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Raiders sign Kenyan Drake: Fantasy football fallout for 2021

We take a look at the fantasy football impact as Kenyan Drake signs with the Las Vegas Raiders ahead of the 2021 NFL Season.

Running back Kenyan Drake #41 of the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Eagles 33-26. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Kenyan Drake turned his career around after a mid-season trade from the Miami Dolphins to the Arizona Cardinals in 2019. The following season and a half had Drake accumulate 362 carries for 1,598 yards (4.4 ypc) and 18 touchdowns, while catching 53-of-66 passes for 308 yards (5.8 ypr) through 23 games. He will now head to Las Vegas via free agency, where he’ll join the starting running back Josh Jacobs.

RB Kenyan Drake signing: Fantasy football impact

Drake’s 2020 on it’s own wasn’t nearly as strong as his eight games the previous year, as his yards per carry took a big hit and he dealt with nagging injuries. He isn’t a game altering presence and shouldn’t be able to pass Jacobs on the depth chart. But Jacobs has dealt with injuries and I expect Jon Gruden wants to keep him fresh with the help of Drake.

This backfield could get messy, but if both players are healthy, we’ll likely see a 65/35 split on rushing touches, while the receiving work is likely going to be spread out to more than just Drake and Josh. It’s a situation without a whole lot of fantasy upside.