A new head coach and a new QB in the same off-season. What could go wrong!? Brian Flores is a good coach, but the track record of failed New England spin-offs is long and disappointing. Like all the other teams in the AFC East not from New England, the Dolphins now have a young, potential franchise quarterback. In fact 3 of the top 5 QB prospects from the 2018 draft class are now in the same division. Josh Rosen gives Miami something to build on, but the rest of the roster is still lagging behind in terms of overall talent on both sides of the ball.
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Miami Dolphins Fantasy Preview
KEY LOSSES: Cameron Wake DE, Ryan Tannehill QB, Frank Gore, Ja’Wuan James T, Danny Amendola WR
Impact: Cameron Wake is a huge loss for the Dolphins defense, and specifically their pass rush. This is a hole they have not properly addressed this offseason. The Tannehill experiment is finally over in Miami and he has potential to start games now in Tennessee with Marcus Mariota’s health always in question. Amendola’s absence doesn’t move the needle. Frank Gore moving on does however help Kenyan Drake’s value.
KEY ADDITIONS: Josh Rosen QB, Dwayne Allen TE, Eric Rowe CB
Impact: It’s all about the quarterback, and the Dolphins swindled the Cardinals out of second-year QB, Josh Rosen. Last year, Rosen was widely viewed as “the most NFL ready” of a strong QB draft class. Unfortunately, the Cards O-Line was the worst in the league and the coaching was right in the dumpster with them. Rosen has had some questions about his personality, but he’s handled the tumultuous offseason quite professionally. New OC Chad O’Shea was a wide receiver coach with the Patriots who came over with Brian Flores. Unfortunately, history teaches us that Patriots assistants rarely carry their success with them. It’s not an indictment on O’Shea, just a fact. Rowe also came over from New England and will help the Miami secondary. Dwayne Allen is at best a waiver wire watch.
DRAFTED PLAYERS OF FANTASY NOTE: Christian Wilkins DL, Michael Deiter OL, Myles Gaskin RB
Impact: Christian Wilkins was part of a winning culture at Clemson and the hope is he can be part of changing the culture in south Florida where losing has become acceptable. The Dolphins joined the Jets and Bills by taking a defensive lineman in the first round. Clearly, they’re all looking to prepare for a division getting more run-heavy and a unit that was second worst in the league against the run. Deiter will likely start at guard and it was wise to bring him in to help protect their new QB investment. Myles Gaskin was the all-time leader in yards and TDs for Washington. He may be undersized, but the production speaks for itself and he’s been durable over his college career. Think James White potential.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK: The early word out of camp is that Josh Rosen has to “earn” his starting role, which is a joke. You don’t acquire a young QB with draft capital of Rosen’s pedigree not to play him Week 1 and all 16 games. Ryan Fitzpatrick is NOT the future and the Dolphins aren’t a playoff favorite in the AFC, so they may as well start the Rosen era ASAP. Kenny Stills would be the best return on investment in fantasy terms for this offense. DeVante Parker is often injured and underwhelming while Albert Wilson isn’t a fantasy factor (nor is TE Mike Gisicki). The Dolphins offense will sink or swim off of the running game. Kenyan Drake has shown flashes of being an above average fantasy back, but the coaching staff constantly mucked with his touches. Drake is in a contract year and the new regime has no reason not to basically hand him the majority of the workload, making him an upside RB2. In PPR, his ability to catch the football and make plays make him an underrated commodity.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK: Losing Cameron Wake hurts them a lot and this team already gave up nearly 400 YPG last season. Wilkins will help their 31st ranked run defense, but he can’t do it alone. This is a unit to target against in DFS.
2019 OUTLOOK: The Jets and Bills have jumped past the Dolphins in this division in terms of sheer talent. The defense needs a lot of work and it will take more than one offense to overhaul it. Rosen will have his rookie peaks and valleys, but Kenyan Drake is the lone potential fantasy standout in this group.
Joe has just gotten started, but he’s making his way through all 32 NFL Team Previews.
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