Chicago Bears: Potential replacements for Jordan Howard

Jay Ajayi, Free Agent

I have to be honest, here. I don’t really want any part of Jay Ajayi in Chicago, but he’s an option. Over his four-year career, Ajayi has presented fans and fantasy football owners with all kinds of emotions.

If you were a Miami Dolphins fan in 2016, Ajayi was the next big thing. Having rushed for over 1,200 yards and eight scores, Ajayi breathed new life into the Dolphins franchise. He dazzled fans with a pair of 200-yard rushing performances and, truthfully, looked like he was about to take the league by storm at times.

Ajayi simply hasn’t been as consistent as you’d like to see, though, and much of it is due to his inability to stay healthy. Like Ware, Ajayi has just been hit over and over again with tough injuries. But, when he’s on the field and playing in a timeshare, Ajayi is actually an effective back.

After being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017, Ajayi averaged nearly six yards per carry in his seven games with them. He also averaged over nine yards per reception in the same span. In 2018, Ajayi played in just four games overall after appearing in 29 out of 32 games from 2016-2017.

If Ajayi came in on a veteran minimum deal, I wouldn’t be opposed to the signing. I would just hope the Bears’ medical staff did a strong job evaluating him prior to the deal. If he checked out, then so be it.