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Kenyan Drake

Gase sees big things from lead runner

Adam Gase was talking about Kenyan Drake recently. Says he thinks the Dolphins have a guy "who's really looking to bust out." Miami signed Frank Gore and drafted Kalen Ballage, but it also let Damien Williams go. Gore is 35, Ballage a late fourth-round pick. Drake should get the chance to be the main back, and Gase envisions using him in lots of different ways.

“I think we’ve got a guy that can do multiple things," says Gase. "You could put him in the slot if you wanted to. You can use him in empty, you can use him from the backfield."

A year ago, Drake was one of the league's most explosive runners, at least in terms of runs of 40-plus yards. He had 3, while the only back who had more was Bilal Powell (on nearly 50 more attempts). The other backs with 3 such runs all had about twice as many attempts.

RUNS OF 20- AND 40-PLUS YARDS, 2017
PlayerAttYdsAvgLongTD20+40+
Bilal Powell, NYJ1787724.375t594
Jordan Howard, Chi.27611224.153953
Kareem Hunt, K.C.27213274.969t8123
Mark Ingram, N.O.23011244.97212113
Kenyan Drake, Mia.1336444.866t373
Leonard Fournette, Jac.26810403.990t942
Jay Ajayi, Mia.-Phil.2088764.271162
Derrick Henry, Tenn.1767444.275t552
Orleans Darkwa, NYG1717514.475t562
Cam Newton, Car.1397545.469652
Corey Grant, Jac.302488.358232
Cordarrelle Patterson, Oak.131219.347t222
LeSean McCoy, Buff.28711384.048t6121
Melvin Gordon, LAC28411053.987t851
Todd Gurley, LAR27913054.757t1381
C.J. Anderson, Den.24510074.140371
Carlos Hyde, S.F.2409383.961861
Latavius Murray, Minn.2168423.946871
Alex Collins, Balt.2129734.650661
Marshawn Lynch, Oak.2078914.351t751
Isaiah Crowell, Clev.2068534.159251
Jonathan Stewart, Car.1986803.460t611
Devonta Freeman, Atl.1968654.444751
DeMarco Murray, Tenn.1846593.675t631
Dion Lewis, N.E.1808965.044671
LeGarrette Blount, Phil.1737664.468271
Tevin Coleman, Atl.1566284.052561
Jerick McKinnon, Minn.1505703.858t321
Alvin Kamara, N.O.1207286.174t851
Christian McCaffrey, Car.1174353.740211
Alfred Morris, Dall.1155474.870141
Elijah McGuire, NYJ883153.669t111
Tarik Cohen, Chi.873704.346241
Aaron Jones, G.B.814485.546t461
Alfred Blue, Hou.712623.748111
Chris Thompson, Wash.642944.661t211
Alex Smith, K.C.603555.970121
Jalen Richard, Oak.562754.952t121
Rod Smith, Dall.552324.245411
T.J. Yeldon, Jac.492535.258t221
Damien Williams, Mia.461813.969011
Mitchell Trubisky, Chi.412486.046211
Deshaun Watson, Hou.362697.549t211
Cameron Artis-Payne, Car.18955.343111
Trey Edmunds, N.O.9485.341t111

Looking at runs of 20-plus yards, only five had more than Drake. Powell -- maybe he's a little underrated? -- and four guys who had a lot more carries last year.

Drake was the 18th running back selected in the Fantasy Index Experts Draft earlier this week, late in the third round. Some hesitance, apparently, to count on him as a fantasy starter. That's even though Ballage and Gore weren't drafted until 10 or more rounds later.

Will be interesting to see how the Dolphins use these different backs in the preseason, but a lot of potential for Drake to put up big numbers.

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index