Miami Dolphins 2026 Season Preview: Betting and Fantasy Outlook

The Miami Dolphins are not attempting a minor correction.

They are beginning over.

Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Bradley Chubb, Minkah Fitzpatrick and several other veterans are gone. Mike McDaniel is no longer the head coach, and Chris Grier is no longer constructing the roster.

Miami absorbed record-setting dead money, hired first-time general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and first-time head coach Jeff Hafley, signed Malik Willis and selected a league-high 13 players in the 2026 NFL Draft.

De’Von Achane is the centerpiece. Everything else is being evaluated.

The market has responded with a 4.5-win total, the lowest in the AFC East, and enormous prices against Miami reaching the playoffs. That number creates a different betting question than the one surrounding a contender: How quickly can a young roster become functional, and how many games can elite speed at quarterback and running back steal before the schedule overwhelms the depth?

This Miami Dolphins 2026 season preview examines the rebuild, coaching systems, schedule, betting odds, fantasy targets, win-total value and final prediction.

Last updated: August 16, 2026

Miami Dolphins 2026 Outlook at a Glance

Category	Dolphins outlook
2025 record	7-10
2025 finish	Third in AFC East
Playoff result	Missed playoffs
Head coach	Jeff Hafley
Offensive coordinator	Bobby Slowik
Defensive coordinator	Sean Duggan
Current win total	4.5 wins
Primary offensive strength	De’Von Achane and explosive rushing speed
Primary defensive strength	Young interior talent and Jordyn Brooks
Biggest offensive question	Malik Willis and an inexperienced receiver room
Biggest defensive question	Creating edge pressure and stabilizing the secondary
Early record projection	5-12
Projected division finish	Fourth in AFC East
Preseason betting position	Over lean only at a strong plus price

Miami is young enough to improve rapidly and thin enough to unravel after a few injuries. The 4.5-win market is low for a reason, but a five-win projection makes the price more important than the direction.

What Happened to the Dolphins in 2025?

Miami finished 7-10 after beginning the season 1-6.

The Dolphins recovered enough to win five of six games during the second half, including a 30-13 home victory over Buffalo. They still missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season and closed with a 38-10 loss in New England.

The offense averaged 20.4 points, 25th in the league. Tagovailoa passed for 2,660 yards, while rookie Quinn Ewers added 622 after receiving late-season opportunities.

Achane was the exception to the inconsistency.

He rushed for 1,350 yards on 238 carries, led the league at 5.7 yards per attempt and caught 67 passes for 488 yards. His 1,838 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns established him as the player Miami could confidently build around.

Waddle led the team with 910 receiving yards. Greg Dulcich finished next among traditional pass catchers with only 335, illustrating how dependent the offense remained on a few players.

The defense allowed 24.9 points per game, 24th in the league. Jordyn Brooks recorded 183 tackles and became the emotional center of the unit. Zach Sieler remained productive inside, but the secondary and edge rush did not consistently control passing downs.

Miami’s late improvement was real. It was not enough to convince the new leadership that the roster could contend without major change.

The official Dolphins statistics provide the numerical case for the rebuild: one elite running back surrounded by below-average passing production and a defense that did not create enough margin.

Major Miami Dolphins Offseason Changes

Sullivan used the offseason to create financial flexibility, accumulate draft capital and establish a younger core.

Important Additions

GM Jon-Eric Sullivan
HC Jeff Hafley
OC Bobby Slowik
DC Sean Duggan
QB Malik Willis
WR Tutu Atwell
WR Jalen Tolbert
G/T Jamaree Salyer
S Zayne Anderson
EDGE Joshua Uche
EDGE David Ojabo
EDGE Clelin Ferrell
CB Alex Austin
CB Marco Wilson
OT/G Caedan Wallace
OT Kadyn Proctor
CB Chris Johnson
LB Jacob Rodriguez

Important Departures

GM Chris Grier
HC Mike McDaniel
QB Tua Tagovailoa
WR Tyreek Hill
WR Jaylen Waddle
EDGE Bradley Chubb
S Minkah Fitzpatrick
FB Alec Ingold
K Jason Sanders
OL James Daniels
OL Liam Eichenberg
WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

Tagovailoa’s release produced a record dead-cap burden. Miami accepted that cost instead of extending a competitive window the new front office did not believe existed.

Waddle was traded to Denver for a package that included first-, third- and fourth-round selections. Miami used the additional capital to draft Johnson, Chris Bell and Trey Moore.

