De'Von

Achane

Head coach Mike McDaniel said on Saturday that Mostert “is trying” to play on Monday night but also suggested the team would exercise caution by not rushing him back too soon. Mostert was limited in practice all week, leading us to believe a Week 5 return is very much in play. It will be De’Von Achane’s show for at least one more week, but Mostert is undoubtedly on the mend after missing the last three weeks.

McDaniel also said the team is “not going to prematurely put ourselves out there if we are going to take steps back and not protect ourselves.” It doesn’t sound like Mostert will have much say in whether or not he plays in Week 4 against the Titans, as the 0-3 Dolphins are already dealing with enough injuries. If he doesn’t play, De’Von Achane will again be expected to handle the majority of the Dolphins’ backfield touches, with Jeff Wilson and Jaylen Wright mixing in on the occasional down.

Achane had no room to operate against a Seattle defense that had no reason to respect the Dolphins’ nonexistent passing attack with Skylar Thompson and Tim Boyle at the helm. Though Achane’s five targets were tied for the team lead, he didn’t do much with those opportunities with Seattle defenders swarming him on every touch. Achane saw a solid snap share again with Raheem Mostert (chest) sidelined. No one in the Miami offense, including Achane, will have a clear path to production unless and until Tua Tagovailoa returns from his Week 2 brain injury.

Head coach Mike McDaniel all but ruled Mostert out earlier today when he said he was “pessimistic” that the veteran running back would be able to suit up this week. Moster told reporters he is dealing with an unusual chest injury that includes fractured cartilage. He said the pain is improving and he is targeting a Week 4 return on Monday Night Football. For now, second-year back De’Von Achane will dominate the Miami backfield. He earned 29 touches in Week 2 and ranks as a high-end RB1 for Week 3.

Achane came into that Thursday Night Football game highly questionable, but with Raheem Mostert (chest) unable to go, the speedy tailback received a career-high 29 touches; 22 of them on carries. Even if Mostert can go in Week 3 against the Seahawks, it seems very likely that Achane is going to receive the bulk of the carries against a Seattle defense that was shaky against the run in Week 2.

With Raheem Mostert (chest) out and Tua Tagovailoa struggling mightily before departing with a concussion, Achane set a new career high for touches by seven. Supposedly “questionable” with an ankle injury, Achane was the Dolphins’ offensive focal point from the opening whistle. That included playing deep into a game that was essentially over minutes into the second half. Achane ceded just seven combined handles to backups Jeff Wilson and Jaylen Wright. The mammoth workload on short rest with injury is obviously extremely bullish for Achane’s going-forward usage, even if Mostert’s absence is limited to one game. Achane will be an upside RB1 for Week 3 against the Seahawks.

After some early-week intrigue and talk of a potential game-time decision, Achane never seemed particularly close to sitting. That’s great news for a Dolphins team missing Raheem Mostert (chest), and even better news for fantasy managers who took the Achane plunge on the Round 2/3 borderline. There is definitely some increased risk of Achane not finishing tonight’s contest, but if you drafted Achane, we never heard a good reason to bench him this week. Joining Mostert on the shelf are CB Ethan Bonner, EDGE Mohamed Kamara, C Andrew Meyer, LB Channing Tindall and WR Malik Washington.

Achane will test out his ankle to see if he can be a go for Thursday’s tilt against Buffalo, but Rapaport reports the team is optimistic he can play based on his work Wednesday. The speedy tailback may be limited even if he is in the lineup, but Achane doesn’t need many touches in order to make an impact because of those wheels. If he can’t go and with Raheem Mostert (chest) already ruled out, it could be a full helping of Jeff Wilson with Jaylen Wright mixing in for the Dolphins.

Achane was able to get in a walkthrough practice on Wednesday. Raheem Mostert will miss Thursday night’s game with a chest injury he sustained last week against Jacksonville. Achane, meanwhile, picked up an ankle injury in the fourth quarter of that game and could be held out against Buffalo. That would leave Jeff Wilson as the likely lead back for Miami with rookie Jaylen Wright mixing in. Wilson in Week 1 had five carries for 26 yards. Wright was a Week 1 healthy scratch.

Mostert did not practice this week after picking up the chest injury in Week 1 against the Jaguars. It’s a short week for the Dolphins, who face the Bills on Thursday night. Ten days between Miami’s Week 2 and Week 3 games should give Mostert a chance to suit up next week, though his practice participation will be worth monitoring. De’Von Achane (ankle) is considered a game-time decision for Thursday night against Buffalo. Jeff Wilson could have a prominent role against the Bills with Mostert down.