Kenyan Drake is looking like a shakier fantasy football pick every day. Now his foot is in a walking boot, with some question if he’ll be ready on opening day.
Drake won’t play in this week’s preseason game against the Bucs. He says he’s hopeful he’ll be ready for the regular season. He called the injury, “nothing crazy” in an interview with ESPN.
Heading into training camp, many were expecting Drake to get a chance to be a full-time back. When the Dolphins featured him for the final five games of the 2017 season, he averaged 89 rushing and 30 receiving yards, with 2 TDs. He was underused the last three years under Adam Gase.
But the new coaching staff seems to prefer using him as part of a one-two punch. Kalen Ballage has also gotten lots of work with the first-unit offense in drills. Ballage is a bigger, more rugged back.
Both backs should struggle to get running room at times this year. Miami has perhaps the league’s worst offensive line – it’s spending half as much on that position group as any other team.
With Drake, you’re getting great receiving production, and you’re getting big-play ability. He’s the only running back in the league who’s scored on a touchdown run of 45-plus yards in each of the last three years. He scored on a kickoff return as a rookie. Last year he scored on a 54-yard run against the Lions. In a game against New England last year, Drake took a lateral on a pass play and ran 69 yards for a game-winning touchdown on the final play, with Rob Gronkowski on the ground after unsuccessfully diving at his feet.
Over the last three years, 54 running backs have scored at least 10 touchdowns. Drake’s touchdowns have come from an average of 32 yards – 8 more than anybody else in that group.
| AVERAGE DISTANCE OF TOUCHDOWNS (last 3 yr) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | TD | Avg |
| Kenyan Drake, Mia. | 16 | 31.6 |
| Saquon Barkley, NYG | 15 | 24.4 |
| Nick Chubb, Cle. | 10 | 23.4 |
| Bilal Powell, NYJ | 11 | 20.8 |
| Adrian Peterson, 4 tms | 10 | 20.4 |
| Isaiah Crowell, Clev.-NYJ | 15 | 19.6 |
| Derrick Henry, Ten. | 23 | 19.6 |
| Tarik Cohen, Chi. | 12 | 19.5 |
| Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 25 | 18.6 |
| Phillip Lindsay, Den. | 10 | 17.8 |
| Austin Ekeler, LAC | 11 | 17.6 |
| Chris Thompson, Was. | 12 | 17.5 |
| Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 34 | 16.3 |
| Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 32 | 16.2 |
| Dion Lewis, N.E.-Ten. | 12 | 15.8 |
| Aaron Jones, G.B. | 13 | 15.2 |
| LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 25 | 14.7 |
| Jay Ajayi, Mia.-Phi. | 13 | 14.1 |
| Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 28 | 13.9 |
| Duke Johnson, Cle. | 11 | 13.2 |
| Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 10 | 13.1 |
| Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 16 | 12.5 |
| Mark Ingram, N.O. | 29 | 11.9 |
| Marshawn Lynch, Oak. | 10 | 11.6 |
| DeMarco Murray, Tenn. | 19 | 11.1 |
| Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 21 | 10.8 |
| Melvin Gordon, LAC | 38 | 10.5 |
| James White, N.E. | 20 | 10.4 |
| Todd Gurley, LAR | 46 | 10.1 |
| C.J. Anderson, 4 tms | 12 | 9.5 |
| Marlon Mack, Ind. | 14 | 9.1 |
| Lamar Miller, Hou. | 18 | 8.8 |
| Theo Riddick, Det. | 11 | 8.5 |
| Matt Forte, NYJ | 11 | 8.5 |
| Frank Gore, Ind.-Mia. | 13 | 8.2 |
| David Johnson, Ariz. | 30 | 8.0 |
| Alex Collins, Sea.-Bal. | 15 | 7.7 |
| Rex Burkhead, Cin.-N.E. | 11 | 7.5 |
| Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 20 | 7.3 |
| Latavius Murray, Oak.-Mn. | 26 | 7.2 |
| Jordan Howard, Chi. | 25 | 6.8 |
| Peyton Barber, T.B. | 10 | 6.5 |
| LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 20 | 6.5 |
| Mike Gillislee, 3 tms | 14 | 6.1 |
| LeGarrette Blount, 3 tms | 26 | 6.1 |
| James Conner, Pitt. | 13 | 5.9 |
| Joe Mixon, Cin. | 13 | 5.8 |
| Jonathan Stewart, Car.-NYG | 16 | 5.6 |
| Damien Williams, Mia.-K.C. | 13 | 5.5 |
| Javorius Allen, Balt. | 11 | 5.3 |
| Robert Kelley, Wash. | 10 | 5.0 |
| Carlos Hyde, 3 tms | 22 | 4.5 |
| Chris Carson, Sea. | 10 | 3.9 |
| Doug Martin, T.B.-Oak. | 10 | 3.4 |
—Ian Allan