Fantasy Football Rankings: 5 Big-name running backs to avoid at all costs

4. Jay Ajayi, Philadelphia Eagles

Current ADP: 54.7

2017 Average Points Per Game: 9

Realistically, Jay Ajayi is a better overall running back than Hyde is. And yet, despite his wealth of talent, I find it hard to imagine the Philadelphia Eagles’ lead runner not suffering due to there being too many mouths to feed in the City of Brotherly Love.

First, you’ve got Carson Wentz and the Philly passing game. Just look at this list of playmakers: Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, Zach Ertz, Mack Hollins, Mike Wallace. The Eagles will absolutely be throwing early and often in 2018 with that abundance of talent.

Then, you have to consider the Eagles’ crowded backfield. Behind Ajayi, players like Darren Sproles, Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood and Donnel Pemphrey could all warrant touches this season. Finding a way to keep all of those running backs well fed is going to be a challenge all on its own. So how do the Eagles help Ajayi stay relevant in fantasy?

It’s simple: they don’t.

Last year, Ajayi managed only 499 offensive yards and two touchdowns during his seven regular-season appearances in Philadelphia. It’s not bad production, but it’s certainly not eagerly-watching-the-draft-board-hoping-he-falls type of production. And again, with so many mouths to feed, I can’t imagine those numbers improving too much.

Ajayi may be one of the best young backs in the league, but there’s no way the Eagles can feature him enough to make him worth a second- or third-round pick.