LA Sports Hub
Fansided

Rams News: Comparing big name running backs from 2015 draft

By Kajal Lang

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Todd Gurley (Georgia) poses for a photo with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number 10th overall pick to the St. Louis Rams in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Todd Gurley (Georgia) poses for a photo with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number 10th overall pick to the St. Louis Rams in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 11
Next
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Jay Ajayi (MIA)

2016 Stats:

CAR: 260

RUSH YDS: 1,272
REC: 27
REC YDS: 151
TD: 8

2017 Outlook: Jay Ajayi was one of the biggest surprises of 2016, as he exploded onto the scene with 1,272 rushing yards- the 4th highest among running backs last season. He was one of a select few backs in NFL history to have more 200 rushing yard games than 100 yard games in a season by totaling 3 on the season.

With a strong offensive line and the Dolphin’s head coach, Adam Gase, saying that Ajayi could see 350 carries, it’s not unrealistic that Ajayi could have bigger season than 2016. A 90 carry increase for Ajayi sounds insane but after he was made the lead back in week 6 when he had his first 200 yard game, he averaged about 21 yards per game for the rest of the season. Over 16 games, this means Ajayi would have received about 336 carries with the workload he was given.

If he can maintain this same workload over 16 games, he could easily be one of the most productive running backs in the league. Ajayi had his best games, however, in weeks 5-10 which were the only weeks that Dolphin’s center Mike Pouncey was healthy; with two of Ajayi’s 200 yard games and his 100 yard game occurring in this time span.

Assuming he has a healthy offensive line and an increased workload, Ajayi has the potential to be the best rusher in the league in 2017.

Home/LA Sports