De'Von

Achane

Achane hadn’t done much going into the final eight minutes of the game. He then broke off a 59-yard score, putting the final nail in the coffin of Miami’s upset over the Bills. Not content with one home run, Achane broke free for a 35-yard score on the Dolphins’ very next drive. The second long score turned a great day into Achane’s best rushing performance since his famous 203-yard outing in his second career game. Achane has at least 91 yards from scrimmage in four straight games. He is firmly entrenched in the RB1 ranks for Week 11 against the Commanders.

Continuing to operate with efficiency on the ground and volume through the air, Achane lost a seventh catch to a questionable second half review overturn. Achane looked smooth and explosive vs. the Ravens’ shaky defense, but Tua Tagovailoa couldn’t sustain drives long enough for Achane to get enough handles on the ground. Fantasy managers will still take the 100-plus yards and six receptions. Operating as a high-floor RB1, Achane gets the Bills’ awful run defense in Week 10.

Achane caught his fourth receiving touchdown of the year in the first quarter. He came across the formation, got lost in the crowd, and was left wide open for a three-yard score. The Falcons couldn’t mount any offense to speak of in this game and the Dolphins moved the ball at will. Miami, in turn, finally got to establish their ground game. Achane’s 18 carries go down as his second-most of the year. Backup Ollie Gordon also rushed 10 times for 46 yards. The Dolphins will likely rack up even more carries against the Ravens in Week 9 if Lamar Jackson isn’t ready for Thursday’s game. Even if he is ready, Achane’s role through the air makes him largely immune to negative game script. He is firmly planted in the RB1 ranks for Week 9.

When asked about De’Vone Achane’s massive workload — Achane has 212 touches through seven games — McDaniel said he would like to see Ollie Gordon more involved in the rushing attack. Game script for the lowly Dolphins often doesn’t allow such a distribution, however, as Achane remains the team’s primary pass-catching option. McDaniel mentioned the Dolphins’ Week 3 game against Buffalo as an ideal backfield distribution, with Achane seeing 12 carries to nine for Gordon. Achane had seven catches in that game, and remains one of the most reliable running backs in fantasy. Gordon should be stashed on benches for now in case Achane misses time.

Achane had the Dolphins’ only good play of the day on their second series, finding the edge and gaining 46 yards. For whatever reason, he wasn’t an offensive focus in wet-and-windy conditions, as coach Mike McDaniel suffered through three Tua Tagovailoa interceptions for the second consecutive week. Running it is easier said than done behind this woeful line, but it felt like an inexcusable game plan to the naked eye, especially since the Browns found success pounding Quinshon Judkins between the tackles. Although his big-play upside is undercut by his bottom-barrel offensive environment, Achane will remain in the low-end RB1 mix for Week 8 against the Falcons.

Per Pauline, “even if no such deal [involving Woolen] is available, Seattle could make a move for the ball carrier if Miami continues to lose games and chooses to sell off pieces.” The Seahawks are apparently very interested in Achane’s “speed and home run-hitting ability not presently found at running back for the Seahawks.” Speed and home-run hitting ability sound an awful lot like RB Kenneth Walker III’s skillset. Walker is scheduled to enter free agency at the end of the year. The 4-2 Seahawks are currently fifth in the NFC, and GM John Schneider spent the offseason harping on the importance of locker room harmony. Pauline does not address whether a follow-up trade involving one of the incumbent running backs could occur, and the Dolphins must first be willing to part ways with a talented, young running back under contract through 2026, for a second trade to even be considered. No reporter is perfect, but Pauline has reported accurately on Seahawks happenings during the Schneider era. Whether the Seahawks successfully acquire Achane remains to be seen, but it sounds like they could be in play for a speedy running back before the November 4th trade deadline, regardless. Achane’s fantasy-scoring ceiling would likely take a hit if he is thrust into a split backfield in Seattle.

Achane continues to find ways to survive the train wreck that is the Miami offense. He now has six touchdowns and continues operating as the team’s No. 2 pass catcher behind Jaylen Waddle. Against the Chargers, Achane put his astounding speed on display a few times in the second half, including on a 49-yard rush and a sprint to the corner of the end zone inside the ten yard line. Ollie Gordon, meanwhile, had two rushes for one yard against LA. Achane is one of the game’s few game script-proof running backs. He’ll be a top-10 play in Week 7 against the Browns.

As has often been the case over the past year and change, Achane was bottled up on the ground for all four quarters. That, of course, does not matter for fantasy purposes when he simply operates as a secondary wide receiver for the Dolphins. That was the case this week and Achane looked the part of his receiving score. Achane lined up in the slot and won a toe-tapping jump ball in the end zone for his third receiving touchdown of the year. With Tyreek Hill done for the year, Achane’s role as a pass-catcher is only going to grow in the coming weeks. He is locked in as an RB1 for Week 6 against the Chargers.

Achane was the spark for the offense, behind which they were able to find success on short and intermediate passing via play action. That became a pressing need for the offense following the departure of Tyreek Hill, who suffered a dislocated knee early in the third quarter. Achane’s pass game involvement should return in Week 5 when the Dolphins take on the Panthers considering Hill’s absence, and he remains an elite RB1 moving forward.

Achane’s 12 carries and 62 yards on the ground were both new season highs even as rookie No. 2 Ollie Gordon finally got involved in a meaningful fashion. Up to 15 receptions over the past two weeks, Achane has been one of the Dolphins’ most effective players, but ceiling is proving hard to come by in this collapsing offense, while it’s never ideal when a running back’s floor involves catching at least five passes. This is going to be a rocky road, but Achane’s usage is still enough to keep him in the top 12-15 on a weekly basis. Managers just need to be prepared for the bottom to fall out every once in a while. That is probably unlikely for Week 4, where the ‘Fins will find themselves on 11 days rest for Monday Night Football against the Jets.