I'm talking about your fantasy football team, and since we are a site focused on the Dolphins, I figured it would be a good idea to do a post focused on who you should consider drafting from the Miami Dolphins on your fantasy football team. I will be dividing the discussion into three sections: high-performance players, players worthy of a roster spot, and players reserved for deeper leagues. Let's get started.
High-Performance Fantasy Players
Bush has said that he is aiming for the rushing title this year, and while I'm not sure if he will be able to do that or not, I am sure that he will be able to put up big numbers again. He is coming in this season as the clear starter in Miami's offense. He didn't really produce at a high level last season until Week 8 against the Giants. Since the game against New York he has been a different running back. My guess is that he will be able to carry the momentum he had to finish off last year into this season.
Not only will Bush be the primary back, he'll also be lining up as a wide receiver. He will have plenty of touches this season, and I expect he will put up numbers that will make fantasy owners very happy. AND, if you're in a PPR (points-per-reception) league, then Bush becomes even more valuable with all of the receptions that he is bound to have.
On top of all that, Bush missed only one game last season. If he is able to stay healthy you can be sure that he will produce at a high level.
Dolphins Worthy of a Roster Spot
Chad Johnson, WR - I don't care what anyone says about Mr. Ochocinco. He is still capable of putting up great numbers. He wasn't a good fit with the New England Patriots because they had a very complex offense that he was never able to master. Miami's offense is much simpler, so you can expect to see him return to the kind of numbers that he had in Cincinnati. I would not be surprised at all if he was able to put up 1,000 yards this year, and that makes him an absolute steal compared to where he is being drafted. He is Miami's most talented receiver, and that's not a knock on any of the Dolphins receivers. He is just a great wide receiver, and now that he is comfortable he will produce like one. Draft him late and be glad you did.
Dolphins for Deeper Leagues
Are you in a fantasy league with a large roster? Are you in a dynasty or keeper league where you keep players on your team for multiple years? If so then this next list of players could be very valuable to you. Here are some players that you shouldn't draft early, but you should consider drafting later on.
Daniel Thomas, RB - Thomas looked good at the beginning of the season last year, but after he was injured he seemed to fade away. I think there's a good chance Thomas will play like he was when he started the year, and Reggie Bush has had a history of injuries so he could get a few starts with a significant amount of carries.
Lamar Miller, RB - Miller is an intriguing prospect, because you know he will get a lot of touches if Reggie Bush goes down. I still think that Daniel Thomas is ahead of him on the depth chart this year, but if you are doing a league where you keep a player for longer than just a year Miller might be a great investment.
Charles Clay, HB/TE - Clay is the player in this list of deeper guys that I think has a chance to break out and put up some great numbers. He might not be a household name, but you can just use that to your advantage. Take him with one of your last picks, and you could end up with a starting fantasy TE. I would really recommend him for dynasty and keeper leagues because he is young and could produce for years to come.
Davone Bess and Brian Hartline, WRs - Both Bess and Hartline are solid players that can put up solid numbers. If you need a receiver as a fill-in for an injury or a bye week you can draft either and know that you will get some production out of either. If I had to choose one I would say Bess (especially for PPR) because I feel like he fits perfectly into this new offense. He is a clean, quick route runner, and that will pay off for him in Miami's new system.
Roberto Wallace and Julius Pruitt, WRs - Only get these guys if you can hold them for a year or two. I feel like one of them will take over as a number one receiver once Chad Johnson is gone, but the problem for me is figuring out which one will do it. Wallace has been getting rave reviews from a lot of different people in practices so far this offseason, but Pruitt has been known to put up three touchdown games in practice. He hasn't translated that to a real game yet, but the potential is there.
Ryan Tannehill, QB - Tannehill is another player that you should draft to hold on to for a year or two before starting. Eventually he will be given the reins as the starter for the Dolphins, but he will need a year or two to develop. Draft Tannehill with the expectation that in a few years you will get a quarterback who will likely be a starting fantasy QB.
That's all we've got for today. I hope you guys liked the post. Feel free to email me at paul@dolphinshout.com. I'm also on twitter at @PaulDSmythe.