Hill was released after failing his physical. Chubb was also released and later signed with Buffalo. Fitzpatrick was sent to the Jets for a seventh-round selection.

The incoming veteran class is intentionally modest. Willis received the largest commitment, while most other additions are competition pieces rather than expensive foundational players.

Miami’s official transaction page documents how extensive the turnover became.

Miami Dolphins 2026 Draft Class

Miami selected 13 players, more than any other team.

OT Kadyn Proctor, No. 12 overall
CB Chris Johnson, No. 27
LB Jacob Rodriguez, No. 43
WR Caleb Douglas, No. 75
TE Will Kacmarek, No. 87
WR Chris Bell, No. 94
LB Trey Moore, No. 130
LB Kyle Louis, No. 138
S Michael Taaffe, No. 158
WR Kevin Coleman Jr., No. 177
TE Seydou Traore, No. 180
G DJ Campbell, No. 200
EDGE Max Llewellyn, No. 238

Proctor played left tackle at Alabama but opened the preseason as Miami’s starting left guard. At 6-foot-6 and 352 pounds, he gives the offense the size Hafley and Sullivan wanted while reducing the immediate pressure of protecting the edge.

Johnson is competing as the starting nickel corner. His physicality, ball production and special-teams experience fit Hafley’s aggressive coverage philosophy.

Rodriguez won nearly every major defensive award available at Texas Tech and finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting. Miami lists him alongside Tyrel Dodson in the competition to start next to Brooks.

Douglas has already earned first-team receiver work. His 6-foot-4 frame gives Willis a large target the rebuilt room otherwise lacks. Bell is recovering from a late-college ACL tear and opened camp on the non-football injury list.

Kacmarek and Traore strengthen a tight-end room that may become more important in Slowik’s offense. Moore, Louis, Taaffe and Llewellyn add athleticism to every level of the defense.

This class does not need 13 immediate starters. It needs four or five dependable long-term contributors and several useful role players.

The full group is available through the official Dolphins draft tracker.

Jeff Hafley’s Coaching Style

Hafley arrives after two seasons as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator.

His preferred identity includes:

Aggressive press coverage
Single-high safety structures
Corners challenging releases
Simulated pressure
Four-man rushes created through alignment
Fast linebackers attacking downhill
Defensive backs playing with clear rules
Physical practices
Accountability independent of draft status
An offense built to support the defense rather than chase style points

Hafley’s Packers defense played faster and more aggressively than the passive structures that preceded him. He wants defenders to disrupt timing rather than concede easy completions and wait for mistakes.

That philosophy explains several personnel decisions. Johnson received first-team nickel work immediately. Rodriguez is competing with a veteran despite being a rookie. Miami added multiple edge players without guaranteeing any one of them a permanent role.

Hafley must also manage a full rebuild. Development, practice habits and response to adversity may be more important than the difference between five and six victories in Year 1.

Bobby Slowik’s Offensive System

Slowik comes from the Shanahan coaching tree and previously called Houston’s offense.

The system should use:

Wide-zone runs
Split-flow action
Bootlegs
Moving pockets
Condensed formations
Pre-snap motion
Intermediate crossing routes
Play action from under center
Quarterback movement
Running backs as receivers
Multiple tight ends

Willis and Achane make the rushing geometry unusually difficult. A defensive end who crashes toward Achane risks allowing Willis to keep the ball. A linebacker who widens toward Willis creates an interior lane for the back.

Slowik cannot recreate McDaniel’s old offense without Hill and Waddle. He can build a simpler attack that uses speed in the backfield, defined quarterback reads and bigger targets over the middle.

The challenge is obvious. Defenses will crowd the line until Willis and the young receivers prove they can win outside.

Malik Willis’ 2026 Outlook

Miami signed Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million contract with $45 million guaranteed.

The deal gives him a real opportunity without making him financially untouchable.

Willis spent two seasons developing behind Jordan Love in Green Bay. In 2025, he completed 18 of 21 passes for 288 yards in a standout appearance against Baltimore and finished the season with 422 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

His Miami preseason debut was encouraging. Willis completed 4 of 5 passes for 43 yards and led a 14-play, 93-yard touchdown drive against Washington. The starters left after Achane finished the possession with a 1-yard score, and Miami did not score again in a 20-7 loss.

