2025 Miami Dolphins Fantasy Preview
2025 Miami Dolphins Fantasy Preview Despite having the easiest schedule in the NFL in the last 25 years, the Miami Dolphins sputtered to an 8-9 record and missed the playoffs. Now, pressure may be mounting for GM Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel, who must quickly rebuild the trenches on both sides and navigate injury and off-the-field woes. The chief concern for the Dolphins is keeping QB Tua Tagovailoa healthy. Tagovailoa has a well-chronicled concussion history and can ill afford to put himself in a position to take another big hit. Worse, a Dolphins’ offensive line that ranked 20th in pass protection also lost LT Terron Armstead, who retired. Tagovailoa has missed 3-plus games in four of his five seasons and ranked just 16th in fantasy points per game last season. There is too much risk to consider Tagovailoa anything more than an adequate fantasy QB2 with modest week-to-week streaming appeal. A popular breakout pick last summer, RB De’Von Achane stayed healthy and lived up to those lofty expectations. The second-year dynamo ranked 5th in PPR scoring and led all running backs in receptions (78) and touchdown grabs (6). Raheem Mostert departed in free agency, leaving Jaylen Wright and Alexander Mattison as the only competition for touches. Achane should be viewed as an elite fantasy option who will command a second-round price tag in redraft formats. Miami led the league with 401.3 yards of offense per game in 2023 but fell to 20th last year, averaging 75 fewer yards per contest. Injuries played a big part in that, as Jaylen Waddle missed a pair of games and Tyreek Hill battled a wrist injury all season. Now, Hill is rumored to be on the trade block after some bizarre social media posts and on domestic incident clouded his future. A healthy Hill is still one of the most dynamic weapons in football, but he’s a risky WR2 in fantasy. Waddle failed to accrue 100 targets for the first time in his career, resulting in his worst fantasy performance. There’s some rebound potential here, especially if Hill is absent. Waddle is an upside WR3 in PPR formats. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine will be a WR3 upgrade over Odell Beckham and Malik Washington, who slides down to this year’s WR4 role. At tight end, Jonnu Smith proved to be a savvy late-round target, finishing as the overall TE4 on a career-high 111 targets. We don’t expect Smith to repeat that production, but the Dolphins will see plenty of fantasy-friendly game scripts and return more-or-less intact. Smith is a solid second-tier TE1 to target in the middle rounds. Fantasy Grade: B- QB Tagovailoa, Tua, MIA [QB1] Tua Tagovailoa’s 2025 fantasy outlook hinges on health and efficiency in Miami’s high-octane offense. In 2024, he posted a league-best 72.9% completion rate, 2,867 yards, 19 TDs, and 7 INTs in 11 starts, with a 2.36-second time-to-throw and 5.1 air yards per attempt, showcasing quick, precise decision-making. However, his injury history—missing six games (concussion, hip)—makes him a high-risk QB2. There are also concerns about Hill’s status on the roster, which increases the risk. Tagovailoa adds little as a runner, which caps his upside. It’s hard to envision a path to top 12 numbers, making him a mid-range QB2. ADVICE: Risky QB2 that may have already peaked. RB Achane, De’Von, MIA [RB1] After a dynamic rookie season, De’Von Achane again was one of the most efficient fantasy options. Despite seeing a middling 59.1 percent opportunity share (24th), Achane finished as the RB6, averaging 17.6 PPR points per game. The main catalyst for that production came via his high-volume role in Miami’s passing attack. Achane was essentially the Dolphins’ WR3. He led all RBs in receptions (78), receiving yards (592), and TD grabs (6). Raheem Mostert is gone, and Miami didn’t add any real competition to reduce Achane’s touches. He looks primed to post another top-5 season in 2025. ADVICE: Elite pass-catching potential keeps Achane in top-5 fantasy