Dolphins getting more out of Drake than Ajayi
By Brian Miller
When the Miami Dolphins opted to trade Jay Ajayi fans were not thrilled. That trade is looking more and more like the smarter move.
The Dolphins are getting the same production out of Kenyan Drake as they did with Jay Ajayi. The numbers are close but with the offensive line issues still unresolved, the fact Miami is getting better production from Drake can’t be discounted.
Miami received a 4th round pick in the trade that sent Ajayi to the Eagles before the NFL’s trade deadline. So far that trade is working out in Miami’s favor. Forget about the knee concerns and shelf life of Ajayi, the reality is production, which matters most, is leaning towards the Dolphins.
In the four games since Ajayi joined the Eagles, he has rushed 29 times for 229 yards and one touchdown. He has added five receptions for 28 yards and no scores. In his seven games with the Dolphins, Ajayi rushed for 485 yards, no touchdowns, and added 14 receptions for 67 yards.
Drake on the other hand has rushed for 320 yards with two touchdowns and has 18 receptions for 110 yards with one touchdown. The numbers trend towards Ajayi until you look at the number of reps Drake has taken with the Dolphins.
In the last four games that Drake has been the focus of the Dolphins offensive rushing game, compared to Ajayi’s four games in Philly, Drake has rushed 46 times (he split carries with Damien Williams) for 226 yards and two touchdowns. Three shy of Ajayi. He has nine receptions for 68 yards. Less actual receptions but one more yard and a touchdown.
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The numbers between the two are similar but the key factor is scoring when all things are equal. What this shows is that the Dolphins are getting at least equal production from Drake without the off-field issues that Ajayi has been reported to display.
The Eagles have a solid back-field and Ajayi is splitting carries like Drake. Many pointed to the ability of Ajayi to break free and hit “home-run” plays. So far Drake is doing the same thing. His longest run of the season is 66 yards and another for 42 yards. Ajayi has one long of 46 that resulted in a touchdown in his first game with Philadelphia and added another 71 yard tote but came up short of the end-zone.
As far as carries per game, Ajayi in his four games with the Eagles has carried the ball 8, 7, 5, and 9 times whereas Drake has carried 7, 7, 9, and 23. The 23 is a season high for Drake but on Sunday against Denver he wasn’t splitting carries with Damien Williams.
How this trade works out in the end will be debated long after this season and will also be predicated on what Miami does with the extra 4th round pick they received in the deal. For now, Miami doesn’t appear to be missing Ajayi on the stat sheet.