Making the Case

• 4-Star Recruit
• True Freshman SEC Producer
• 3-Year Collegiate Producer
• Early-Declare
• Elite Athlete
• Highly-Drafted
• Historic Rookie Season
• Receiving Ability
• Scheme-Fit
• RB Age Curves

De’Von Achane is 100% “worth the risk” & you should be drafting him in 2024.

Let me tell you why.

De’Von Achane has ALWAYS been great.

Achane was a 4-star recruit (96 Prospect Grade) – the only RB’s ranked ahead of him in his class were Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Demarkcus Bowman, & Zach Evans.

Achane had offers from Bama, LSU, Georgia, amongst others – before signing with Texas A&M.

Achane was a true freshman producer at A&M – posting 43/364/4 rushing (8.5 YPC) + 5/97/1 receiving in 8 games.

He was named MVP of the Orange Bowl after rushing for 140 yards & 2 TD’s on 12 carries.

Achane followed it up with 130/910/9 rushing (7.0 YPC) + 24/261/1 receiving as a sophomore.

& 196/1102/8 (5.6 YPC) + 36/196/3 receiving as a junior.

Achane was “above-threshold” as a receiver every season – & “above-threshold” as a rusher each of his final 2 seasons.

Achane was one of PFF’s highest-graded rushers every season – posting 92.3, 91.0, & 89.8 PFF Rushing Grades.

He averaged 5.00+ yards AFTER-CONTACT as a freshman – & 4.00+ yards AFTER-CONTACT as a sophomore.

Achane also had a 40%+ breakaway percentage every season.

Achane also declared-early for the NFL after 3 seasons at A&M.

Early-declares produce RB1 finishes at roughly a 25% clip.

(Chart via @SharpFootball)

Achane – who was a standout track athlete & part of an All-American relay team at A&M – LIT UP the NFL Combine.

His 4.32 40 time was the 4th fastest EVER posted by a RB.

The Dolphins thought highly enough of Achane to spend the 84th overall pick on him (RD3).

Achane lived up to that billing & then some as he produced a HISTORIC rookie season.

Achane became the FIRST RB in NFL HISTORY to average 7.5+ YPC on 100+ carries.

(103/800/8; 7.7 YPC)

No other RB has even topped 6.5+ YPC on 100+ carries before.

It was more than just big plays too.

Via @jagibbs_23

• 85% of his carries gained positive yardage
• 71% of his carries gained 3+ yards (1st in the NFL)
• 52% of his carries gained 5+ yards (1st in the NFL)

Achane had the 3rd highest avoided-tackle rate in the NFL & was 1 of 8 RB’s to force 25+ missed tackles on less than 175 attempts.

Achane also had 27 receptions in what basically amounted to 9 games (a pace nearing 50+ receptions).

He was the ONLY RB (other than Christian McCaffrey) to finish Top-10 in BOTH PFF Rushing Grade AND PFF Receiving Grade.

Achane also scored 11 TD’s in again what was basically 9 games (averaging more than a TD per-game).

Not only is he efficient – but he gets high-value touches too.

You could NOT place him in a more PERFECT scheme/situation.

The Dolphins RB’s LED THE NFL in fantasy points scored by the position – scoring over 450 fantasy points collectively.

Achane led the NFL in BOTH yards BEFORE-contact (4.7) & AFTER-contact (3.1) per-attempt.

His rookie season was the most efficient RB season EVER.

(Via@RyanJ_Heath):

Among rookie RBs drafted RD1-3 who outperformed their weighted opportunity by +2.5 PPG or more:

• 5/5 had a volume increase in YR2
• 4/5 topped 20+ PPG in YR2

YR2 is also considered the “prime” year for RB fantasy production.

It doesn’t hurt that Achane’s main competition (Raheem Mostert) is also way past the traditional “prime” for RB’s.

Achane averaged 17.3 PPG as a rookie & that’s INCLUDING two games where he left early to injury after just 3 & 6 snaps.

Achane averaged more PPG than:

• Bijan Robinson
• Breece Hall
• Jahmyr Gibbs
• Jonathan Taylor
• Saquon Barkley

All of whom are being drafted earlier in both redraft & dynasty.

You may not consider Achane as “durable” – but Breece tore his ACL as a rookie, Gibbs missed time last year, & JT has missed 13 games over the last 2 seasons.

ANY RB can get hurt – but few possess Achane’s upside.

I’m SMASHING in RD3 of redrafts.

Achane is also a better dynasty startup value in RD4 than Bijan Robinson, Breece Hall, & Jahmyr Gibbs in RD2.

Opportunity cost of the RD2 RB’s is elite QB’s like Kyler, Herbert; elite WR’s like AJB, Puka, Garrett Wilson.

Opportunity cost of Achane in RD4 is mid-level QB2’s like Tua, Goff; mid-level WR’s like Devonta Smith, Michael Pittman.

Easy choice.

Chase upside – & play to win.

Draft De’Von Achane in 2024.

All signs point towards an incoming EXPLOSION.