territory. RB Mattison, Alexander, MIA [RB2] ADVICE: Mattison has averaged under four yards per carry in four consecutive seasons. He’s not taking carries away from De’Von Achane. He can, however, play in short-yardage or give Achane a breather. Mattison profiles as a middling handcuff in deeper leagues. RB Wright, Jaylen, MIA [RB3] Had his moments as a rookie, but Wright will compete with Alexander Mattison for backup duties. WR Hill, Tyreek, MIA [WR1] Last season, Hill started strong (7/130/1) but struggled midseason (48/571/3), hampered by wrist and foot injuries. He rebounded in Weeks 14 and 17 but ended weakly. His 11.8 yards per catch was a career low. Even in a down season (by his standards), Hill still ranked 16th in targets (122) and caught 81 balls for 959 yards and half a dozen scores. Quarterback woes were the biggest factor in the drop-off, but off-the-field concerns also hold down his potential. At 31, Hill’s 2024 decline ranks him as a mid-tier WR2, with his value tied to Tagovailoa’s health. ADVICE: Boom/Bust WR2 with a massive ceiling. WR Waddle, Jaylen, MIA [WR2] After Tyreek Hill joined Miami, Jaylen Waddle’s explosiveness grew, though his 2022 targets dropped to 117 from 141. He recorded 75 catches for 1,356 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 18.1 yards per catch. In 2023, injuries limited him to 14 games, with 72 catches for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns, his lowest marks in three years. Last season, Waddle’s yards per catch fell to 12.8, with 58 catches and two touchdowns, underperforming in 10 of 15 starts. His best games (5/109, 8/144/1, 9/99) were at home. As a mid-tier WR3, Waddle’s high ceiling offers value in 2025 drafts. ADVICE: Declining output makes him a solid value, dependent on his QB staying healthy. WR Westbrook-Ikhine, Nick, MIA [WR3] Don’t overreact to last season’s gaudy TD numbers. NWI won’t get many targets as Miami’s WR3. WR Washington, Malik, MIA [WR4] Mike McDaniel tends not to incorporate his ancillary receivers into the weekly game plan often. Washington had some early offseason hype, but
2025 Buffalo Bills Fantasy Preview
2025 Buffalo Bills Fantasy Preview After ranking 9th in both passing and rushing last season, the 2025 Buffalo Bills return mostly intact. Most of Buffalo’s offseason changes came on the defensive side of the ball. They released Von Miller, traded Kaiir Elam, and added DE Joey Bosa. Additionally, the first three picks in the 2025 NFL Draft bolstered Sean McDermott’s defense. However, extensions for Josh Allen and Khalil Shakir assure that the Bills should remain a potent offense for years to come. Allen’s numbers dipped a bit in 2024. He had his lowest passing yards (3,731) and touchdown (28) output in five years. However, Allen ran for a dozen scores and finished as a top-3 fantasy quarterback for the fifth consecutive season. He remains an elite option and is one of the safest bets on draft day for fantasy managers willing to secure an elite signal caller early. RB James Cook posted his second-straight 1,000-yard rushing season and tied for the league lead with 16 rushing scores. His overall production was down from 2023, and he is now seeking a long-term extension as he enters the final year of his rookie deal. Seeing such a huge spike in one-year touchdowns and potentially missing offseason reps due to the contract impasse are concerns. But the Bills did not address running back in the draft, making Cook a strong RB2 with RB1 upside. Ray Davis chipped in 631 scrimmage yards and six scores in a secondary role. Depending on how the Cook contract situation plays out, Davis looks like a strong late-round value target. The Bills didn’t add any significant depth at wideout, ignoring the position until the 7th round. Fresh off his extension, Khalil Shakir looks secure as the No. 1 wideout. Shakir had the best season of his career and ranked 12th in the NFL with a 72.1 percent slot rate. But after Shakir, things are less predictable. Speedy Joshua Palmer’s three-year, $29 