The Miami Dolphins missed the playoffs for the first time since 2021 this past season, finishing with an 8-9 record as the offense struggled to recapture its play from recent seasons.
Starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missed six games through injury, which all but condemned the Dolphins to a spot on the outside looking in. Tagovailoa’s long-term, as well as the current ambitions of the Dolphins, are unclear. There is one emerging bright spot for the Dolphins, though, heading into the 2025 NFL season—and that’s third-year running back De’Von Achane.
Achane has been one of the NFL’s best running backs since the Dolphins drafted him out of Texas A&M in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and according to Bleacher Report’s Moe Molton, the former Aggie is the Dolphins’ most promising building block heading into the 2025 season.
“In 2024, De'Von Achane led the Miami Dolphins with 1,499 scrimmage yards. Because of his speed and production in the passing game, he could rack up over 2,000 yards this year.” Molton writes.
It was Achane’s explosiveness that turned the heads of the Dolphins brass in the pre-draft process. Achane is one of the shiftiest running backs in the NFL, and his breakaway speed, combined with the explosiveness of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle makes the Dolphins the fastest offense in the NFL.
“Jaylen Wright could see an expanded role following Raheem Mostert’s departure, in free agency.” Molton adds, “Seventh-year veteran Alexander Mattison and rookie sixth-rounder Ollie Gordon III could contribute to the rotation, but Achane will be the most explosive player in the Dolphins' backfield.”
Though Achane hasn’t crossed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in his two seasons in the NFL, he has been one of the most productive running backs in the league, averaging 5.8 yards per carry and adding 23 total touchdowns. It’s easy to see why an expanded role for Achane is on the horizon.
The Dolphins' offense needs that explosion from Achane, too. The team’s running game has struggled for efficiency in recent seasons, and the addition of offensive linemen James Daniels and Jonah Savaiinaea through free agency and the draft means the front office is aware that they need to dedicate resources to improving on the ground. That makes Achane a hot commodity and a potential building block for the team.
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