added two receptions. Don't start him Week 3, but he's worth stashing if you have room.
Fantasy Upside
The Dolphins invested solid draft collateral in the rookie out of Alabama, spending a third round pick on Drake. There will be competition in the backfield entering training camp in Miami, but Drake is already behind Jay Ajayi and Arian Foster. Ajayi is not a proven pass catcher with less than 50 carries in the NFL, and Foster is an extreme injury risk. Under those conditions, it’s not a stretch to see Drake getting touches, but a lot needs to happen first.
Fantasy Downside
One NFC West scout told NFL.com of Drake, "He's a player who you have to have a plan for because he's not an every-down back, and he's too lean to be in around the goal line. I see him as a third down back with special teams qualities and those guys get drafted in the fifth or later." Well then. That doesn’t exactly sound promising considering the Dolphins just signed a polished pass catching RB in Arian Foster. Perhaps Drake is an injury attrition play, but not much more entering training camp.
Bottom Line
Drake was being drafted at the end of drafts before Arian Foster’s signing but will probably go undrafted at this point. He’s not on the 4for4 fantasy radar while Ajayi and Foster are ahead on the depth chart.
