Devon Achane: Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice (2023 Fantasy Football)

The 2023 NFL Draft is in the books, and now it’s time for dynasty rookie drafts. Landing spots and draft capital have been determined, and we’re here with your dynasty rookie draft outlooks. Let’s take a look at what Derek Brown expects of Devon Achane.

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Dynasty Rookie Draft Picks & Predictions: Devon Achane

Devon Achane (Texas A&M)

Texas A&M’s usage of Devon Achane
(2021-2022)

A Gap runs:

29.4% of carries
5.0 ypc
3.29 Yds after contact/att

D Gap runs (around the edge)

29.1% of carries
7.57 ypc
4.6 Yds after contact/att

Make it make sense Texas A&M.

An NFL Team won’t make this mistake. pic.twitter.com/82pxz1jhCG

— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) February 17, 2023

Stats:

2022 (minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 34th
- Breakaway rate: 39th
- PFF elusive rating: 46th
- PFF receiving grade: 77th
- Yards per route run: 97th

2021 (minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 15th
- Breakaway rate: 10th
- PFF elusive rating: 21st
- PFF receiving grade: 13th
- Yards per route run: 14th
Career
- Achane had 40.3% of his runs in 2022 on gap scheme plays. Coincidentally he also had the lowest Yards after contact per attempt of his collegiate career (3.60). He didn’t drop below 4.02 in the two previous seasons, with 77.4% of his runs on zone-designed plays.

Scouting report:

Devon Achane’s compact build allows him to be slippery in close quarters. He sets up his blocks well as a patient runner with the bend to destroy pursuit angles. I’m curious how well he tests in short area agility drills. I was expecting more lateral agility (fluidity) in his game with jump cuts and jitterbug action, but he’s more downhill than I anticipated. This is likely related to his stiff hips.
Achane’s size shows up in a few different areas. His smaller frame isn’t as big of a problem in the second level or with a head of steam built up, but when he is contacted in the backfield, he can be wrapped up easier. He can shed arm tackles when weaving through traffic, but he also goes down on too many shoestring tackles, especially early in runs. He has the lower-half strength to engage pass rushers at times when blocking, but he doesn’t anchor well, and on many snaps, he gets blown out of his cleats.
Achane’s acceleration and big play ability are evident immediately. His usage at Texas A&M was head-scratching. Over his final two collegiate seasons, he was utilized on “A” gap runs on 29.4% of his carries, with 5.0 yards per carry and 3.29 Yards after contact per attempt. While Achane displays good vision on interior runs and he runs hard, this will never be his calling card because of his size. That’s not how any team should utilize him and expect him to be an interior pile pusher. He saw 29.1% of his carries on the edge over the last two years, which results in eye-popping numbers. He had 7.5 yards per carry and 4.6 Yards after contact per attempt. An NFL team that prioritizes using him on outside zone and stretch runs more will reap the benefits of his game-breaking speed.
Achane is also a pass-game weapon. His explosiveness in space is on display here. In 2021, he saw an 18% snap rate in the slot or out wide. That number dropped to 6.7% in 2022. His Yards per route run saw a huge hit dropping from 1.85 to 0.66. Achane could see his pass game usage increase in the NFL with a creative play caller. He has good ball tracking with some nifty over-the-shoulder catches on film. He has the speed and route chops to pull away from linebackers in coverage and after the catch.

Player Comp: LaMicheal James

Dynasty Outlook: The diminutive Achane landed in one of the best possible spots considering his skill set and size. If any coaching tree or organizational philosophy has been willing to toss size concerns to the side, it’s been Kyle Shanahan and his disciples. Mike McDaniel could deploy a three-headed committee, with Achane splitting work with Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson. That’s the risk of drafting Achane, but there’s also hope here. Yes, Mostert and Wilson were retained this offseason on two-year deals, but each deal is essentially a puffed-up one-year deal. This backfield could evolve into a two-way split as early as this season or 2024 if the team keeps all three players on the roster. Achane’s speed and vision will suit Miami’s outside zone scheme well. Achane is a second-round rookie draft pick.