Camp Notes, Volume Six: Miami Dolphins
Dynasty fantasy football is our beloved stripped-down approximation of the NFL. We are the head coaches and general managers of our teams, choosing who stays or goes, and who plays or sits. NFL Training Camps are perhaps the best opportunity we have on the dynasty calendar to project how useful our assets will be in the coming season, particularly when it comes to managing the bottom third of our roster. The better you know the rosters of every NFL team, the more prepared you’ll be to execute the corresponding dynasty moves when camp news breaks. I’m mining all the beat reports, team websites, and post-practice press conferences to bring you a comprehensive overview of what’s going on this summer in all 32 training camps.
Miami Dolphins
Our sixth stop on the 2017 DLF Training Camp Tour is with the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins won ten games in 2016 and transitioned to a more balanced offense than we’ve seen from head coach Adam Gase. Jay Ajayi emerged as a game-breaking threat, rushing for over 200 yards on three occasions. Miami had the league’s 26th-ranked passing offense (in yardage) and the ninth-best rushing offense (in yardage). I don’t foresee much movement from either ranking in 2017, as Gase has repeatedly stressed that the team is committed to carrying over their run-heavy approach.
A team devoid of desirable dynasty assets just a few seasons ago, the Dolphins now have two top-36 dynasty startup players in Ajayi and Jarvis Landry. Dynasty owners have begun to buy in to the program, as every starting skill player and some reserves are being drafted inside the DLF top-240.
Dolphins rookies have been in camp since July 20 and veterans arrived on July 26.
Ryan Tannehill ended 2016 on the injury list. The good news for Dolphins fans is that he’s been practicing in full since veterans reported to camp. Tannehill remains a low-end QB2 for dynasty purposes based on his talent and his low-volume passing offense. Short of a major uptick in passing touchdown production in 2017, it’s tough to envision him climbing much by this time next season.
On a positive note, Jay Ajayi has been more involved as a receiver early in camp, which is music to dynasty owners’ ears. However, he was concussed during a non-live period on August 1st. The team is reportedly giving him a week off, although he’s officially in the league’s concussion protocol. He will likely miss the first preseason game. Starters don’t typically play much in the first preseason game anyway. Ajayi has risen in dynasty ADP rapidly this off-season and is now a consensus RB1. Owners will be monitoring this situation closely.
While Ajayi recovers, 2016 third round pick Kenyan Drake is running with the starters in camp. Drake was effective in a limited role last season, averaging an impressive 5.4 yards per carry. Despite Drake’s receiving ability being mentioned as a strength in last year’s SWOT, the Dolphins seem to prefer Damien Williams catching passes out of the backfield. Drake should absolutely be owned in every dynasty league, but if Ajayi were to miss significant time, it would likely result in a committee with Drake in the early down role and Williams in the third down and change of pace role.
Jarvis Landry had another impressive campaign in 2016 and finished as a high-end WR2 in fantasy. This season could present a strong trade opportunity for dynasty owners. His numbers will likely drop due to the continued focus on the run-game, and the emergence of some of the other options on offense. Landry will be an unrestricted free agent in 2018 and the team has not shown interest in re-signing him yet. Free agency would represent a likely improved passing game situation for Landry, as the Dolphins rank near the bottom of the league. Not many places would be worse than Miami.
DeVante Parker quietly had a nice second season, posting a line of 56/744/4 on 87 targets. I’m looking for Gase to install more play action passes in 2017 and I think Parker will be a primary benefactor. Parker has been seeing a lot of deep targets in camp. If he can steal a few long touchdowns from Kenny Stills this season then he could post his first WR3 finish, or better. Parker is also an interesting buy candidate on the speculation that Landry will leave. If he shows any improvement at all in 2017, then he could become the team’s featured passing weapon in 2018. According to the Miami-Herald, Parker “blew-up” the first day of camp, catching two touchdowns in first full team period.
Leonte Carroo has had a mostly positive camp so far and is running with the second–team offense. He’s making catches in traffic and Gase has been quoted as saying Carroo’s off-season weight loss appears to have improved his conditioning.
Julius Thomas landed in Miami as part of an off-season trade. He reportedly starred during minicamp, but he’s been relinquishing some of his first-team reps to Anthony Fasano in training camp.
Possible Cuts (among dynasty relevant players): None
Projected ADP Risers
Players Who Will Rise 1 or more rounds in startup ADP by the end of the 2017 Season: Devante Parker, Kenyan Drake
Projected ADP Fallers
Players Who Will Fall 1 or more rounds in startup ADP by the end of the 2017 Season: Julius Thomas
Waiver Wire Watch List (players with ADP >240): None
- Mount Bust-More? Historical Context for 2017’s Early First Round WRs - December 28, 2017
- The Return of Josh Gordon - December 2, 2017
- Player Value: Two Wide Receivers Who Might Never Be Cheaper - September 15, 2017
