The Miami Dolphins are the practical application of the cliché that the best move is often the one you don’t make.
Past-his-prime Sean Payton as coach. Late-stage Tom Brady as quarterback. Trade talks or free agent talks in the offseason involving almost every big-name running back in the league — a list that, according to the New York Post, included Saquon Barkley.
Barkley’s New York Giants visit Mike McDaniel’s Dolphins on Sunday, but there has been significant uncertainty in the lead-up about Barkley’s availability.
The chronically injured back has missed the last two games with a high-ankle sprain and made no promises this week that he would play Sunday.
“I’d definitely say I’m in a better spot than where I was last Thursday,’’ Barkley said. “So, [I’m] definitely encouraged, but I don’t want to make any guarantees. [I’m] continuing to trust in my body and trust in the training staff and go from there.’’
The Dolphins, meanwhile, have no concerns about the availability of De’Von Achane, the rookie phenom who might not even be on the game-day active roster if the Dolphins actually traded for Barkley in the offseason.
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Miami Dolphins’ De’Von Achane > New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley (in 2023)
In less than a month, Achane has gone from a healthy scratch to a fantasy must-play. He has 362 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns on just 35 touches this year.
Read that again. Achane is averaging 10.3 yards every time his number is called and is scoring a touchdown more than once out of every six carries or catches.
These outsize zone pitch plays from the shotgun formation are a thing of beauty because of De’Von Achane’s speed and vision. pic.twitter.com/6XTn5i6YaM
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) October 2, 2023
Achane, who won the AFC Offensive Player of the Week Award in just his second career game, is one of four players to score six touchdowns in their first three games (Kareem Hunt, Billy Sims, and Dutch Sternaman were the others).
The 203 rushing yards he gained in that game (the Dolphins’ 50-point win over the Denver Broncos) were the most in a player’s first or second NFL game since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, per the Dolphins.
What’s more, Achane rushed for more yards that week than Barkley has all season.
“Oh my gosh, I mean, you guys see it,” said Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. “I think the entire NFL can see it. Dude’s a special player. He understands ball like the back of his hand.”
MORE: 2023 NFL Offense Rankings
Added Jaylen Waddle, Miami’s third-year wide receiver: “I told y’all way back when, when he first came in, that he was going to be a special player here. I’m standing by that. He’s going to be a special player for years to come.”
Sounds like the sort of thing people once said about Saquon Barkley.
Week 5 Achane Fantasy Analysis
With the rookie out-snapping Mostert 39-28 against the Buffalo Bills (28-16 in routes run), things are clearly trending in a positive direction. That puts him as an RB2 in my Week 5 rankings.
It’s perfectly fine to be excited by what you’ve seen from Achane. It’s also perfectly fine to fade my concerns. I just worry that the touch volume lacks enough upside to balance the inevitable decline of per-touch production.
— PFN Fantasy Analyst Kyle Soppe