One drive does not resolve the position. It demonstrated the intended formula.

Reasons for Optimism

Willis owns elite quarterback speed
Achane creates option stress
Slowik can move the pocket
Proctor adds power to the interior line
Patrick Paul and Jonah Savaiinaea are young building blocks
Douglas gives Willis a large target
Dulcich can work the middle of the field
Willis protected the ball during limited 2025 action
The low market expectation reduces external pressure

Reasons for Concern

Willis has only six career starts
The receiver room lacks a proven No. 1 option
Miami opens with consecutive road games
The schedule includes multiple elite defenses
Austin Jackson’s health has been inconsistent
Willis must prove he can win when defenses contain the run
The backup offense struggled badly in the preseason opener
Miami’s defense may force the offense into negative game scripts

Betting outlook: Willis rushing markets may offer the clearest early value. Passing Overs require proof that Miami can protect him and that the receivers can separate.

Fantasy outlook: Willis is a high-variance QB2 with streaming upside. His rushing ability creates a path to usable weeks even if the passing volume remains limited.

De’Von Achane and the Dolphins Backfield

Achane is the most valuable player on Miami’s roster.

He rushed for 1,350 yards, caught 67 passes for 488 and scored 12 total touchdowns in 2025. His 5.7 yards per carry led the NFL.

Miami rewarded him with a four-year, $64 million extension through 2030.

Hafley has joked about giving Achane 40 or more touches. That specific number is unrealistic, but the intent is clear: Miami is building the offense through him.

Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II provide depth. Wright offers speed, while Gordon supplies a larger early-down body. Achane handled seven carries for 39 yards and a touchdown on the opening preseason drive, confirming that the new staff will not hide him from contact completely.

Fantasy position: Achane is an elite RB1 when healthy. His receiving role protects him during negative game scripts, although Miami’s overall touchdown ceiling is lower than that of other first-round fantasy backs.

Best handcuff: Wright offers the better explosive profile. Gordon may receive more direct goal-line work.

Betting variable: Achane’s reception markets may be safer than rushing Overs when Miami is a significant underdog.

Caleb Douglas and the Dolphins Receivers

No position group better represents the rebuild.

Douglas, a third-round rookie, is already listed with the starters. His size and catch radius can help Willis on slants, digs, back-shoulder throws and play-action crossers.

Malik Washington returns after producing 110 rushing yards and contributing underneath as a receiver in 2025. His quickness can create manufactured touches.

Jalen Tolbert brings starting experience from Dallas. Tutu Atwell provides vertical speed, and Jalen Reagor offers return ability. Kevin Coleman Jr. is competing for slot and special-teams work.

Bell may eventually become an important possession receiver, but his ACL recovery prevents a dependable early projection.

Best redraft target: Douglas
Safest short-area option: Washington
Best deep threat: Atwell
Best veteran value: Tolbert
Best dynasty stash: Bell
Best return-game sleeper: Coleman

Every Miami receiver is inexpensive for a reason. Douglas has the clearest path to meaningful targets, but no player should be drafted as though the depth chart guarantees efficient volume.

Greg Dulcich and the Dolphins Tight Ends

Dulcich produced 335 receiving yards in 2025 and enters camp as the starting tight end.

His movement skills fit Slowik’s play-action system, especially on crossers and seams. Availability has been the recurring concern throughout his career.

Kacmarek is a dependable blocker who can earn early snaps. Traore offers a more unusual developmental profile after growing up as a soccer goalkeeper in London and transitioning into an athletic receiving tight end.

Ben Sims adds veteran blocking depth.

Fantasy position: Dulcich is a deep TE2, not a dependable draft-day starter. Kacmarek is the rookie to monitor if Miami leans heavily into two-tight-end personnel.

Miami Dolphins Offensive-Line Analysis

The expected starting line includes:

LT Patrick Paul
LG Kadyn Proctor
C Aaron Brewer
RG Jonah Savaiinaea
RT Austin Jackson

This is a large, young group with genuine upside.

Paul enters his third season with the responsibility of protecting Willis’ blind side. Proctor brings rare size at left guard. Savaiinaea, a 2025 second-round pick, can settle into right guard after playing multiple positions.

Brewer is the veteran organizer and signed an extension through 2029. Jackson remains talented but must stay available.

Jamaree Salyer, Charlie Heck, DJ Campbell and Caedan Wallace provide depth. Miami acquired Wallace from New England on August 10 after the Patriots planned to waive him.

