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Jackson Sparks' fantasy football rookie analysis for running back Devon Achane. Is this NFL rookie RB a 2023 fantasy football draft sleeper?
Former Texas A&M running back Devon Achane was the No. 55 overall player and No. 1 all-purpose running back in the 2020 recruiting cycle out of high school (27 Sports). The four-star speedster lived up to expectations – but he didn't necessarily make an immediate impact.
Achane eventually became the lead horse for the Aggies in Jimbo Fisher's offense and played well enough to become a third-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. Now, it's time to recap his career and dive into his fantasy football prospects.
What did Achane accomplish during his collegiate career and what is his fantasy football outlook with the Miami Dolphins as a rookie and beyond? Let's dive into his rookie profile!
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Devon Achane NFL Rookie Profile
Team: Miami Dolphins
College: Texas A&M
Height: 5'8"
Weight 188
Age: 21 (10/13/2001)
Arm Length: 29"
Hand Size: 8 1/2"
2022 NFL Draft: Round 3, Pick: 21
2020 Limited Freshman Workload
As a true freshman, Achane played sparingly, but he was electric on the field. He rushed 43 times for 364 yards (8.5 YPC) and four touchdowns and caught five passes for 97 yards and another touchdown during a COVID-shortened 2020 season. In A&M's bowl game against North Carolina, he saw his most significant workload, turning 16 touches into 164 yards and two touchdowns.
His overall counting stats on the year were nothing to get overly excited about, but it was clear he had plenty of juice and was poised to be a star in the SEC moving forward.
2021 Sophomore Upside Flash
2021 saw Achane share the backfield with Chargers running back Isaiah Spiller. It was obvious he was the more efficient and explosive runner of the duo, posting 910 rushing yards on 130 carries (7.0 YPC) and scoring nine rushing touchdowns to go along with 24 receptions for 261 yards and a receiving touchdown.
| Player | Attempts | Rush Yds | YPC | Rec. | Rec. Yds | YPR | Total TDs |
| Isaiah Spiller | 179 | 1,011 | 5.6 | 25 | 189 | 5.9 | 7 |
| Devon Achane | 130 | 910 | 7.0 | 24 | 261 | 7.6 | 10 |
Achane saw 49 fewer carries and one fewer reception but scored three more touchdowns and averaged 1.4 more yards per carry and 1.7 more yards per reception.
The discrepancy led many Texas A&M fans, NFL scouts, and fantasy football analysts to believe Achane was clearly the better running back, which likely was a factor in Spiller falling to the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Either way, Spiller being gone paved the way for Achane to be the workhorse running back for the Aggies in 2022.
2022 Junior Year Smash
Achane played in 10 games as a junior, rushing 196 times for 1,102 yards and eight rushing scores. He again upped his reception total, securing 36 passes for 196 yards and three receiving scores. The Aggies' offense was downright putrid and finished only ahead of Kentucky and Vanderbilt in total offense last season in the SEC. That said, his raw stats were even more impressive in context.
| Opponent | Attempts | Rush Yds | YPC | Rush TDs | Rec. | Rec. Yds | Rec. TDs |
| Sam Houston St. | 18 | 42 | 2.3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
| Appalachian St. | 10 | 66 | 6.6 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Miami | 18 | 88 | 4.9 | 0 | 4 | 42 | 1 |
| Arkansas | 19 | 159 | 8.4 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 0 |
| Miss St. | 16 | 111 | 6.9 | 0 | 6 | 21 | 0 |
| Alabama | 16 | 62 | 3.9 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| South Carolina | 20 | 99 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 57 | 0 |
| Ole Miss | 25 | 138 | 5.5 | 0 | 7 | 41 | 1 |
| Florida | 16 | 122 | 7.6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| LSU | 38 | 215 | 5.7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 198 | 1,102 | 5.6 | 8 | 36 | 196 | 3 |
Achane handling 234 touches – including a 38-touch game – and staying relatively healthy was a good sign considering his sub-190 pound frame. That was certainly a question mark during the pre-draft process.
His 65 collegiate receptions were also a boost to his stock considering his size, as a player that small needs to be able to operate in the passing attack.
Devon Achane Draft Stock Movement
Achane was on the bubble of a day-two and day-three prospect, but after he ran a 4.32 at the 2023 NFL Combine, causing many to believe that he wouldn't make it out of the third round.
The former track athlete ran the fastest 40-time among all running backs in the class, so at least if he was going to be small, he would make up for it with speed. Ultimately, the First-team All-SEC runner landed in Mike McDaniel's Miami offense with the No. 84 overall pick.
Devon Achane Fantasy Football Outlook
Achane has reportedly already gotten up to 192 pounds since being drafted in the third round. While four pounds may not seem like a big deal, every bit could help his chances to gain a significant workload in his rookie season. "I always knew that I could gain weight," said Achane. "I just didn't have the full offseason to gain weight because obviously, I was doing track. This is my first year not doing track, so I actually had the whole offseason to work out and be in football shape. So it kind of helped me with that." That said, he could pack on a few more pounds before his career begins.
He will enter training camp with a chance to carve out a role in a committee with Jeff Wilson Jr. and Raheem Mostert – who both had solid seasons with the team last year. Ultimately, Achane could be one of the league's most efficient runners in his rookie season. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are headaches for opposing defenses, setting up for light boxes and wide open lanes in McDaniel's wide zone scheme. Achane could also be the primary passing back as his receiving profile is superior to Wilson's and Mostert's.
It's not a good idea to expect workhorse usage from Achane, but as long as he gets a fair shake in 2023, he could pay off as a fantasy asset at his RB36 price tag according to Best Ball ADP. If he breaks off a handful of touchdown runs as a rookie, he'll enter Best Ball lineups a few times – which is all you hope for at that range of running backs in drafts. In traditional start 'em, sit 'em leagues, he may have a tough time cracking lineups. That said, if either Wilson or Mostert have to miss time – or both are absent from the offense – Achane could have RB1 upside on a weekly basis. Either way, he should beat out the veteran running backs at some point in the season and at least have the largest workload of the three.
In 2023 dynasty rookie drafts, Achane is going in the late first-round (single-QB formats). Given his receiving upside and explosive nature, that's an appropriate spot for him. If he slips to the second round of those drafts, he's a tremendous value.
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