Fantasy Football 2017 Team Preview: Miami Dolphins
This is the 2017 fantasy preview of the Miami Dolphins. In this preview I will provide the Must-Own players, Sleepers, and Longshot players with upside very deep in drafts.
Must-own players are those who should be owned by someone in any league. Handcuff RBs can qualify, as they are often very important to a fantasy team over the full schedule. Sleepers are secondary players that you may find on the waiver wire at some point in the year, or may go undrafted in shallower auction-style leagues. The Longshots are players with microscopic ADP, who are being drafted at the very end of drafts, or more likely not drafted at all.
All ADP data is courtesy of FantasyPros.com.
**I will list all kickers, but I cannot give analysis on them. Sorry :-/
MUST OWNS
Jay Ajayi, RB (ADP: 14): Ajayi is the eighth RB off the board, and I’d argue he should go even higher. Ajayi is the centerpiece of a Miami offense which should score a lot of points. Head coach Adam Gase is a strong offensive mind, the skill positions are loaded, and even though they lost Ryan Tannehill, Jay Cutler is an effective starting QB. And with all that, Ajayi is the engine. Once Ajayi officially got the job, he averaged 21 attempts per game, at a five-yard per carry clip. He eclipsed 200 yards three times, and only turned in three duds in that 10-game stretch. Ajayi has the opportunity to not only approach 300 carries in 2017, he gets four matchups against the tanking Jets and Bills. I love his opportunity this year, and am projecting him to be a better version of 2016 Melvin Gordon.
Jarvis Landry, WR (ADP: 52): Landry has crossed over from exciting upside receiver, to safe, boring pick. He’s a PPR machine, but in three excellent years he’s never scored more than five touchdowns. Simply put, Landry is one of the best slot receivers in the game, but he’s proven he does not possess elite WR1 upside. Now, with Cutler in the fold, Landry may actually take a hit since Cutler is more apt to chuck it to his deep threats than utilize Landry underneath. If his targets fall, Landry actually carries a bit of bust potential. I’m not predicting a major falloff, but I am less excited about him than I have been in previous years.
DeVante Parker, WR (ADP: 97): Parker has all the tools to be a big time receiver, but in his first two years he’s had so much hype and only delivered very fleeting glimpses of his potential. Sure he could break out – and Cutler calling him a faster version of Alshon Jeffrey is enticing – but he’s never proven he can be a consistent stud over a whole season, and he has plenty of competition for targets. I think this is still a bit high for Parker, but I’m surely in the minority. I’m willing to try his teammate Kenny Stills much later; you’ll hear more on him in the Sleepers category.
SLEEPERS
Julius Thomas, TE (ADP: 177): Thomas is a complete afterthought in drafts, and that’s to be expected. He’s a long time removed from back-to-back 12-touchdown campaigns with Peyton Manning. Thomas is still a very talented player, with excellent hands and a big body built for red zone work. If he clicks with Cutler early, Thomas has the upside of a double-digit TE, and he’s basically free right now. If you are waiting until the last three rounds for your TE, Thomas is worth a look.
Kenny Stills, WR (ADP: 210): Stills has arguably the same upside as Parker, and yet he is going 113 picks later. Stills only caught 42 passes in 2016, but averaged more than 17 yards per catch and scored nine touchdowns. If you think that TD total was a fluke, fine, but he is the team’s most accomplished deep threat, and he highlights Jay Cutler’s premium feature – arm strength. I would much rather own Stills at this ADP than Parker at No. 97, and I think Stills will be a viable FLEX play on an almost weekly basis.
LONGSHOTS
Kenyan Drake, RB (ADP: 240): Drake is buried behind Ajayi, but I love him as a handcuff, and as a breakout if Ajayi gets hurt. Look, no RB is safe from the injury bug. Ajayi will run rumpant if healthy, but if he misses a lot of time Drake has major talent. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry in limited action as a rookie, and he showed receiving chops at Alabama in college. I like him as a player; he’s potentially worthless in 2017 as a fantasy option, but he’s worth a stash.
Jay Cutler, QB (ADP: 203): Cutler has long had a reputation as an ultimate upside gunslinger, but over a long career he’s never hit his supposed ceiling. Cutler has surpassed 25 touchdowns just twice in his career, hasn’t played in 16 games since 2010, and is a lock for double-digit picks. That limits him from some kind of shocking Top 5 QB contention. He is, however, surrounded with talent in Miami so a low-end Top 12 season is possible. Cutler should be viewed as a fairly competent backup QB who can be used in very favorable matchups.
KICKER
Andrew Franks.