Jay Ajayi came out of nowhere last season as one of the top running backs in the NFL and helped shoulder the load for the Miami Dolphins’ offense. Ryan Tannehill desperately needs Ajayi to step up again this season and Ajayi is ready to prove that last season wasn’t a fluke. Ajayi has had off-the-field issues in his young career, but seems to have put those problems behind him and is ready to break out again this year.
Overview
Last season with the Dolphins, Ajayi carried the football 260 times for 1,272 yards and eight touchdowns. He stands in at 6-foot-0 and 229 pounds and is one of the strongest backs in the NFL. His ability to pick up yardage after the first hit was obvious last season and makes him a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators to gameplan against.
What to Expect from Ajayi in 2017
Miami is hoping to get back to the playoffs again this season after barely making it in last year. If they want to get back to the postseason, they are going to have to get good production from Ajayi.
Even though the Dolphins didn’t make a move to improve the quarterback position this offseason, they still have to question whether Ryan Tannehill is capable of being a franchise quarterback. He has not shown signs of improvement throughout his career and quite simply hasn’t gotten the job done from a production standpoint. Miami has to view this as a make or break season for Tannehill.
Predicting a player’s statistics is never easy, especially with a guy like Ajayi. That being said, it would be reasonable to expect him to rush for around 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. Miami may utilize him heavier to inflate those numbers even more.
Expect to see Ajayi live up to the hype this season after busting onto the scene last year. There is no denying his star potential and it will be entertaining to see if he truly is a workhorse back.
Do you think Jay Ajayi is one of the best running backs in the NFL? Where would you rank him among active running backs? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!
