MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — A month ago, De’Von Achane was — at best — the Miami Dolphins‘ No. 4 running back (and No. 5 if you include Alec Ingold, which you should).
On Sunday, he will likely be one snap away from RB1.
So beyond hoping that Raheem Mostert doesn’t become the latest Dolphins running back to get hurt, what should be Miami’s approach Sunday against the Denver Broncos?
Miami Dolphins’ De’Von Achane Outlook
With Jeff Wilson Jr. on injured reserve (IR) and Salvon Ahmed dealing with a groin injury, the Dolphins enter Week 3 with three healthy running backs on their active roster: Mostert, Achane, and Chris Brooks.
The Dolphins do have one other option on their practice squad: Darrynton Evans.
But that’s it.
So the assumption should be that Mostert will be the Dolphins’ featured back (again) on Sunday, with Achane playing the Ahmed role.
Ahmed and Achane have been on the field for 37 of a possible 130 offensive snaps and have gotten 11 of the 44 running back touches (including Ingold) through the first two weeks.
That would mean Achane — who was a healthy scratch just two weeks ago — could expect to get five or so carries and have a small role in the passing game.
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“I thought he did well with his opportunities,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said this week. “You can tell that the game is not too big for him. The biggest challenge is absorbing the entirety of the game plan, which I think he’s made vast improvements upon really since the spring and through training camp.
“I think, fortunately for the team, he’s prepared for the further opportunities that he’ll be given moving forward,” McDaniel added.
RB coach Eric Studesville talks De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert pic.twitter.com/SD0ohZk8N0
— Chris Perkins (@chrisperk) September 21, 2023
He could find the sledding a bit tough Sunday.
The Broncos’ run defense ranks fourth in success rate (31.8%), 10th in yards per carry allowed (3.5), 11th in rush defense (91.5), and 17th in rush defense EPA (-.11).
The Dolphins’ ground attack, meanwhile, is 12th in yards per carry (4.3) and success rate (41.3%), 15th in yards per game (107.5), but just 23rd in rush EPA (-.2).
“It don’t start on Sunday,” Achane said of why he believes he’ll have success. “It started Monday through Saturday. Yeah. I feel like I put in the work at practice. So on game days, it’s easy. The hardest part is at practice. So in a game, it should be easy.”