Miami Dolphins News

Miami Dolphins Pro Bowler De'Von Achane was the only running back in the league to reach double-digit fantasy points in all of his 2025 starts, and in Friday night's preseason opener, it took him only one drive to reach that mark. Achane touched the ball on half of the team's 14 plays on a 93-yard drive to open the game, and his first five runs went for at least five yards before he was given two goal-line carries, punching in the second for a one-yard touchdown. With Achane's stock falling throughout draft season, tied to an offense of which little is expected in 2026, the impressive scoring drive was as assuring as anything fantasy managers could have asked for. The RB5 in 2025, Achane is currently being drafted as the RB7 and frequently falling out of the first round of 2026 drafts, but Friday's competitive action served as a reminder that he remains one of the most electric players in the league and could still prove to be a league-winner.

Playing with the first-team offense in Friday night's preseason opener, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington led the team with three catches on his three targets. Quarterback Malik Willis and the starters looked sharp, opening the game with a 14-play, 93-yard touchdown drive before the backups took over and inefficiency reigned for the rest of the night. Washington was targeted on the first two plays of the game, a four-yard catch followed by an eight-yard completion to move the sticks and get the drive rolling. Of Willis' four completed passes, only one went away from Washington, a 28-yard deep shot to rookie Caleb Douglas. While the Dolphins offense has been panned for much of the offseason, little more could be asked of the first unit in their limited action, and if Washington's chemistry with his new quarterback can carry into the regular season, he could prove to be an incredible value as RotoBaller's WR86, particularly in PPR leagues.

Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II had seven carries for 39 yards in the 20-7 preseason loss to the Washington Commanders. Gordon split carries and snaps with Jaylen Wright, while starter De'Von Achane handled every snap for the first-team offense. The second-year back outperformed Wright in their first preseason action, averaging 5.6 yards per carry to Wright's 3.7. While Achane is expected to be the Dolphins' workhorse back in 2026, Gordon has a chance to win the backup running back job if he can string together solid production over the rest of the preseason. Currently ranked RB83 in RotoBaller's position rankings, Gordon could be a player to snatch late in deeper leagues.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jalen Tolbert caught just one pass on three targets for 27 yards in the team's 20-7 preseason loss to the Washington Commanders. Tolbert's 27-yard reception came on the second drive, and backup Quinn Ewers targeted him three times on Friday. On the team's 14-play opening drive, Tolbert played zero snaps, while rookie Caleb Douglas and Malik Washington spent most of their time with the first team. Jalen Reagor served as the third receiver in 11 personnel, while Tolbert and Tutu Atwell did not play on that opening drive. With rookie Chris Bell (knee) expected to be a factor this season as well, Tolbert's fantasy value is too low to consider drafting at this time.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Caleb Douglas ran with the first-team offense during Friday's preseason contest against the Washington Commanders. He finished the game with two targets, one catch, and 28 receiving yards. The final box score doesn't nearly tell the full story. Not only did Douglas run his routes with the first-team offense (including quarterback Malik Willis), but he also made a spectacular one-handed catch while being covered. This natural playmaking ability should allow Douglas to climb up the depth chart rather quickly. Ever since being drafted in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Texas Tech, the 22-year-old has been pushing for a larger role. As it stands, he's in the mix to fetch high-value targets in a relatively depleted receiver room that also features Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, and Tutu Atwell, as well as rookies Douglas, Kevin Coleman, and Chris Bell (knee). Douglas is a solid bench option for 2026 fantasy football, and he could emerge as a deep-league flex if the Dolphins offense can put together sustained drives.

In what was his first competitive work against another team since taking over as the starting quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, Malik Willis showcased some of the highs and lows that fantasy managers will likely need to endure for the 2026 season. In a joint practice with the Commanders on Wednesday, Willis found success, as he has through much of camp, when targeting rookie Caleb Douglas, who was recently named a starter and praised before practice by head coach Jeff Hafley. Willis also threw an interception to Mike Sanristil that was returned for a touchdown. Those types of ups and downs are to be expected from a first-time starter on one of the more talent-depleted offenses in the league, but an area highlighted by team writer Travis Wingfield, and the reason Willis is worthy of a late-round selection in single-quarterback drafts, is his rushing upside. Wingfield notes that Willis broke contain several times and scrambled for what would have been lengthy gains in a real game scenario. Willis provides one of the highest rushing floors in the league, and if he can simply keep things on track offensively while avoiding costly mistakes, he has a chance to far surpass his current ADP of QB21.

