Miami

Dolphins

Armstead was held out of the Dolphins’ first two games of the year because of his laundry list of injuries. He was listed as questionable for Week 3 but was ultimately able to make his 2023 debut. Armstead hardly practiced over the second half of the season last year but always found a way to suit up. Expect light practice workloads for the veteran left tackle from here on out.

Cracraft was in line for a bigger role with Jaylen Waddle sidelined for Week 3, but a shoulder injury quickly knocked him out of the Dolphins’ matchup with Denver. Mike McDaniel said his injury was more serious than a day-to-day issue after the game. Braxton Berrios should take over the team’s WR3 gig until Cracraft returns, though that role will be minimized with Waddle expected to return to the lineup in Week 4.

Waddle is still in concussion protocol, but today’s practice could be the final step hurdle. Head coach Mike McDaniel said that if all goes well in practice today, Waddle will be able to clear protocol and be ready to suit up on Sunday for a major showdown against their AFC East division rival Buffalo Bills.

Cracraft was injured in Sunday’s Week 3 win over the Broncos, and is expected to be sidelined for some time. McDaniel didn’t specify when Cracraft could return, saying, “No doubt we will see him again in near future; how near I don’t know.” With six catches for 87 yards and one touchdown on the season, Cracraft wasn’t on the fantasy radar, but he’s been a solid player for the Dolphins and is on pace for the best season of his career through three games.

Smythe dropped a dud on fantasy managers on a day where the Dolphins scored 70 points against the Broncos. Having led the Dolphins in route rate and seeing ten targets in the season’s first two weeks, Smythe was invisible against Denver. Smythe, along with most Miami starters, was pulled in the fourth quarter. He should be a streamable Week 4 option against Buffalo.

Berrios was fourth on the team in targets despite Jaylen Warren (concussion) missing the game. With seven receptions in three games, Berrios should only be rostered in deep formats with multiple flex spots

Coming off a Week 2 performance in which he ran for 121 yards and two touchdowns as Miami’s lead back, Mostert split backfield work with rookie RB Devon Achane against Denver. The pair of backs had an all-time outing against a miserable Broncos defense, eclipsing 300 yards on the ground and combining for an unbelievable eight touchdowns on the day. Mostert averaged a healthy 6.4 yards per carry and was pulled in the fourth quarter with Miami up 50 points. Mostert so far this season has proven to be one of fantasy football’s most consequential players. Looks for him to continue sharing carries and targets with Achane in Week 4 against Buffalo.

It was one of the most outrageous performances you’ll ever see: A rookie running back who had one rush for five yards the previous week, shredding an opposing defense on the ground and through the air. Achane caught two shovel pass touchdowns and averaged nearly 12 yards per carry, including a 68-yard scamper in the fourth quarter after the souls of Denver defenders had left their bodies. That the Dolphins ripped Denver’s defense on the ground might not be a shock seeing that Miami led the league in EPA per rush coming into Week 3 (they put up more than 300 rushing yards against Denver). The electric Achane, who missed most of August with a shoulder injury, is fully healthy and will be the top pickup in all fantasy formats this week.

Hill ran across the middle of the field uncovered for much of the day against a Denver defense that appeared woefully unprepared to play against Miami’s modern, highly efficient offense. Hill has now scored at least one touchdown in each of the Dolphins’ first three games. He was clearly the focal point of the team’s offense with Jaylen Waddle (concussion) sidelined, even while the Broncos continued to give up big gains on the ground.

Miami’s surgical offense did whatever it wanted against an overmatched Denver defense, both through the air and on the ground. Tua could have had a far bigger statistical outing if Sean Payton’s team had put up a fight in this one. Two of Tua’s touchdown tosses came on shovel passes to De’Von Achane, who scored three times on the day. Hardly ever pressured and hitting his playmakers in stride on short routes, Tua is expertly running a hyper-efficient offensive machine in Miami. He’s a top-end fantasy option until proven otherwise. Tua and the Dolphins get the Bills in Week 4.