2023 NFL Power Rankings: Miami Dolphins

Fantasy surprise: RB De'Von Achane

The rookie has been a revelation for the Dolphins on the field and for fantasy managers off it. He has recorded three-straight games of 100-plus rushing yards and at least one touchdown, despite splitting carries with Raheem Mostert. His game-breaking speed is reminiscent of Chris Johnson and he's been good for at least one explosive run every week. On Monday, however, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Achane is dealing with a knee injury and will be further evaluated over the next couple of days. So his status is something for fantasy managers to keep an eye on. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

This wasn't Tua Tagovailoa's best outing, with his pick-six making it appear to be a much closer game than it really was. The Dolphins' supporting cast is so good, though, that they still beat the Giants comfortably. Tyreek Hill is on pace for 2,213 receiving yards, which is almost 250 yards more than Calvin Johnson's current single-season NFL record (1,964). That's great, but the news that De'Von Achane (seven TDs in four games) will miss multiple weeks with a knee injury stings. Thankfully, the defense came up with the kind of performance on Sunday that should boost its confidence, even taking into account the star-crossed nature of the Giants' offense. Vic Fangio's bunch needed that after being worked over in Week 4 by the Bills. Miami gets a wounded Panthers team in Week 6. Then the fun really starts before the Week 10 bye: at the Eagles in Week 7, vs. the Patriots in Week 8 and at the Chiefs in Week 9.

The Giants were the perfect tonic to get back on track after the Bills blowout a week before. The defense came up big against a bad Giants offense, but that was needed.

How fast is Miami? Per Next Gen Stats, the Fins have produced the five top speeds among all plays this season and seven of the top nine. WR Tyreek Hill and RBs De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert are responsible for them (and WR Jaylen Waddle has also cracked the top 20). Big-play Achane is averaging a ridiculous 12.1 yards per carry and 115.0 rushing yards per game, both figures best in the NFL. But seems likely a knee injury will force veteran Jeff Wilson to spot Achane in the coming weeks.

Miami might have missed on second-round cornerback Cam Smith, but the Dolphins made up for it with third-round pick De'Von Achane. After totaling 5 yards in the first two games of the season, the rookie running back leads the NFL with 455 rushing yards in the last three weeks. He's averaging 12.3 yards per carry in that time and has two of the three fastest speeds in the NFL this year (21.93 mph and 21.76 mph), according to NextGen Stats.

Everyone and their mother knows about the Dolphins' passing game, but the run game has become equally terrifying. Hopefully De'Von Achane's knee injury is minor, because he's officially a star in my book. Plus, it's nice to know the Dolphins have something to turn to if the opposition can disrupt Tua Tagovailoa's timing.

Not to pour cold water on anything, but the Dolphins' two offensive explosions have come against the Broncos and Giants, two of the worst teams in the NFL. They're fun, fast and very good, but I'm holding off on "Greatest Show on Turf" comparisons until they put up 500 yards on a good defense. Still, it's a great start and Miami is must-watch TV.

They'll have to keep the offense going without De'Von Achane.

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