De’Von Achane Is Being Slept On — But Not by Vegas

If you’re relying on ESPN fantasy football rankings or Yahoo fantasy football projections to draft De’Von Achane this year, you’re about to get burned — not because he’s a bad player, but because you’re looking at the wrong numbers.

Achane is one of the most explosive backs in the NFL, and fantasy analysts know it. But our Vegas-backed fantasy football rankings show just how undervalued he is by mainstream fantasy platforms.

According to ESPN, Achane is the 12th-ranked player overall, with a projection of:

• 1,000 rushing yards
• 559 receiving yards
• 74 receptions
• 9 total touchdowns
• 306.08 projected fantasy points

Looks great on paper, right?

But there’s a problem. The sportsbooks — the ones shaping billions of dollars in NFL fantasy betting markets — don’t agree. Not even close.

Vegas Projection for De’Von Achane

Here’s how Achane stacks up in our 2025 fantasy football cheat sheet, which pulls from real sportsbook data, not media narratives:

• Rushing yards: 875.5
• Receiving yards: 512.3
• Receptions: 70.7
• Total touchdowns: 10.7 (combined rush + receiving)
• Total projected fantasy points: 274.0
• Overall projected rank: RB6, 6th overall

That’s a 32-point discrepancy between ESPN fantasy projections and the Vegas consensus. And that gap could be the difference between making the playoffs and finishing outside the top six in your league.

Why the Gap Exists

Platforms like ESPN Fantasy, NFL.com fantasy football, and CBS Sports Fantasy often inflate expectations based on last year’s stats, volume projections, or team hype.

But our Vegas fantasy football model bakes in:

• Injury risk (Achane is projected to miss 3.4 games — which ESPN ignores)
• Playoff schedule strength (his path is average, not elite)
• Betting market consensus on yards, touchdowns, and receptions

Achane is flagged with a high injury risk, and sportsbooks have adjusted accordingly. This isn’t about talent — it’s about availability and efficiency over a full season.

ESPN vs Vegas: Who’s Right?

If you’re using the Ultimate Draft Kit, a fantasy football draft guide, or doing your 15th mock draft, your goal is the same — draft players who will outscore their ADP.

Achane is currently going in the late first or early second round in most ESPN fantasy football mock drafts. But if he misses even 2–3 games (as projected by our model), he becomes a risky top-10 pick — especially in best ball fantasy or DFS fantasy football where consistency is king.

The Bottom Line

De’Von Achane is a dynamic weapon — and he should absolutely be on your radar. But if you draft him based solely on Yahoo fantasy football or ESPN fantasy football rankings, you’re likely overpaying by an entire round.

Want to stop drafting off outdated projections and start using Vegas-backed fantasy football rankings that actually win leagues?