Darren Waller’s return from the PUP list could immediately reshape the Dolphins’ fantasy outlook. Frank Smith’s Raiders-era work with Waller provides Miami with a blueprint to integrate him quickly, while Mike McDaniel guards against overloading him in camp. The plan centers on getting the 6’6” target synced with Tua Tagovailoa without rushing the process.

Waller gives Tagovailoa a big, reliable middle-field option to balance Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle on the outside. The Giants-to-Dolphins trade story feeds the narrative of a veteran with a high football IQ who can line up everywhere, creating mismatches and breathing extra life into the passing game as he ramps up.

The Dolphins’ approach emphasizes physical readiness and smart usage, aiming for early contributions without compromising long-term health. If Waller settles in, Miami’s ceiling rises, with the offense leveraging his versatility to exploit tight end-heavy looks and maximize play-action leverage around their speed weapons.

De'Von Achane's calf injury will sideline him for practice this week as Miami prepares for a preseason clash with Jacksonville. The club describes it as preventative, with the stake being a solid Week 1 return against the Colts. Achane, a centerpiece of Miami's attack, posted 1,499 yards from scrimmage and 12 total TDs last season; a healthy 2025 campaign could push the Dolphins toward a top-tier ground game. In the meantime, Miami is pushing its backfield depth, where Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon have a chance to carve out meaningful snaps in the early part of the season. The news also touches other AFC peers—Colts bolster their secondary with Xavien Howard and Giants evaluate Darren Waller’s return from PUP, shifting roster dynamics across the league.

The Dolphins are inching toward a meaningful kickoff of Darren Waller’s season, with a potential practice return on the horizon after he spent weeks on the PUP list. Waller’s 6’6” frame would give Tua Tagovailoa a towering, reliable target to pair with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, potentially reshaping Miami’s aerial attack once he’s ramped up. For fantasy managers, the Waller dynamic introduces a high-upside hurdle to preexisting targets in a pass-heavy offense that has leaned on speed and playmaking from Hill and Waddle.

In camp, McDaniel is balancing caution with urgency, eager to list off the “ducks in a row” before Waller is unleashed. Meanwhile, Miami also navigates injury notes: Zach Sieler should return imminently, De’Von Achane is sidelined by a calf, and cornerback depth is thinner after Ethan Bonner’s hamstring issue. Those factors shape how aggressively to press Miami’s offense into fantasy plans, as Waller’s arrival could lift the entire passing game but also reallocate targets away from established playmakers in the short term.

As preseason practices roll on and a joint session with Jacksonville approaches, the Dolphins will need to blend patient development with push to integrate Waller. If he’s primed to contribute soon, Tagovailoa’s options expand beyond Hill and Waddle, with Waller offering a trusted red-zone weapon and a matchup problem for opponents’ linebackers. The path to a more potent Miami passing game begins with Waller’s return to practice and progresses as the team conditions him for real game action.

RotoBaller's 2025 fantasy football Tight End Premium rankings sharpen the edge for TE-leaning rosters in redraft leagues, where receptions and yardage carry extra clout. Brock Bowers sits among the elite, with Sam LaPorta and Kyle Pitts rising on workload and target share. Veterans like Darren Waller and T.J. Hockenson anchor the middle, while Elijah Arroyo and Mason Taylor highlight rookie upside in the TE premium landscape. The update emphasizes that depth at the position remains thin, so early TE premium builds and late-round sleepers will shape many fantasy rosters this season.