Knowledge is power and the greatest asset you can acquire in order to compete for a fantasy football championship.
Here’s your 2023 preview of the Miami Dolphins, the 10th of 32 team profiles during draft season:
2023 Fantasy MVP: Jaylen Waddle, WR
This could very well end up being Jonathan Taylor if the Dolphins are able to trade for the NFL’s 2021 rushing champion. Regardless, I’m picking Waddle (ADP: 24) over Tyreek Hill (ADP: 6) as the most productive wide receiver in Miami this season. Waddle has finished as the overall WR13 and WR8 in PPR formats his first two seasons in the league, and was actually more explosive than Hill last year, averaging 18.1 yards per reception compared to the Cheetah’s 14.4. Hill (along with Justin Jefferson) ed an elite group of eight other receivers in NFL history to sur 1,700 yards in a season last year. The six who didn’t miss significant time due to injury in their followup season saw a decline of almost 500 total receiving yards and five PPR points per game.
2023 Fantasy Sleeper: Dolphins D/ST
Miami’s secondary was decimated by injuries last season, but now it’s healthy and anchored by Jalen Ramsey. The addition of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio could help the talented Dolphins D/ST (ADP: 186) take a big step forward after finishing as the 18th-best scoring defense in fantasy in 2022.
2023 Fantasy Bust: Tua Tagovailoa, QB
I’ve always been an advocate for Tagovailoa’s (ADP: 93) talent, and I feel validated after how he performed last season in his first year in Mike McDaniel’s offense … when he wasn’t getting his bell rung. He’s done several things this off-season in hopes of mitigating the risk of another concussion, from bulking up to studying martial arts (to help with balance and body control when he falls), but I just can’t pull the trigger when another concussion almost certainly means retirement. There’s a monster season waiting to be had if he can stay healthy — his Per 17 Games averages in 2022 were 4,640 yards and 33 touchdowns — which would make him a great value where he’s currently being drafted. My advice, if you’re less risk averse than I am, is to pair Tagovailoa with a QB who has a higher floor such as Aaron Rodgers (ADP: 99), Kirk Cousins (ADP: 101) or Daniel Jones (ADP: 113).
2023 Fantasy Rookie to watch: Devon Achane, RB
Achane (ADP: 111) is small, but fearless between the tackles and features sprinter speed (he was named an All-American in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4×100-meter relay for Texas A&M). He’s far from a gadget guy. If he were a few inches taller and 10-15 pounds heavier, he would’ve gone much higher in the draft. Taylor will see the lion’s share of carries in this offense if he takes his talents to South Beach. Otherwise, I anticipate Raheem Mostert (ADP: 130) and Jeff Wilson (ADP: 165) to begin the season dividing up most of the work until a potential injury or Achane’s talent makes him undeniable.
