All eyes in Miami are on De’Von Achane, but no one really knows when he’ll take the field again. Fantasy managers are glued to every practice report, and Miami Dolphins fans are anxious, but the team isn’t rushing him back.
With the regular season opener against the Indianapolis Colts looming, the question is simple: Will Achane be ready in time, or will Miami have to rely on unproven names?
What Does De’Von Achane’s Injury Mean for the Miami Dolphins’ Backfield?
Achane picked up a calf strain during joint practices earlier this month. Since then, he hasn’t played, missing both of Miami’s final preseason games, and head coach Mike McDaniel has made it clear the team will be extremely cautious with their star running back.
“He’s an explosive athlete,” McDaniel told reporters. “Calves are the ones that you have to be super proactive, especially with explosive players, we don’t want to have a long, strenuous, nagging issue.
“So, we probably won’t see De’Von this week after further assessment… but that’s more preventative in nature just because all trainers across the league have horror stories with calves if you’re too aggressive coming back.”
After the Dolphins’ preseason matchup with Jacksonville, McDaniel doubled down: Achane hasn’t had a setback, and the team is hopeful he will return to practice ahead of Miami’s Week 1 clash with the Colts on September 7.
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier has also confirmed that Achane will be ready to play in the season opener against the Colts.
READ MORE: Should I Draft De’Von Achane? Fantasy Outlook for the Dolphins RB in 2025
In 2024, Achane totaled 907 rushing yards and six touchdowns, while also contributing 78 catches for 592 yards and another six scores as a receiver. With output like that, it’s no wonder Miami doesn’t want to mess around with a nagging injury right before the new season starts.
How Does De’Von Achane’s Injury Affect Fantasy Football and the Dolphins’ Depth Chart?
It only took two seasons for De’Von Achane to make good on the upside many hoped for when he was drafted by the Dolphins in 2023. Achane finished as the RB6 in fantasy points per game (17.6) despite playing in a bad offense with backup quarterbacks for most of the season.
Achane is an explosive back who can be an elite producer in the passing game. While we saw a decline in rushing efficiency last season, that came with a huge role through the air, as highlighted by his 78 receptions for 592 yards and six touchdowns.
It’s clear that the Dolphins’ offense was a bit broken last year, with targets force-fed to Achane and Jonnu Smith in the short-to-intermediate passing game. If that continues, we don’t have to worry too much about Achane’s fantasy value because he’ll continue to get a high volume of targets.
On the other hand, if Miami can get back to its previous form — as a high-scoring offense with tons of explosive plays — Achane can return to 2023 efficiency levels. In other words, both outcomes should yield high-end production, making Achane have a nice combination of floor and ceiling.
We just need QB Tua Tagovailoa to stay healthy because we definitely don’t want to have to deal with a backup ruining Achane’s value like last season. Zach Wilson would be next in line if Tagovailoa were to miss time. This is the one risk in Achane’s profile.