million deal indicates he is locked into the WR2 role and will act as Allen’s downfield playmaker. Amari Cooper is a free agent, freeing up more potential playing time for Keon Coleman. Curtis Samuel adds depth and could surpass Coleman if the second-year wideout doesn’t become more consistent. After a strong rookie showing, Dalton Kincaid fell off. He missed four games with a knee injury and wasn’t utilized downfield as much. Dawson Knox also remained involved, averaging a career-high 14.1 yards per reception. Kincaid still posted the 13th-best PFF grade for tight ends with more than 30 targets, so there’s reason to think Kincaid can be a borderline TE1 again if he remains healthy. Fantasy Grade: B QB Allen, Josh, BUF [QB1] Josh Allen’s numbers dipped in 2024, yet he still ranked inside the top-3 fantasy signal-callers for the fifth consecutive season and won an NFL MVP. That consistency puts Allen in elite company and is why he’s our top QB in 2025. After surpassing 4,000 passing yards for four straight seasons, Allen slipped to 3,731 with 28 scores last season. However, he supplemented that with elite rushing production, including 12 rushing scores. That dual-threat capability and tremendous durability make Allen one of the safest bets in fantasy. The Bills having a top-5 easiest schedule this year only cements Allen’s elite status. ADVICE: Elite option in every format worthy of an early selection. RB Cook, James, BUF [RB1] After never topping two rushing touchdowns in a season, James Cook exploded for a league-high (tied) 16 scores in 2024 en route to an overall RB8 finish. Cook topped 1,000 rushing yards for the second consecutive season, ranked 3rd in EPA (+40.1), and was top-12 in broken tackle rate (11.1 percent). Understandably, Cook is looking for some long-term security, but as long as he’s back in the lineup for the season opener, he remains a quality RB2 in a potent Buffalo offense that produced an NFL-best 32 rushing touchdowns last season. ADVICE: Last season’s TD output looks like an outlier, which could lead to Cook being overdrafted. RB Davis, Ray, BUF [RB2] In 2024, Ray Davis rushed for 442 yards (3.9 YPC) and three touchdowns on 113 carries, adding three receiving TDs (17 receptions, 5.9 PPG, PPR). His Week 18 start (15/64/1, 2/1/1) and Week 6 outburst (20/97, 3/55) show RB2 upside if James Cook (RB9, 5.2 YPC) misses time. At 5-8 and weighing 211 pounds, with a 4.52 40-yard dash, Davis’s 3.81 yards after contact (751 total) highlight his power. Buffalo was top 10 in rushing and led the NFL in rushing scores, so Davis should be on the fantasy radar as a potentially valuable reserve. ADVICE: Handcuff target who will occasionally post standalone flex numbers. RB Johnson, Ty, BUF [RB3] ADVICE: Buffalo ranked 8th with 28.9 rushes per game. Johnson did see 25 targets last year and averaged over five yards per carry, but he is squarely behind James Cook and Ray Davis in the touch pecking order. WR Shakir, Khalil, BUF [WR1] In his third season, Khalil Shakir topped the Bills’ receivers with 76 receptions, 821 yards, and four touchdowns on 100 targets, ranking 37th in PPR wide receiver scoring (182.5 points). His standout games (nine catches for 107 yards and five catches for 106 yards with a touchdown) showed reliability over explosive plays, surpassing 10 fantasy points in 14 of 18 starts, making him a steady flex option in three-receiver leagues. With seven or fewer targets in 73.7 percent of games, Shakir’s 78.3 percent catch rate highlighted his efficiency. His four-year, $60.2 million extension in February 2025 underscores Buffalo’s confidence in his growth. ADVICE: Reliable WR3 with 1,000-yard potential. WR Palmer, Joshua, BUF [WR2] In 2024, Joshua Palmer underwhelmed in the Chargers’ run-first attack. Palmer had three standout games (4 catches for 63 yards; 2 for 63 yards, 1 TD; 6 for 78 yards) but saw four or fewer targets in 10 of 15 games. His 15.3 yards per catch (15.0 in 2023) highlights his deep-threat role, unlike his 2022 career highs (72 catches,