• James Cook finds the top zone 3 times: Cook ran for 2 touchdowns throughout all of 2022, two touchdowns throughout all of 2023, and two touchdowns Thursday evening.
• De’Von Achane units a brand new profession excessive: Achane reached over 20 carries for the primary time in his NFL profession.
• Unlock your edge with a PFF+ subscription: Get full entry to all of our in-season fantasy instruments, together with weekly rankings, WR/CB matchup charts, weekly projections, the Start-Sit Optimizer and extra. Sign up now!
Estimated studying time: 5 minutes
PFF’s fantasy soccer recap focuses on participant utilization and stats, breaking down all of the very important data you want to obtain fantasy success in 2024.
Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins
- James Cook: 11 carries, 78 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 reception, 17 receiving yards, 1 receiving landing
- De’Von Achane: 22 carries, 96 yards, 7 receptions, 69 receiving yards, 1 receiving landing
De’Von Achane utilized in a function position: Acahne was used greater than most anticipated with Raheem Mostert out on account of a chest damage.
For a lot of the recreation, Achane was the clear centerpiece for the Dolphins offense. Last season, he by no means performed greater than 63% of Miami’s offensive snaps in a recreation, even when Mostert missed time on account of an damage. Achane was additionally on the damage report on account of an ankle damage, the place he was listed as not collaborating on Monday and Tuesday and as a restricted participant on Wednesday.
Achane performed 75% of Miami’s offensive snaps within the first half and reached a career-high in touches within the third quarter. This is good news for anybody who drafted Achane, as he might preserve this position for so long as Mostert is out. If Mostert isn’t as efficient of a runner as he was final season, we might attain a state of affairs the place Achane is solely the starter whereas Mostert is the first backup.
Jeff Wilson Jr. served because the preliminary backup within the recreation, and Jaylen Wright additionally made his NFL debut. The Dolphins began to make use of their backups extra within the second half with the sport out of attain, however Jeff Wilson Jr. suffered an indirect damage within the fourth quarter and was dominated out. Wright was a wholesome inactive in Week 1. He might be once more if each Mostert and Wilson are OK, however he is also the first backup subsequent week with a bigger workload if they aren’t.
Jonnu Smith shines whereas Dolphins play catchup: Smith was a Dolphins chief in receptions and receiving yards however was nonetheless in a rotation with different Dolphins tight ends.
In Week 1, Smith performed in 20 of a potential 71 snaps, which is nowhere close to sufficient for a fantasy starter. He performed 14-of-23 snaps in 11 personnel and simply six snaps in different personnel groupings. This week, he performed simply barely extra in 11 personnel on a proportion foundation and barely extra outdoors of 11 personnel. The distinction this week is the Dolphins have been shedding by double-digit factors by the center of the second quarter, so that they spent much more time in 11 personnel.
Miami did make extra of an effort to get Smith the ball this week in comparison with final earlier than the blowout — a designed goal early within the first quarter and once more to start out the second quarter. He will doubtless see two or three of those targets a recreation, however it will likely be laborious for him to select up sufficient quantity to be a fantasy starter most weeks. It’s nice to have him in your roster if benches are deep sufficient to warrant having a second tight finish, however I might solely be snug beginning him if the Dolphins are underdogs, as his enjoying time might be very depending on the sport script.
Monitor the well being of Tua Tagovailoa: The Dolphins beginning quarterback suffered a concussion late within the third quarter and was rapidly dominated out.
While gamers who get injured on a Thursday evening have a greater probability of returning with the prolonged time without work, it’s price remembering Tagovailoa’s historical past with concussions. There is an honest probability the Dolphins might be additional cautious given his historical past, which could lead on Tagovailoa to overlook time.
The Dolphins had a quarterback battle throughout coaching camp, and Skylar Thompson received. He was the substitute quarterback on this recreation and would be the starter for nevertheless lengthy Tagovailoa misses. This is a downgrade for everybody within the Dolphins’ offense, however Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Achane ought to nonetheless stay in fantasy beginning lineups.
We want Tagovailoa one of the best in his restoration from this concussion.
Dalton Kincaid misses vital enjoying time: Kincaid rotated out and in all through the sport.
Kincaid performed the primary 4 snaps of the sport, however inside that point, he took a knee to the top. He didn’t play the final two snaps of the drive or in any respect on the next drive. Throughout the remainder of the sport, he rotated out a bit greater than fantasy managers would really like. He was nonetheless on the sphere for the clear majority of cross performs, however Dawson Knox remained on the sphere in run conditions.
The Bills equally rotated Kincaid out a bit to start out Week 1, enjoying simply 15-of-22 snaps within the first half, however the Bills have been down at halftime, main Kincaid to play 36-of-39 snaps within the second half. Regardless, the Bills aren’t utilizing 12 personnel as a lot as final season on account of their elevated depth at large receiver, so there are fewer snaps for the tight ends to go round.
If the Bills are going to stay one of many prime groups within the NFL and are in these constructive recreation scripts, that is perhaps dangerous information for Kincaid fantasy managers. It’s additionally potential the group was being cautious after he took the knee to the top, however in that case, he shouldn’t have been enjoying in any respect, notably once they have been up by a number of touchdowns. He caught 4 passes for 33 yards, which isn’t horrible, however fantasy managers have been eager for extra, particularly contemplating how a lot the Dolphins gave as much as tight ends final season.
Miscellaneous Notes
- Rookie large receiver Malik Washington missed his second straight recreation on account of a quadriceps damage. Robbie Chosen was once more elevated from the observe squad to interchange him.
- Both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle barely performed within the fourth quarter as a result of Tua Tagovailoa was out and the sport was out of attain. Of 59 performs within the first three quarters, Waddle performed 51 and Hill performed 49.
- Bills free agent large receiver Curtis Samuel stays a transparent fourth on the depth chart at large receiver. Some of his snaps got here in 4 large receiver units from the backfield. He may be dropped in most fantasy leagues, as he could solely be a starter if Khalil Shakir suffers an damage.
- While James Cook and Ray Davis have been shut in carries, most of Davis’ work got here within the fourth quarter with the Bills up by three scores. Cook ran the ball 10 instances within the first three quarters to Davis’ three carries.
Table Notes
- Snaps embody performs known as again on account of penalties, together with offensive holding or defensive cross interference. The different three stats have these performs eliminated.
- Targets could differ from official NFL sources. The probably discrepancy can be from a transparent thrown-away cross, the place the NFL could give the goal to the closest receiver, whereas this information is not going to.
- Carries are solely on designed performs. Quarterback scrambles received’t depend for the full variety of carries within the recreation.