Miami’s season opener centers on a showdown between the Dolphins’ elite front seven and the Colts’ experienced, well-regarded offensive line. If Miami can clamp down on Jonathan Taylor and force Indianapolis into a one-dimensional attack, its pass rushers can feast and blow up the pocket. The Colts counter with Nelson and Raimann anchoring an O-line that Pro Football Focus labeled top-five in its 2025 preseason rankings, designed to protect Daniel Jones and open lanes for Taylor.

Key to the Dolphins’ plan is Minkah Fitzpatrick’s veteran leadership and the unit’s depth and athleticism at every level. On offense, Tua Tagovailoa will lean on Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but the real leverage may come from the defensive line and linebackers creating pressure and forcing mistakes. The matchup will set the tone for each team’s path to victory and has immediate fantasy implications across both sides of the ball.

Indianapolis is counting on a younger, less experienced offensive line this season. Tanor Bortolini and Matt Goncalves step into starting roles at center and right guard, while rookie Jalen Travis serves as the swing tackle. Second-year Dalton Tucker and Luke Tenuta provide interior and edge depth, with Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Braden Smith, and Danny Pinter anchoring the group. Ballard lauds Travis’s rapid development and Tenuta’s versatility as the unit forges cohesion to open the run game and buy time for the quarterback.

ESPN’s Solak highlighted Bortolini’s preseason film, and Ballard emphasized that the staff is pleased with Travis and Tucker. The Colts aim to balance youth with veteran steadiness to create sustainable run production and pocket time, accepting some tradeoffs in consistency as they grow together in camp and preseason work.

The Colts are projected to carry 43 locks on the 53-man roster, leaving roughly 10 spots for competition as cuts loom after training camp and the preseason.

Three Colts starters—Kenny Moore II, Alec Pierce, and Bernhard Raimann—returned to practice as Indianapolis wrapped another training camp session, each nursing an earlier issue (knee, groin, and ankle respectively). Their returns come amid a summer that has seen several teammates hit IR or miss time, including Hunter Wohler, Blake Freeland, and Jacob Phillips. Braden Smith exited the latest preseason game with a groin concern, while JuJu Brents, Jaylon Jones, Nick Cross, and Josh Downs have dealt with hamstring or hip issues. Timelines remain unclear for several others, keeping depth pieces in flux as camp continues.

For fantasy managers, Pierce’s quick return could stabilize the Colts’ passing game early in camp, Raimann’s health matters for pass protection and run blocking, and Moore’s presence bolsters a secondary that will be tested by a challenging schedule. The IR replacements—plus the uncertain statuses of Smith, Brents, and Downs—could open short-term targets and snap splits for younger players and veterans stepping into expanded roles as August progresses.

Colts in 2024 delivered an 8-9 record, a shade off playoff contention, but the passing game has real juice. The offense features a crowded, talented group: Downs, Pittman Jr., Pierce, Adonai Mitchell, Tyler Warren, with Bernhard Raimann anchoring the line and DeForest Buckner tightening the interior. The quarterback question remains unsettled as Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones compete, offering a tantalizing upside if the Colts iron out accuracy, timing, and pocket mechanics. Warren’s arrival plus a heavy 11 personnel approach could push Warren and Downs into regular fantasy relevance, while Downs’ slot-centric role keeps him as a flexible debt-piece or streaming option if the QB situation stabilizes.

Richardson sits at a crossroads in his third season: elite rush potential but the lowest qualified completion rate among passers with 150+ dropbacks. His big-time throw rate is high, yet turnover-worthy plays and a subpar 50.6% completion mark keep fantasy projections cautious. If Jones wins the job, Downs could see improved distribution, while Warren should carve out a meaningful receiving role early in Steichen’s system. Raimann and Buckner anchor a solid foundation up front, with Pittman and Pierce providing steady targets and upside, and the rookie Warren offering a tangible overhang to the Colts’ aerial attack.