The starting five can become a strength. The preseason opener exposed concern behind it, as the second-team protection struggled after the starters left.

Betting variable: Miami’s rushing markets are more playable when all five starters are available. Any absence at tackle should affect Willis passing projections immediately.

Sean Duggan and the Dolphins Defense

Duggan will coordinate a defense built from Hafley’s principles.

Miami is expected to use aggressive coverage, varied pressure and a four-man front that can shift after the snap. Hafley will remain heavily involved.

The structure requires corners who can survive without constant safety help. It also requires edge rushers capable of winning before longer-developing routes break open.

Miami has young options. It does not yet have enough proven answers.

Dolphins Defensive Front and Edge Rush

Zach Sieler is the most dependable defensive lineman. He plays with leverage, finishes tackles and can rush from multiple interior alignments.

Kenneth Grant, a 2025 first-round pick, is competing with Jordan Phillips for a starting defensive-tackle role. Phillips earned unexpected first-team work after being drafted in the fifth round last year.

Chop Robinson remains the highest-upside edge player. His pressure rate must turn into more finished sacks.

Joshua Uche, David Ojabo, Clelin Ferrell, Robert Beal Jr., Trey Moore and Max Llewellyn create a deep competition without one guaranteed star.

The formula is volume. Hafley and Duggan can rotate fresh rushers, identify favorable matchups and allow the productive players to earn larger roles.

Early betting angle: Opposing passing Overs remain dangerous to fade until Miami demonstrates that its edge rotation can finish pressures.

Jordyn Brooks and the Dolphins Linebackers

Brooks recorded 183 tackles in 2025 and signed an extension that confirms his place in the new core.

He plays with range, physicality and the urgency Hafley wants.

Rodriguez and Dodson are listed as co-starters next to him. Rodriguez’s instincts and ball production make him one of the class’s most interesting rookies. Dodson supplies NFL experience.

Willie Gay Jr., Kyle Louis and Ronnie Harrison Jr. expand the sub-package options.

Miami can build around Brooks while allowing Rodriguez to earn responsibility instead of forcing him into every-down communication immediately.

Dolphins Secondary Outlook

Johnson opened as the first-team nickel corner. His physical style should translate quickly, but rookie corners remain volatile.

Jason Marshall Jr., Ethan Bonner, Alex Austin, Marco Wilson and Nick McCloud are competing outside. Darrell Baker Jr. and Storm Duck opened camp on PUP.

Zayne Anderson, Lonnie Johnson Jr., Michael Taaffe and Major Burns form a young safety group after Fitzpatrick’s departure.

The secondary may be the defense’s largest weekly variable. Hafley’s pressure and press concepts can create turnovers. They can also expose inexperienced corners to explosive plays.

Betting variable: Opposing receiver and longest-reception markets deserve early attention, particularly when Miami faces a quarterback capable of attacking man coverage outside.

Miami Dolphins 2026 Schedule

Week	Opponent	Schedule note
1	at Las Vegas Raiders	Road opener against rookie QB
2	at San Francisco 49ers	Second straight West Coast game
3	Kansas City Chiefs	Home opener
4	at Minnesota Vikings	Indoor road game
5	Cincinnati Bengals	Elite passing offense
6	Bye	Early developmental reset
7	at New York Jets	First division game
8	New England Patriots	Defending AFC champions
9	Detroit Lions	Home
10	at Indianapolis Colts	Road
11	at Buffalo Bills	Difficult division trip
12	New York Jets	Home
13	at Denver Broncos	Elite defense and altitude
14	Chicago Bears	Home
15	at Green Bay Packers	Hafley returns to Green Bay
16	Los Angeles Chargers	Home
17	Buffalo Bills	Home
18	at New England Patriots	Division road finale

Miami plays nine games against teams that reached the 2025 playoffs, tied for third most in the league.

The opening is especially difficult. The Dolphins travel to Las Vegas and San Francisco before hosting Kansas City, then visit Minnesota and host Cincinnati.

The Week 6 bye arrives early enough for Hafley to correct installation problems. It also leaves a young roster playing 12 consecutive weeks to finish the season.

The final six games include Denver, Chicago, Green Bay, the Chargers, Buffalo and New England. Five of those opponents entered the preseason with realistic playoff expectations.

The full breakdown is available through the official Dolphins schedule analysis.

