Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel plans to diversify RB De'Von Achane's role and get him the ball in more ways this season. Smart idea. Achane averaged an NFL-record 7.8 yards per carry last year. There's seemingly still meat on the bone in the passing game, though, where Achane averaged just 7.3 yards per catch.
“For him, the more he can understand within the offense, the more ways he can get the ball,” McDaniel said. “He had outstanding ball production. … To find different ways to get people the ball, whether that’s different types of pass routes, whether that’s different types of run schemes that you can get comfortable with, all those things. More ways to be at the point of attack to play within this offense, that’s what this offseason really provides for him.”
Achane has focused on his route-running this offseason and even spent time practicing with the WRs this spring.
“Just me lining up at different positions, as far as like receiver, running routes and stuff,” Achane said. “That’s something that we’re doing different this year, so that’s something that I’ve been doing in the offseason.”
Achane will be fighting off regression in the running game this year. As explosive as he is -- and as awesome as McDaniel's scheme is -- we can't count on Achane averaging 7.8 yards per carry again. Or scoring on 7.8% of his carries.
But he can offset any regression there with:
Achane averaged 10.2 carries and 3.6 targets in 10 healthy games last year. There's room for both numbers to climb, even if he'll never be a high-volume back.
And he's certainly capable of better efficiency as a pass-catcher. That 7.3 yards per catch last year ranked 18th among 46 qualifiers. Only two of Achane's 27 catches went for 20+ yards. He's a good bet for more explosive plays in the passing game this season.
Achane's margin for error is slim at his RB7 best-ball ADP. But he's not a guy we'd be comfortable fading considering his upside in year two.
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