Editor’s update: Another notable aspect to this trade is that Jay Ajayi now has a second bye week. The Miami Dolphins did not play in Week 1, and now, the Philadelphia Eagles have a bye week in Week 10. If you have Ajayi, that will be of significant importance.
Fantasy football implications of Jay Ajayi trade to Eagles
The Eagles made a big move, adding running back Jay Ajayi. We break down the fantasy implications.
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The NFL trade deadline is upon us, and for the first time in a long time, we are seeing a lot of trading. The latest move features the Miami Dolphins trading Jay Ajayi to the Philadelphia Eagles for a fourth-round pick, according to Armando Salguero.
Fantasy implications: Ajayi joins an Eagles depth chart that includes LeGarrette Blount, Wendell Smallwood, Corey Clement, and Kenjon Barner. Ajayi will move immediately to the top of the depth chart. His fantasy value improves significantly, joining a team with a real quarterback and passing game.
Blount loses his value as the team’s starting running back but is likely going to handle a lot of goal-line and short-yardage work. He retains similar value in touchdown leagues, but he could chew into Ajayi’s overall value slightly as a touchdown vulture. Smallwood and Clement lose most of any value they still had.
In Miami, Damien Williams and Kenyan Drake will compete for the starting role. Through Week 8, Williams had 12 carries and Drake had 10 carries. Williams is in his fourth season, while Drake arrived last year as a third-round pick. Drake is the better long-term prospect for the time being. Short term, we’ll have to wait and see, but I would lean toward Drake.