Miami Dolphins 2026 Betting Odds

Current prices vary by sportsbook.

Market	Current general range
Regular-season win total	4.5
Over 4.5	Approximately +122 to +145
Under 4.5	Approximately -146 to -170
Make playoffs	Approximately +1400 to +1500
Miss playoffs	Approximately -4000
Win AFC East	Approximately +3500 to +4000
Win AFC	Approximately +15000
Win Super Bowl LXI	Approximately +25000 to +50000

The market treats Miami as one of the league’s least likely playoff teams. Updated prices can be compared through this Dolphins betting-odds overview.

Dolphins Win-Total Analysis

A 4.5 total creates a low threshold. Miami can lose 12 games and still cash the Over.

The price reflects that protection. Sportsbooks are charging significant juice on the Under while offering plus money on the Over.

Reasons to Consider Over 4.5

Achane is an elite offensive player
Willis adds rushing value at quarterback
The offensive line has young upside
Douglas has earned first-team work quickly
Miami selected 13 rookies
Brooks and Sieler provide defensive leadership
Hafley can improve coverage aggression
The early road opener at Las Vegas is winnable
Five victories are enough to cash
The Over is available at plus money

Reasons to Consider Under 4.5

Willis has only six career starts
Hill and Waddle are both gone
Miami absorbed enormous dead money
The receiver room is unproven
The secondary lacks established starters
The edge group lacks a dependable finisher
The schedule includes nine games against 2025 playoff teams
Miami opens with two West Coast road games
The Week 6 bye leaves a 12-game closing stretch
Depth problems appeared immediately in the preseason opener

Pappy’s PlayBook Preseason Position

Pass at the current lower prices; Over lean at +140 or better.

The early projection is 5-12, only one-half game above the total. At +140, the implied probability is approximately 41.7%, giving the Over enough price protection to become interesting. At +122, the edge is too narrow for this much uncertainty.

Price to consider Over 4.5: +140 or better
Price to consider Over 4: +110 or better
Price to consider Under 5.5: -115 or better
Automatic pass: Significant injury to Achane or Willis; multiple starting offensive linemen unavailable entering Week 1

This is not a prediction that Miami is good. It is a price-sensitive position that five wins may be more attainable than the market’s pessimism suggests.

AFC East and Super Bowl Outlook

Miami is a substantial favorite to finish last in the division.

Buffalo and New England are championship contenders. The Jets have added veteran experience and used three first-round picks. Miami is prioritizing development while carrying major dead money.

The AFC East price near +4000 is not automatically valuable because the Dolphins’ realistic division-win probability remains extremely low.

AFC East price to consider: +6000 or better
Make-playoffs price to consider: +2000 or better
AFC and Super Bowl recommendation: Pass at any practical price

Futures with enormous payouts can still be poor wagers. Miami would need Willis to become a legitimate franchise quarterback immediately, the rookie class to produce multiple starters and the top of the division to suffer major regression.

Review the Buffalo Bills 2026 season preview for the contender side of the AFC East market.

Weekly Dolphins Betting Angles to Monitor

Track Willis’ Designed Runs

Separate called quarterback runs from scrambles. Slowik’s intention matters for rushing attempts and injury exposure.

Price Achane by Game Script

Rushing volume is strongest when Miami remains competitive. Reception markets may offer better protection when the Dolphins are large underdogs.

Evaluate the Starting Five and the Depth Separately

Miami’s first offensive line can become functional. The backups struggled in the preseason opener. One injury may create a larger downgrade than the market expects.

Being listed first does not guarantee full-time usage. Route participation, third-down snaps and red-zone targets will determine whether he is a real betting and fantasy option.

Test the Corners Against Vertical Receivers

Hafley’s aggressive structure will expose the outside corners. Track explosive completions and penalties, not only interceptions.

Monitor Fourth-Quarter Competitiveness

Young teams can lose covers after the outcome appears decided. Hafley’s conditioning and depth will matter in large-spread games.

Account for the Long Closing Stretch

Miami has no bye after Week 6. Injury accumulation and rookie workload may create late-season downgrade spots.

Miami Dolphins Fantasy Football Targets

Safest Target: De’Von Achane

Achane is the only Miami player who belongs near the top of his position. His rushing efficiency and receiving role support elite RB1 value.

Best Quarterback Sleeper: Malik Willis

Willis can become a useful streamer through rushing production. He should not be drafted as a set-and-forget starter until the passing offense proves functional.

