Miami Dolphins fantasy football start and sit week 14
The fantasy football playoffs start this week as we take a look at which Miami Dolphins players are worth a start during this crucial time.
The Miami Dolphins have their crucial showdown this week with the Patriots coming to town. With a number of teams fighting for that final Wild Card spot, this game is basically a playoff game for Miami. For most fantasy football leagues, this week really is the start of the playoffs.
The room for error for teams is slim to none when determining their starting lineups this time of the year. That’s why fantasy players in all likelihood are going to fade away from the Miami Dolphins, and may even choose to fade away from this game altogether. Nonetheless, we’ll take a look at if there are any Dolphins players to consider for this game in the week 14 edition of start and sit.
Since returning from a five game absence, Ryan Tannehill has thrown five touchdown passes in two games. That’s provided him with respectable fantasy outputs, but his passing yardage continues to be an issue. In the two games since he’s returned, his total passing yards are less than 350. He has yet to throw for 300 yards in a game this season.
If Miami is to have any chance at the upset this week, they’re going to need Tannehill to provide them with some scores to keep up with New England. He very well could turn out to have a good game this week. With that said, his own head coach doesn’t even seem to have the confidence in him to win the game so how could anyone have the confidence in him to help them win in their fantasy league? If you’re in the playoffs then chances are you don’t need to stream, but if you do, there are better alternatives this week such as Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen, who provide more upside in better matchups.
Sit
Running Backs
Kenyan Drake scored for the second consecutive week to save his fantasy owners, but was otherwise nonexistent against Buffalo. That could be said for the entire offense, however, after totaling just 175 yards on the game. It’s hard to get a read on Drake with Adam Gase not using him as much as people think he should be.
Drake had a game to forget when these teams met earlier this season when he finished with just 3 yards rushing on 3 carries. There’s no question he’ll need to be more utilized this time around, but how much will he be, really? His value is always higher in PPR leagues, and with Ryan Tannehill having few options, one has to think that Drake will be used in the passing game. I would rate any of the waiver wire adds in Jaylen Samuels, Jeff Wilson, and even Justin Jackson, ahead of Drake this week, but Drake still has value in FLEX positions, and deeper leagues.
Last week, was the first time that Frank Gore did not see double-digit carries in a game since week 3 against Oakland. Gore did score his only touchdown of the year against New England, but it came in garbage time when the Dolphins brought in Brock Osweiler at quarterback. Gore is not a recommended option in any format other than the deepest of leagues.
Kenyan Drake – Start (PPR only)
Frank Gore – Sit
Wide Receivers
Both Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker were recipients of Ryan Tannehill touchdown passes last weekend, but I don’t have them or any Dolphins receiver on my radar this week. Miami’s offense is too frustrating and unpredictable to have any confidence in starting.
Sit All
Tight Ends
The good news this week is that the Dolphins extended Nick O’Leary for another season. The bad news is that it is irrelevant in terms of fantasy football. As bad as the tight end position is in fantasy football, this is a group to avoid at all cost.
Sit
Defense
As I projected last week, the Dolphins defense was able to force a few turnovers against a weaker offense led by rookie quarterback Josh Allen. And by holding them to just 17 total points, it turned in a positive performance for fantasy owners that inserted Miami in their lineups.
That doesn’t take away, however, the performance that Allen put on. Allen gashed the Dolphins with his legs, rushing for 135 yards on nine carries. As a team, the Bills totaled 415 yards. It was the second consecutive game in which Miami gave up over 400 yards in a game, and the seventh time this season. Giving up that many yards to an otherwise poor offense like Buffalo is highly concerning when you consider that New England is coming to town.
Combine that with the reports indicating that Miami is likely to be without star CB Xavien Howard this week, this could turn ugly. Even with a healthy Howard this is an easy fade. The Patriots offense may not be as dominant as they once were, but they’re still good enough that you don’t want your defense starting against them.
Sit