Hafley: Not ‘optimistic’ on Achane’s knee injury

Wright and RB Ollie Gordon are expected to split backfield touches moving forward, though this could be a fluid situation if one running back simply outplays the other. Gordon profiles as a burly grinder, while Wright may offer more big-play potential. It sounds like Wright has a strong chance of playing in Week 4 against the Vikings.

Wright was inactive with his foot injury last week against Kansas City. De’Von Achane went down with a season-ending ACL injury and Ollie Gordon took over as the team’s workhorse with no other running back on the active roster. Dolphins coaches have implied that both Gordon and Wright will get work in the Miami backfield with Achane out. An even backfield split would make both Wright and Gordon nothing more than deep-league flex plays.

In other words, expect a committee. Ollie Gordon remains the most likely back to chair the committee in the short-term as he’s actually healthy while Jaylen Wright missed last week’s game and has just seven snaps this year in two games while active to Gordon’s 15 in the first two weeks. This all feels a little desperate given how poor the Dolphins have looked, but volume at running back is volume at running back in a year where many RB2 stabs have disappointed early.

It felt like things were trending in this direction when head coach Jeff Hafley said after the game that he was not “optimistic” about Achane’s injury, but now the worst has confirmed. The 0-3 Dolphins will now be without their best playmaker for the remainder of the season, creating yet another challenge for an offense that ranks 31st in points per game (12.0 PPG) and 26th in yards per game (290.7 YPG) through the first three weeks of the season. Ollie Gordon will become a priority add off of waivers this week after he rushed for 17-41-1 in place of Achane, but his upside will be limited in what is one of the worst offenses in the league. Third-year vet Jaylen Wright could also be worth a stash. Wright missed Week 3’s game with a stringer/foot injury.

Gordon entered this afternoon with only three touches all season, but was pressed into every-down duty after De’Von Achane suffered a potentially serious knee injury on the game’s opening series. Fellow backup Jaylen Wright was inactive with a foot issue. Gordon mostly held up well, though he himself briefly went into the locker room with cramping issues. He returned after getting an IV. With Achane evidently staring at a long absence, Gordon is a priority waivers add, though he and Wright will undoubtedly form a committee for this undermanned offense. The question is who gets the strong side. It wouldn’t be surprising if Wright assumed primary early-down status with Gordon changing the pace. That would require Wright being healthy, of course. We will keep you updated.

Deemed questionable in the first quarter, Achane was officially ruled out to begin the second half. Obviously terrible news, though Achane did remain on the sideline in uniform, albeit sans his shoulder pads. Still, a player dealing with a long-term injury would typically remain in the locker room. Perhaps there is hope for Achane to suit up in Week 4 against the Vikings. But for now, fantasy managers need to consider second-year pro Ollie Gordon a must add. Jaylen Wright could also end up in the mix, but he’s inactive for Week 3 with a foot issue.

Achane planted awkwardly after a first series catch-and-run. He remained down on the field for an eternity before walking extremely slowly to the sideline. He then headed to the blue tent before slowly making his way to the locker room. Achane seemed to be trying to “walk it off,” but he also seemed to not be succeeding. He did not have the looks of a player likely to return, but he wasn’t really limping and did not require the assistance of a cart. Ollie Gordon is the only other Dolphins back dressed for Week 3. Stay tuned.

CB JuJu Brents and WR Ryan Miller will play off questionable tags. Wright has fallen behind Ollie Gordon in the pecking order, though nobody is really making any fantasy hay in the Miami backfield given the talent surrounding them.

Wright was unable to practice on Friday. He is very unlikely to play, although his absence may only be felt in the return game. Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon will serve as the top backup.

Wright and Ollie Gordon each have three carries this year. De’Von Achane has 31. Even if the backup role gets narrowed to just Gordon, there isn’t any fantasy value to be had behind Achane.