Best Receiver Target: Caleb Douglas

Douglas has the clearest combination of size, starting opportunity and target upside.

Best PPR Sleeper: Malik Washington

Miami can manufacture touches for Washington from the slot and backfield. His ceiling is limited unless his route share expands.

Best Best-Ball Target: Tutu Atwell

Atwell’s speed creates spike-week potential. His weekly floor is too low for dependable redraft use.

Best Running Back Handcuff: Jaylen Wright

Wright offers the closest athletic replacement if Achane misses time. Gordon may still take goal-line snaps.

Best Rookie Tight End: Will Kacmarek

Kacmarek can earn snaps through blocking and become a deeper receiving option as the offense develops.

Best Dynasty Stash: Chris Bell

Bell’s ACL recovery may delay his rookie contribution, but his college production and physical style fit a receiver room without established long-term starters.

Player to Draft Carefully: Greg Dulcich

Dulcich has route-running upside but an extensive injury history and competition from two drafted tight ends.

Dolphins Defense and Kicker

Miami’s defense should begin the year on fantasy waiver wires. The unit can create occasional pressure-based matchup value, but the secondary and edge rotation must prove themselves. The kicking position remains unsettled after Zane Gonzalez was placed on injured reserve.

Best-Case Scenario

Willis proves his Green Bay development is real and Slowik builds an efficient option-based offense around him and Achane.

Proctor stabilizes the line, Douglas becomes a legitimate starting receiver and multiple defenders from the 13-player draft class contribute immediately.

Hafley creates a fast, aggressive defense that wins turnover variance.

Miami finishes 7-10 or 8-9 and enters 2027 with clarity at quarterback and several young foundational players.

Worst-Case Scenario

Defenses contain the rushing game and force Willis to win from obvious passing situations.

The inexperienced receivers struggle to separate, the offensive line loses a starter and Achane is asked to absorb an unsustainable workload.

The secondary allows explosive plays, the edge group cannot finish pressures and the long post-bye schedule wears down the roster.

Miami finishes 2-15 or 3-14 and enters the 2027 draft searching for another quarterback.

Final Miami Dolphins 2026 Prediction

Miami’s rebuild is coherent even if the first season is difficult.

The front office accepted short-term pain, accumulated draft capital and invested in size, speed and competition. Achane gives the offense an elite centerpiece, while Brooks provides leadership for a young defense.

Willis determines the ceiling. His preseason opening drive showed why the Dolphins made the investment: mobility, patience and the ability to combine with Achane in a rushing structure that stresses every defender.

The depth and schedule determine the floor. Miami is too inexperienced at receiver, edge and defensive back to project consistent performance over 17 games.

Projected record: 5-12

Projected finish: Fourth in AFC East

Playoff outlook: Long shot; development season

Current futures recommendation: Pass

Early win-total lean: Over 4.5 at +140 or better

The Dolphins can exceed the market’s expectation without becoming a playoff team. Bettors should demand a strong plus price before accepting the volatility.

Visit the Pappy’s PlayBook NFL picks page throughout the season for official selections, playable prices and pass conditions.

Miami Dolphins 2026 FAQ

What is the Dolphins’ 2026 win total?

Miami’s current regular-season win total is 4.5. The Over has generally been available at plus money, while the Under carries heavy juice.

Who is the Dolphins’ head coach?

Jeff Hafley replaced Mike McDaniel. Hafley previously served as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator.

Who is Miami’s starting quarterback?

Malik Willis is the starter. Miami signed him to a three-year, $67.5 million contract after releasing Tua Tagovailoa.

What happened to Tua Tagovailoa?

Miami released Tagovailoa with a post-June 1 designation and absorbed a record dead-cap charge. He later joined Atlanta.

Is De’Von Achane a first-round fantasy pick?

Yes. Achane is an elite RB1 after producing 1,838 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns in 2025.

Who is Miami’s best fantasy sleeper?

Caleb Douglas is the best receiver sleeper because he has already earned first-team work and offers a large target for Willis.

Can the Dolphins make the playoffs?

It is possible but unlikely. Miami is rebuilding, faces nine games against 2025 playoff teams and is priced around +1400 to +1500 to qualify.

Should bettors take Over 4.5 wins?

The Over becomes worth considering at +140 or better. At a lower plus price, the five-win projection does not create enough margin for Miami’s roster and schedule risk.