Take a good look at the Miami Dolphins roster and you’ll notice there are quite a few players that will likely end up at the end of your fantasy team’s bench. Plenty of roster-able players but little to no star power (Jarvis Landry at best). It’s a very interesting fantasy dichotomy in that there are so many Dolphins players that will find there way onto a fantasy roster but only one or two that will be started by the masses on a weekly basis. For what it’s worth, I’ll take Landry and I may take a flier on DeVante Parker.
WR Jarivs Landry
The 5’11 206 lbs. slot receiver, after the catch dynamo flashed big time potential during his rookie season (2014) and rewarded his PPR/DFS owners last season with 111 receptions on an incredibly healthy 165 targets good for 6th most in the NFL. Landry’s route-running, hands (contested catches) and ability to turn a short completion into a first down make him the quintessential WR2 in most fantasy football formats and a low-end WR1 in full point per reception leagues. Inconsistency at the quarterback position and the lack of touchdowns (five and four in 2014 and 2015 respectively) caps his overall fantasy potential typically but with the offensive mind of Adam Gase in town it’s feasible that Landry could match his career TD total in 2016.
RB Jay Ajayi
I’m avoiding the Dolphins backfield, hence I’m not recommending investing in Jay Ajayi because I am not sure what to make of Ajayi. He had a few highlight reel, physical runs down the stretch last season but his 49/187/1 line and more importantly his 3.8 yards per carry aren’t encouraging. Certainly, with Lamar Miller out of town and getting the nod atop the preseason depth chart the arrow appears to be pointing up. However, there were a number of negative reports coming out of Miami regarding Ajayi’s performance, particularly with respect to his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. The Phins also invested a 2016 third round pick in fellow running back Kenyan Drake who is a superior receiver and they signed free agent running back Arian Foster who is also a better player in the passing game. So, Ajayi at best seems relegated to early down work. He may or may not get the goal line touches and he has legitimate injury concerns (as do Foster and Drake). Even with what should be an improved offensive line and better, more imaginative play-calling this committee presumably led by Ajayi is a risky proposition.
WR DeVante Parker
Parker’s rookie season was marred by injury but the talent is undeniable. His 26/494/3 line is a small sample but suggests big-time, big-play ability. The 19.0 yards per catch is unsustainable with a larger sample size but Parker’s ability to stack defensive backs and attack the football at it’s highest point is a lot like Alshon Jeffery who has a career average just under 15 yards. That’s the type of production Parker is capable of but he like Jeffery has struggled with injuries . In fact, Parker has missed a substantial portion of training camp with a hamstring injury and soft-tissue injuries have a tendency to linger and/or re-occur. He was a flier selection last season and he’s shaping up to be one in 2016. That being said, outside of Landry, he’s the only Dolphin that I would recommend investing a draft selection in this fantasy season (late).
Others of note:
- RB Arian Foster
- WR Kenny Stills
- TE Jordan Cameron
- QB Ryan Tannehill
