Miami Dolphins RB De’Von Achane was a fantasy football sensation through the first part of the 2023 NFL season. However, a knee injury put a halt to the rookie’s sensational start to the season. What is the latest injury update for Achane, and when can fantasy managers expect him to return?
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Latest Injury Update for De’Von Achane
Achane was placed on injured reserve (IR) ahead of Week 6 of the 2023 season. He left the game against the New York Giants in Week 5, but his presence on the field post-game calmed a lot of nerves. However, we soon found out that Achane would have to miss time and would be placed on IR.
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Since then, updates have been reasonably light, as is expected with players on IR. However, we found out from ESPN’s Adam Schefter ahead of Week 6 that Achane is expected to be able to return after missing four games.
When Will Achane Return?
The report from Schefter gives us a reasonably clear idea of Achane’s timeline. Being placed on IR means a player must miss a minimum of four games. Achane has already missed Week 6 and Week 7, which means he has to sit out a minimum of two more games.
That would put Achane in line to return in Week 10. However, the Dolphins are on a bye in Week 10, so the earliest the Dolphins RB will return is Week 11. Based on what we know, it’s reasonable to predict that Achane will be back for the game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 11.
We may get a clearer indication of the timeline from head coach Mike McDaniel before Achane is eligible. However, if that’s not the case, the first step will be when the Dolphins designate him to return to practice. The team then has a 21-day window to activate the RB to the 53-man roster or rule him out for the season.
What Is Achane’s Fantasy Value?
Fantasy managers couldn’t have asked for more from Achane. After touching the ball just twice in Week 2, the rookie broke out in a huge way against the Denver Broncos in Week 3. The rookie carried the ball 18 times for 203 yards and two touchdowns. He added four receptions for 30 yards and another two touchdowns in Miami’s 70-20 rout of Sean Payton’s squad.
Achane followed up that outing with another big performance in Week 4 when he rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. He added another 19 yards on three receptions. Week 5 was another big one, with Achane racking up 165 total yards and a touchdown on 12 touches.
In those three games, Achane scored a total of 91.9 fantasy points in non-PPR scoring for an average of 30.6 fantasy points per game. His fantasy points per opportunity (rushing attempts + targets) over that stretch was a mind-boggling 1.91. He averaged 12.3 yards per rush and scored a touchdown on 15.6% of his touches.
Quite simply, it’s unreasonable to expect Achane to continue to be that efficient with his touches. We saw the Dolphins’ offensive line struggle against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7 and the impact it had on the running game. Things won’t always be that tough, but expecting Achane to have the same efficiency when he returns would be extremely optimistic.
Achane is a player that fantasy managers should hold at this point, but he could be a very important trade chip closer to his return in Week 11. At that point, other managers in the league may be willing to pay a premium price expecting him to return with huge numbers. Unless your roster is in a nice spot at that point, it may be worth selling the rookie RB in order to add talent elsewhere, especially if someone is willing to overpay.