Has Tyler Huntley played his last snap for the Miami Dolphins?
It’s certainly possible. Snoop Huntley is out indefinitely after getting knocked out of Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, and depending on how the three quarterbacks behind him on the depth chart perform, might not have the QB2 job waiting for him when he returns.
Let’s examine the latest injury update for Huntley and what it means for fantasy football managers.
What Happened to Tyler Huntley and When Might He Return?
Huntley was hurt in the second half of Week 7 when he was driven to the ground by Colts DB Kenny Moore II, who landed directly on his throwing shoulder. The Dolphins briefly listed Huntley as questionable to return before ruling him out.
After a brief evaluation in the blue medical tent, Huntley went with trainers to the team’s locker room. Tim Boyle was in the huddle when Miami’s offense took over next.
🐬🏈🏟️🙄🤷♂️ #Huntley #Dolphins #GoFins #MIAvsIND pic.twitter.com/56eKb5ayvd
— Scott Maier (@samaier)
Huntley completed 7 of 13 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown before getting hurt. He’s the third different Dolphins quarterback who has missed time this year due to injury.
At least Miami caught a break with the timing of Huntley’s injury. Tua Tagovailoa has practiced all week and is expected back after a four-week stint on injured reserve.
But Huntley still would have been in line to back Tagovailoa up against the Cardinals. Now, that is no longer an option.
Huntley missed his second straight day of practice Thursday and is not expected to be available in any capacity in Week 8.
That leaves Skylar Thompson (who has not played since a disastrous Week 3), Boyle (who finished the Colts game), and newcomer C.J. Beathard (who signed to the team’s practice squad Wednesday) as options behind Tagovailoa.
So who will back up Tua this week?
“I just want to see how guys play this week,” head coach Mike McDaniel said on Wednesday.
“Snoop, I don’t think is going to be available this week. So based upon how I see Skylar operating, how I see Tim, how I see C.J., make a decision based upon that. In our current situation, there’s not any, any predetermined I have the right answer. I’ll watch and adjust. But right now, we’re assessing and we’ll do that on the practice field today.”
Huntley completed 39 of 66 passes for 377 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in his three games. The Dolphins went 1-2 in those starts.
Unless Beathard lights the world on fire in practice, expect the decision on QB2 to come down to Thompson or Boyle for QB2 this week.
Potential Fantasy Fallout From Huntley’s Injury
Due to the middle class of the AFC being so large, there’s a level of urgency for Miami to bring Tagovailoa back, and that would change all the math in Miami should it occur in Week 8, as speculated.
If not, benching all Dolphins pass catchers is plenty viable — Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle accounted for exactly zero receptions (one target) through Huntley’s 2.5 quarters on Sunday.
Boyle doesn’t offer much more reason for optimism, even against a vulnerable Cardinals defense. If Tagovailoa does, in fact, return, you can start both Hill and Waddle with confidence. If not, it’s a conversation based on your specific situation, especially with no teams on a bye in Week 8.