As of now, Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley plans to play quarterback Malik Willis in the team's preseason opener on Friday against the Washington Commanders, according to Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post. All of the Dolphins' starters should be ready to play, but final decisions will be made after evaluation and discussion. If Willis does start on Friday, he's likely to play only one or two offensive series as he looks to get more comfortable with his new team and offense. The 27-year-old has looked more comfortable running the offense of late in training camp as he gets set to head into his first year in South Beach after impressing the last two years with the Green Bay Packers, albeit in just 11 total games (three starts) when filling in for the injured Jordan Love. The former third-rounder by the Tennessee Titans from Liberty has an intriguing dual-threat skill set, but in an offense lacking viable receiving threats, we're expecting plenty of growing pains and inefficiency in 2026. Fantasy managers shouldn't be targeting Willis, outside of deep two-QB superflex leagues.

The Miami Dolphins released their first unofficial depth chart ahead of their preseason opener against the Commanders on Friday, and one of the standout aspects is the inclusion of rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas among the team's starters. A third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Douglas was the first of five offensive skill position players selected by Miami in April and the first to crack the starting lineup. Head coach Jeff Hafley spoke glowingly of the 22-year-old wide receiver on Wednesday, telling reporters he has "been one of our most consistent guys, and he's showed up every day." With three starting receivers listed, Douglas appears next to Jalen Tolbert and Malik Washington, and he will be a player to watch on Friday as he continues to pick up steam deep into training camp.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis has been impressive during early glimpses of the team's new-look offense, according to Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Specifically, he wrote that Willis "keeps stacking good days ... doesn't repeat mistakes, shows good leadership and strikes the right chords on and off the field." That's an encouraging sign for fantasy managers, especially after plenty of offseason dialogue about the state of the Dolphins with Willis at quarterback and Jeff Hafley as head coach. We're not saying the Dolphins are a playoff lock, nor is Willis a projected Pro Bowler, but there's at least something here for fantasy managers to get excited about. The former Liberty product put his mobility on display last year in Green Bay, and he could crack the top 24 fantasy quarterbacks if he continues to run well while limiting turnovers in Miami. As it stands, he ranks as the QB21 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football draft rankings for 2026.

The Miami Dolphins announced Monday that they placed kicker Zane Gonzalez (undisclosed) on injured reserve, ending his 2026 season. Gonzalez was injured during Saturday's practice, and head coach Jeff Hafley said it was a "week-to-week timeline." Gonzalez spent the 2025 season with the Atlanta Falcons, making 19 of 22 field goals and 17 of 18 extra points in nine games. With Gonzalez on injured reserve, the Dolphins will turn to Riley Patterson to handle kicking duties in 2026. The 26-year-old made 27 of 29 field goals and 34 of 35 extra points last season. While the Dolphins' offense may limit Patterson's fantasy production, he could be worth a shot if he continues to kick accurately this season.

After missing most of training camp due to a hand injury, Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich (hand) practiced at full capacity on Monday. Dulcich returned to the field last Thursday, wearing a non-contact jersey, which he shed on Monday. The former Broncos and Giants tight end is expected to be the team's lead tight end in 2026, following the decision not to re-sign veteran Darren Waller. Dulcich hauled in 26 of 33 targets for 335 yards and one touchdown last season, though he finished strong. While injury and passing-game concerns plague Dulcich's fantasy value in 2026, he could be a full late-round flyer in deeper leagues.

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane is set for a heavy workload in the 2026 season, according to head coach Jeff Hafley. Speaking on the Rich Eisen Show, Hafley said, "[Achane] will never give a head tap. I said, 'Don't worry, buddy.'" "After you touch the ball 40-45 times, I'm going to have to pick you up and carry you back to the locker room." In his third season, Achane had over 1,800 yards and 12 touchdowns on 305 attempts. With strong endorsement from his head coach, Achane may be in line for a larger workload in 2026. With defenses more focused on stopping Achane, he could be more inefficient than he's been over his three-year career. If his volume improves, he could threaten to be the RB1 overall this season.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Caleb Douglas might be ready to make an impact right away. According to C. Isaiah Smalls II, both Douglas and Malik Washington are separating themselves from the pack in Miami. Douglas has a great chance of rising on the depth chart given the lack of viable options in this receiving room. The Dolphins selected Douglas in the third-round of this year's draft out of Texas Tech. The 23-year-old landed in a great spot without much competition, so he might be a Day 1 contributor in Miami. Douglas could be an interesting late-round option, especially in deep leagues.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley suggested that rookie wide receiver Chris Bell (knee) could play in the preseason. When asked about Bell's current status, Hafley said, "He's progressing nicely. He's accelerating, decelerating; he's able to cut. It would be a huge benefit if we can get him some work in the preseason." Bell is currently on the PUP list as he recovers from a torn ACL he suffered in November 2025. While it seemed likely the rookie receiver would miss time in the regular season, Hafley appeared optimistic that he's improving, and fantasy managers could take advantage of a great value if Bell is healthy enough to start the season.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis is finally getting a real shot to start after two years behind Jordan Love. He completed 30 of 35 passes for 422 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in four appearances last season, then added 123 yards and two scores on the ground. The useful part for fantasy is not the 85.7% completion rate. It is the rushing. In his final two appearances, Willis ran 19 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns while also throwing for 409 yards and two scores. That gives him a way to survive weeks when Miami's passing game stalls, and there could be a few of those. Tyreek Hill is gone, Jaylen Waddle was traded, and the receiver room is now built around Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, Tutu Atwell, and three rookies. That is a lot to ask of a quarterback with six career starts. RotoBaller has Willis at QB21, which is a fair place for the gamble. His legs make him a useful QB2 in Superflex leagues. In ordinary one-quarterback formats, he is better viewed as a matchup option than a draft-day plan.

Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich (undisclosed) returned to practice Thursday in a red no-contact jersey, according to C. Isaiah Smalls II. Dulcich had been sidelined by an undisclosed injury, and head coach Jeff Hafley previously said the issue was not considered serious. The 26-year-old caught 26 passes for 335 yards and one touchdown in 10 games last season, finishing third on Miami in receiving yards. His return is a step forward, but the red jersey shows the Dolphins are still easing him back. Dulcich will need to resume full participation before Miami's tight-end pecking order becomes any clearer.

Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright has moved into a clearer spot than he occupied a year ago. The team's current depth chart lists him behind De'Von Achane and ahead of Ollie Gordon II, and Wright gave Miami its best look at what he can do with volume when he ran 24 times for 107 yards and a touchdown against the Jets in Week 14. That is the appeal. The weekly role is still hard to find. Achane totaled 1,838 yards from scrimmage last season and is signed through 2030, while Gordon handled 18 red-zone carries and scored four times as a rookie. Wright also caught only five passes in 10 games, so there is not much of a receiving floor. He remains the more interesting backup because he is 23, averaged 4.1 yards per carry last season, and sits second on the depth chart. His current ADP of 211th overall and RB69 makes the gamble painless. Wright is worth a final pick as Achane insurance, especially for managers who draft Miami's starter. Without an injury ahead of him, though, he is unlikely to offer enough touches to become a weekly redraft option.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington has a chance to climb to the top of an unsettled depth chart after making strides with his route pacing and breaks, according to C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald. Washington said he learned from playing behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, particularly in how they ran routes, prepared and attacked the game. Both receivers are now gone, leaving Washington with a much larger opportunity alongside new quarterback Malik Willis. The former sixth-round pick caught 46 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns in 2025, then added 110 yards and another score on 17 carries. Those numbers do not make him an established lead receiver, and he still has to separate from Jalen Tolbert, Tutu Atwell and Miami's rookie additions. Still, Washington's familiarity with the offense and growing connection with Willis give him a legitimate path to leading the team in targets. He is worth monitoring in deeper fantasy leagues while Miami sorts out the receiver hierarchy.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tutu Atwell emerged from spring practices as one of the team's top three options alongside Jalen Tolbert and Malik Washington, according to ESPN. Atwell signed with Miami in March after five seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he caught six of 15 targets for 192 yards and one touchdown in 10 games. The opportunity is real in a wide-open receiver room, as Washington's 317 receiving yards were the most any current Dolphins wideout produced last season. Atwell's standing is far from secure, however. Rookies Caleb Douglas and Kevin Coleman Jr. remain close behind, while Jalen Reagor, Tahj Washington, and Theo Wease Jr. are also competing for work. Chris Bell could eventually challenge for a leading role once he is activated from the non-football injury list. Atwell has a path to early snaps in Malik Willis' offense, but the crowded competition and his limited recent volume make him only a late-round consideration in deeper fantasy leagues.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Chris Bell (knee) remains a long way from joining practice as he continues recovering from a torn ACL, according to C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik did not provide a timetable for the rookie, who remains on the active/non-football injury list. Bell tore the ACL in his left knee during Louisville's November 22 loss to SMU and underwent surgery in December. Miami still selected him 94th overall in April after he caught 72 passes for 917 yards and six touchdowns across 11 games last season. Bell has not practiced with the Dolphins, and Slowik's comments suggest his return is not close. There is no confirmation that he will miss the entire season, but fantasy managers should not expect him to contribute early in his rookie year.