Welcome to the NFL, De’Von Achane! The Dolphins’ rookie running back broke (fantasy) football on Sunday. In a 70-point embarrassment of the Broncos, Achane had 22 touches for 233 yards and FOUR touchdowns. This performance was enough for the most fantasy points in a single game this season. With his 51.3-point (PPR) day, Achane is up to the RB5 on the season. Let’s just say that Achane had himself a good game.
We discussed Achane throughout the offseason and early this season, so he likely won’t be available in deeper leagues with 40% ownership on Yahoo! However, if he is available, he should be the top Week 4 waiver wire target because he will be a valuable member on rosters throughout the remainder of the season.
A PERFECT FIT
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has it figured out. He knows how to maximize the potential of his electric roster and how to move the ball down the field with ease. The Dolphins’ Week 3 dominance made this quite clear. It’s only Week 3, but the Miami offense looks like the most exciting in league history.
The great news with Achane is that he fits McDaniel’s scheme perfectly. Like other Dolphins’ skill players, Achane is small and incredibly fast. He ran a 4.32 40-yard dash at the combine and put that on display in his breakout game.
McDaniel has this offense humming, and they aren’t showing any signs of slowing down.
REST OF SEASON EXPECTATIONS
Barring another absurd game, Achane has hit his ceiling for the season. However, expect him to have more explosive performances this season. The Dolphins’ newest weapon profiles to be a boom or bust option. He will be splitting snaps, but he’s capable of ripping off a big play to make his week.
This game is an outlier, and the Dolphins will not score 70 points again. But the explosivity of Achane and the Miami offense makes him a valuable player in fantasy. With a potential shootout coming in Buffalo next week, Achane should be started as a flex in Week 4.
If Achane can show that he can have consistent fantasy performances, he can easily move into the RB2 range for the rest of the season.
THE FINAL TAKE
We have always preached something at RSJ: investing in explosive offenses is a recipe for fantasy success. This isn’t a revolutionary idea in fantasy football, but Achane perfectly manifests this take. The rookie has an unparalleled athletic profile with a coach who can put it to use. This is the definition of a fantasy goldmine. If you don’t already have a piece of the Dolphins’ offense, Achane may be your last chance to find one.
Don’t fall victim to recency bias and overpay too much for Achane. But, he should be heavily pursued on the waiver wire and considered a valuable player for the rest of the year.
WOLF’S NOTE:
There is no overpaying for Achane. Similar to my advice on Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, and Jerome Ford, you should pay whatever you think will get it done — even if that means all $100 of your FAAB. Explosive talents, inside juggernaut offenses, don’t grow on trees. Even if this is Raheem Mostert’s backfield, Achane will be a hybrid mismatch nightmare for the genius Mike McDaniels. No coach craves, or utilizes, speed better than McDaniels. Achane will push 8-10 touches a week, plus carries even more handcuff upside behind a 31-year-old, injury-prone Mostert.
