Miami Dolphins fantasy football start and sit: week 8
Dolphins players could see higher volumes than their usual shares because of injuries, making them considerable options for fantasy football owners in week 8.
The Houston Texans defense is not the most favorable one for the Miami Dolphins offense to go up against, but it’s an interesting one for fantasy football owners to target. The reason being is that the Dolphins don’t have a lot of options at the skills positions because of injuries. Those that will be active on Thursday night, however, should see higher volumes as a result. Even in a difficult matchup, it might be one you want to target. Let’s take a look at which of those Dolphins players get a boost this week, and are worth inserting into starting lineups.
Osweiler had another good game against Detroit, finishing with a respectable fantasy output as well. He now has five touchdown passes and has thrown for over 600 yards in his two starts. With Ryan Tannehill out at least one more week, Osweiler gets the start for the third straight game, and this time it’s against his former team.
While Osweiler has done a good job managing the game, and has exceeded everyone’s expectations since coming in, he’s not on anyone’s fantasy radar. Going up against a very good defense with almost no receivers is not a good combination either.
Sit
Running Backs
Kenyan Drake delivered for his fantasy owners last week thanks to a 54-yard touchdown run in the 3rd quarter. It was a quiet day otherwise for Drake, who finished the game with just 10 touches. It still remains a mystery as to why Adam Gase continues to limit his featured back, but he’ll be forced to use him in a variety of ways on Thursday night.
At the moment, the Dolphins have only three active wide receivers. I expect to see Gase use Drake frequently in the passing game, and will probably set him out wide on several plays. This is a game where we should see Drake and Frank Gore in at the same time on a number of plays. Gore has seen double digit carries in four consecutive games, but the Texans are allowing just 3.4 yards per carry. With the Dolphins dealing with a significant amount of injuries on the offensive line as well, Gore is not a good option this week.
Kenyan Drake – Start
Frank Gore – Sit
Wide Receivers
There has been a lot of chatter this week about picking up Jakeem Grant because of the injuries to Albert Wilson and Kenny Stills. While I believe that Grant is a viable option for this week, I have higher expectations for Danny Amendola.
Since Osweiler has become the starter, Amendola has seen 18 targets, recorded 14 receptions for 143 yards. He also scored his first touchdown reception as a Dolphin last week on a beautiful 24-yard pass from Osweiler. Amendola’s numbers these last two weeks are what we expected to see between him and Tannehill back in July when the two were developing strong chemistry in training camp.
With the Dolphins being so thin at receiver, I strongly expect to see Amendola get double digit targets in this game. Adam Gase has already said that DeVante Parker is starting, but I’m also old enough to remember when Gase said that he wanted to get Kenyan Drake 15-20 carries a game, along with 6-8 targets, and we’ve seen how that’s turned out so far.
All indications are that the Dolphins are set on trading Parker, and if that’s the case, then it doesn’t make a lot of sense to play him, and risk injury, no matter how thin at receiver you are. Both Leonte Carroo and Isaiah Ford are traveling with the team to Houston, and it’s possible that either or both are declared active ahead of Thursday night.
Danny Amendola – Start
Jakeem Grant – Start
DeVante Parker – Sit
Tight Ends
Rookie Mike Gesicki slowly continues to improve, and he finished with the best game of his young career this past Sunday against Detroit. It was the third game this year Gesicki finished with three receptions. He’ll look to build off of that momentum against Houston, but he’s still not yet a viable option for fantasy owners.
The combo of Gesicki and newly acquired Nick O’Leary looks to be a positive one for the Dolphins. O’Leary is the better blocker of the two, but has shown that he too can be productive in the passing game. Like Gesicki, however, O’Leary doesn’t bring much fantasy value at the moment, and despite the position being a thin one for fantasy owners, there should be better options out there.
Mike Gesicki – Sit
Nick O’Leary – Sit
Defense
Miami’s defense has struggled in the past few weeks, and they are trending in the wrong direction. On the other hand, the Texans offense has struggled all season. They may actually have a worse offensive line than the Dolphins do at the moment. Miami has had their problems trying to contain mobile quarterbacks in the past, however, and Deshaun Watson is one of the league’s best in that category.
In addition, Miami has had their issues with containing the run lately as they were embarrassed by the Lions, allowing 248 yards on the ground. Former Dolphin Lamar Miller would love nothing more to get his revenge, and I look for him to have another big game. The Texans also have one of the best receivers in the league in DeAndre Hopkins, and even if Xavien Howard shadows him all night, will still find a way to do damage.
Sit