Fantasy championships are won by finding value later in drafts while simultaneously avoiding busts early on. Identifying players that can break out is essential when building a championship-caliber fantasy team. One player stands out as a talent who could not only contribute to a championship, but could outright win one a fantasy league in 2025: De’Von Achane.
Finishing last year as the RB6, Achane built off of his exciting rookie campaign in style. Many may be pondering if the running back has reached the mountain top, wondering if he can go another year unscathed considering his small stature (5’9”, 188 lbs). While this factor is one to rightfully consider, many are choosing to ignore it.
When Tua Tagovailoa went out with another scary head injury last season, Achane saw an immediate plummet in his production. He went from averaging 22.5 fantasy points per game to a measly 8.7 with Tua on the injured reserve.
Commanding 25.4% of the target share when Tua was under center, The Miami Dolphins back-field specialist represents the risky pick that could manufacture an all-time season at a moments notice. An undeniably twitchy and explosive talent, he passes the eye test with ease. The kind of talent who’s one play away from winning someone a week.
In PPR leagues, Achane has a built-in failsafe, ensuring a solid floor when healthy. Hauling in 78 of his 87 targets last year, he has solidified himself as one of the league’s best when it comes to catching passes out of the backfield. After finishing as the second most targeted running back in 2024, the Dolphin shows no signs of slowing down. It wouldn’t be foolish for one to think he could duplicate this number in this year’s campaign.
His size is a true outlier in comparison to that of his peers. It’s impressive to see the running back stay healthy through a 17-game season when considering his workload.
The health of Tagovailoa is of the greatest concern for backs success. Last year’s instantaneous drop off shows us that he’s not the same player without the franchise quarterback running the show. The additions of quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers add a much needed layer of insurance, but many persist in fearing the disappearance of quality quarterback play Achane needs to succeed.
Another reason for concern is the apparent downfall of the once hyper-productive offense. After an explosive first season as Head Coach, Mike McDaniels offense appeared to struggle in 2024. Many analysts suggest the offensive guru may be running out of surprises for opposing defenses. While there may be some truth to this notion, McDaniels has proven himself to be a mastermind when it comes to finding new and creative ways of getting into the end-zone. If one was looking for a man to fix their offensive struggles, McDaniels would be one of the first names nominated across the league.
Devon Achane serves as a true boom or bust asset in 2025. Currently going in the middle of the second round, the back has shown us he has overall RB1 upside. If the back and Tua Tagovailoa can manage to stay healthy, one could expect the duo to flourish as league winners in 2025.
*The statistics used in this article are based on the half-PPR format provided by fantasypros.
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