Week 1 at New York Jets
Mike Davis was a disappointment in Atlanta last season after a productive stint in Carolina. He averaged just 3.6 yards per carry and lost the starting job to journeyman Cordarrelle Patterson. Davis wound up with 762 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns and now finds himself in Baltimore. There is potential for him to start this weekend, with J.K. Dobbins’ status in question and Gus Edwards out for at least the first four weeks of the season.
If Davis does get the start, there’s upside against a Jets defense that ranked dead last in aFPA to opposing running backs last season. Most likely, it’ll be a committee if J.K. Dobbins isn’t ready to go, but if the team gets ahead early on, Davis could put up fantasy RB2 numbers. It’s super risky, but keep an eye on that injury report if you went zero-RB in your draft and need someone to plug in.
Update: With Dobbins now out, Davis is worth consideration as a flex play in deeper leagues.
Week 17 vs Bills
Like Cordarrelle Patterson, Mike Davis didn't see much work touching the football, seeing just eight of them. He did total 35 yards on those eight touches. He's a low flex, but his ceiling is too low unless you don't have better options. It's definitely quite the risk for the championship round, but crazier things have happened.
Week 16 vs Lions
For the first time since Week 10, Mike Davis was nonexistent in the passing game. Just one target and a goose egg in that department. Still, Davis is typically involved through the air, gets a few carries, and sees about half of the offensive snaps. He's a low flex option against the Lions, who have allowed 15 rushing touchdowns this season. He should get back catching a few passes as well.
Week 15 vs 49ers
Mike Davis saw his first game with at least 10 carries since Week 5 and even had his best-receiving output of the year last week with 42 yards on five receptions. He's seeing his workload increase again over the last few weeks and has worked back into a deep flex option. It's definitely a gamble here in the playoffs and it's not exactly a favorable matchup against the 49ers.
Week 14 vs Panthers
Mike Davis isn't going away quietly. Atlanta still involved him in the offense. He has ten catches on 12 targets over the last three games. He scored just his third touchdown of the season last week against the Buccaneers. So if you're in a very deep league, he might be worth consideration. But it's completely valid if you're in a playoff push, or even beginning your playoff run and think it's too big of a risk.
Week 13 vs Buccaneers
Mike Davis has been settling in at about half of the Falcons' offensive snaps, but still hasn't cracked 50 yards since Week 8. He totaled 63 yards on 16 touches in Week 2 against the Bucs but did have seven catches. He still has some PPR value. coming off two straight games with three catches.
Week 11 vs Patriots
Looks like the Atlanta backfield belongs to Mike Davis again, at least for the time being. Maybe. Cordarrelle Patterson has a sprained ankle and could miss a few weeks. With Patterson out, who knows how Atlanta will attack the run. Davis played just 20 snaps on Sunday and carried the ball just four times for 18 yards. Atlanta has used Davis primarily before, but Wayne Gallman and Qadree Ollison can also handle some of the work. Proceed with caution if you're using Davis.
Week 10 vs Cowboys
The Saints swallowed up Mike Davis last week, as he totaled just 18 yards on 10 touches. As far as playing time is concerned, Davis and Cordarrelle Patterson are easily splitting time. But Patterson has been far and away the more talented player, relegating Davis to borderline flex play each week. That holds true this week against an average-ranked Dallas rush defense.
Week 9 vs Saints
Mike Davis has been splitting time pretty evenly with Cordarrelle Patterson and is just as involved in the passing game. He's just not as explosive or productive as Patterson. But he's still seeing enough opportunity to be considered as a flex option each week. Atlanta isn't going to shy away from Davis anytime soon. Expect another roughly 12 carries and a few targets for Davis against the Saints, though the Saints come into Week 9 with one of the best run defenses in the league, so as it has been every week, temper expectations with Davis if you do decide to start him.
Week 8 vs Panthers
It's not like Mike Davis isn't seeing the field. He continues to play about 60% of snaps. But in Week 7 against Miami, he saw, by far, his fewest number of touches with just four. Was that just a game script? Or are the tides actually turning in Atlanta? Sunday against Carolina could be very telling. For now, we have Davis outside the top 40 RBs, making him a deep flex option if you're hurting a bit at the position.