
Miami Dolphins RB Lamar Miller doesn’t have a lot of competition for touches behind him. Or does he, from rookie Jay Ajayi, and can Miller handle a bigger workload?
Ryan Tannehill
The Dolphins said they viewed Tannehill as an ascending talent when they announced his six-year, $95.3-million contract extension and fantasy minds want to know whether that applies to his fantasy prospects. Hey, why not? Tannehill has improved in almost every major offensive category since entering the league as a 1st round pick in 2012, finishing last season with career highs in completions (392), yards (4,045), touchdown passes (27) and rushing yards (317) while throwing for just 12 interceptions. He clearly adapted well to offensive coordinator Bill Lazor’s system and should show continued improvement in 2015. Helping matters is the offensive talent that surrounds him, with the Dolphins revamping their group of wide receivers to feature Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills, 1st round pick Devante Parker and veteran Greg Jennings, as well as signing tight end Jordan Cameron in free agency. The one wart in Tannehill’s game has been his inability to connect on deep passes. We rate him as a mid-tier QB1 with upside.
RB Lamar Miller
Three seasons into his career with the Dolphins, Miller has increased his rushing attempts, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, receptions and reception yards in every season. Last season, he finished the year as the 9th ranked fantasy running back with 1,099 rushing yards, 275 receiving yards and nine total touchdowns. Looking forward to 2015, the question is whether Miami will increase his usage which would also increase his chances of emerging as an elite fantasy option. Rookie 5th round pick Jay Ajayi seems like the only option on the depth chart likely to challenge Miller for touches in a meaningful way, but it’s worth remembering that journeyman Daniel Thomas and youngster Damien Williams were Miller’s major challengers for touches last season when he averaged 15.9 touches per game and never had 20 carries in a game. While offseason reports indicate that Miller has gained weight in order to handle a bigger workload, we don’t expect that he will surpass 300 touches and given his inability to bust many big plays despite his outstanding speed, Miller rates as a mid to upper tier RB2 next season.
RB Jay Ajayi
With Lamar Miller entering a contract year and little depth at running back, the Dolphins used a 5th round pick in this year’s draft to acquire Jay Ajayi. Most draft observers felt that he was a steal at that point in the draft and with little competition for touches behind Miller, Ajayi should earn some type of meaningful role as a rookie in 2015. How big will the role be? Since Miller has earned the lead back role, Ajayi will likely spell him with 8-10 touches per game and there is a chance that he could emerge as the team’s goal line back. He rates as a solid handcuff in 2015 and is a mid to upper tier prospect for dynasty purposes.
WR DeVante Parker
Having had enough of the Mike Wallace show, the Dolphins chose Louisville product DeVante Parker with the 14th overall selection in this year’s NFL Draft. At 6’3″ and 208 pounds and blessed with outstanding speed, Parker has the talent to emerge as one of the league’s leading wide receivers. In Miami, he rates as the only player on the team’s depth chart who has that type of potential so after the draft, we were expecting the Dolphins to make him a big part of their offensive package early in his rookie season. However, offseason foot surgery has put a damper on those expectations as well as the Dolphins plans for him in 2015. While they still expect that he will be ready for training camp, the truth is that Parker isn’t quite polished enough to emerge as a consistent threat early as a rookie after missing time in the offseason. While we rate him as an elite dynasty prospect, for re-draft purposes he is an intriguing WR4/5 who could supply solid production over the last half of the season. The only caveat here is quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s lack of touch on the deep ball.
WR Jarvis Landry
Taken in the 2nd round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Landry seemed to be a reach given his lack of size (5’11” and 205 pounds) and decent but not explosive speed (40 yard time of 4.51). Sure enough, he put up solid, yet pedestrian production as a rookie, hauling in 84 of his 112 targets (impressive) for 758 yards (YPR of 9.0, not impressive) and five touchdowns (marginally impressive). While Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson won’t return, they have been replaced by Kenny Stills, Greg Jennings and 1st round pick DeVante Parker, all threats on the outside. That means Landry will operate out of the slot once again in 2015 except his competition for touches there will now come from tight end Jordan Cameron, a clear upgrade over Charles Clay. Consider Landry an uninspiring WR4 with little upside in redraft formats and a middling dynasty prospect at best.
WR Kenny Stills
Two years into his career, the question with Stills is whether he has the ability to develop into a solid all around wide receiver or if he is little more than a deep threat. We know what the Saints view is since they traded him after two productive seasons during which he totaled 95 receptions for 1,572 yards and eight touchdowns, including 931 yards last season, for a 3rd round pick and a linebacker who was likely going to be released in Dannell Ellerbe. In Miami, Stills figures to fulfill much the same role that he did during his stay in New Orleans as an intermediate and deep threat. While we like Stills and what he did at the conclusion of last season (32 receptions on 41 targets for 500 yards and a score during his final six games), he faces an uphill battle to garner enough touches to breakout given the presence of Jarvis Landry, 1st round pick DeVante Parker and tight end Jordan Cameron. He rates as a mid-tier WR4 with upside.
WR Greg Jennings
Just two years after signing Greg Jennings to a five-year, $45-million contract with the Vikings, Minnesota released the 31-year old wide receiver due to his lack of production and large salary cap figure for the 2015 season. With few suitors in free agency, Jennings was left to sign with the Dolphins to provide insurance and veteran leadership to a young group of wide receivers. While Jennings may open the season in the starting line-up, it is only a matter of times before his targets dry up in favor of more explosive options such as Kenny Stills, rookie 1st round pick DeVante Parker and solid, 2nd year slot receiver Jarvis Landry.
TE Jordan Cameron
After a four-year stay in Cleveland that produced just one solid season, Cameron joins the Dolphins in 2015 hoping to replicate his career season from 2013 when he caught 80 passes for 917 yards and seven touchdowns. He suffered through an injury-plagued, unproductive season a year ago, appearing in just 10 games and catching 24 passes for 424 yards and a pair of touchdowns. At his best, Cameron is a 6’5″, 245 pound seam stretching tight end capable of producing big plays. However, he hasn’t been a consistent producer due to injuries, mainly concussions. In Miami, he seems to be an ideal fit in a passing attack that features a quarterback in Ryan Tannehill who is capable of hitting short and intermediate passes but who struggles on deep throws. If Cameron can stay healthy, he rates as a mid-tier TE1 with upside. But if you nab him in your fantasy draft, make sure to acquire an upper tier TE2 as insurance.