Achane’s Week 1 status looms large for the Dolphins, as a lower-body soft-tissue injury could sideline the rookie. McDaniel labeled the recovery window as “between days and weeks,” injecting uncertainty into fantasy projections while Miami’s offense deals with a thinner depth chart. Week 1 readiness becomes the hinge on which early-season plans swing, affecting backfield usage and game plan scripting.

In a path where Achane sits, Jaylen Wright would be the primary beneficiary, with the backfield likely leaning more on a committee approach. Wright has shown limited preseason impact, but his role would expand if Achane misses time. Achane’s 907 rushing yards and 592 receiving yards on 78 catches last season underline his all-purpose value, making his health a pivotal factor for fantasy tempo and weekly projections.

The Dolphins’ offense, already described as thin, would feel the squeeze if Achane is unavailable. A healthy Achane is central to stabilizing the ground game and keeping defenses honest, so Week 1 projections hinge on his status. Miami’s ability to adapt quickly will shape early-season fantasy upside for multiple players tied to their offense.

Geno Smith, James Conner, Ladd McConkey, Tucker Kraft, Sam Cosmi, YaYa Diaby, Jack Campbell and Christian Benford anchor a list of underrated NFL talents for 2025. The piece highlights how Smith’s clean-pocket efficiency could translate into late-round fantasy upside with the Raiders, Conner’s all-around production and efficiency metrics, and McConkey’s route-running and production as a rookie in a run-heavy Charger attack. Kraft’s yardage and targets project him as a potential top-5 TE with room to grow, while Cosmi, despite missing time, has elite run- and pass-blocking marks. Diaby’s leap as an edge, Campbell’s tackling and coverage strides, and Benford’s defensive efficiency round out the cohort, underscoring which players could outpace public perception under a favorable roster context.

For fantasy managers, the piece argues these players offer solid floor and meaningful upside: Smith in a pro-grade system with protection, Conner in a 0-1 punch with high yards after contact, McConkey as a high-volume yak creator, Kraft as a heater for Jordan Love’s target tree, Cosmi as a blocker with pass-protection upside, Diaby as a breakout edge, Campbell as a versatile LB with coverage gains, and Benford as a shutdown corner in a stout Bills defense. The angle blends efficiency metrics with opportunity and health.

Altogether, the roster context, performance trends and injury notes create a blueprint for identifying value in season-long and DFS formats, offering a fresh slate of players who could overperform relative to their draft cost.

Miami signs Aaron Shampklin to bolster the backfield after Alexander Mattison’s season-ending neck injury, positioning De’Von Achane as the primary home-run hitter and giving Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II a path to power carries. Shampklin flashed in three regular-season Steelers games last year and could contribute on special teams as well, though his size limits him as a short-yardage option.

In Sunday’s 24-24 preseason draw with Chicago, Wright, Gordon II and Mattison all found paydirt, with Wright being stymied on a late goal-line try. With Mattison out for 2025, Miami’s depth chart remains fluid, and the club could add another veteran. The next tune-ups against Detroit and Jacksonville will reveal how soon Shampklin might see meaningful touches beyond special-teams duty.

From a fantasy lens, Achane remains the centerpiece. Shampklin’s role will hinge on special-teams impact and occasional change-of-pace bursts, while Wright and Gordon II provide volume insurance and occasional red-zone options. Monitor any further signings or roster moves that could shift Week 1 workload dynamics.

Alexander Mattison’s season-ending neck surgery in Chicago upends Miami’s running-back plan for 2025. The Dolphins signed Mattison to be the power back beside De’Von Achane’s burst and Jaylen Wright’s versatility, but the preseason injury opens a door for Ollie Gordon II. Gordon II surged in the preseason with 33 rushing yards and a score on eight carries, hinting at a larger role as a rookie from Oklahoma State who rushed for 1,732 yards and 21 TD in 2023 and earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Miami is also weighing Jamaal Williams as an outside option, per ESPN. With Mattison out, Achane remains the speed threat, Wright serves as a multi-purpose piece, and Gordon could be the early-down hammer while Williams could join as a veteran addition if he signs. The backfield now centers on Gordon’s acclimation and whether Williams lands in Miami, shaping the fantasy landscape in this high-octane offense.

In the background, the Dolphins’ decision to explore options beyond the building underscores the uncertainty at the position. Williams is a known quantity from New Orleans, and the potential addition would add a veteran floor to the committee. The Bears were the preseason opponent during Mattison’s injury, and the Raiders were cited for Mattison’s prior 2024 stint, which adds context to his career arc. For fantasy managers, Achane still looks like the top play in Miami’s backfield, but Gordon’s emergence and the Williams workout could nudge the workload toward a split that adds risk to relying on any single Dolphins back, especially early in the season as coaches test the new look without Mattison.

Shedeur Sanders, drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 2025 NFL Draft, faces stiff competition in a crowded quarterback room that includes veterans and promising rookies. The 40-year-old Joe Flacco, 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel round out the roster, setting the stage for an intense battle for the starting position. However, it's noteworthy that the Toronto Argonauts, a CFL team, hold Sanders' negotiation rights, meaning they would be the only team able to sign him if he ever decides to play in Canada.

The CFL's negotiation list allows teams to maintain exclusive rights to players who are currently unsigned or playing in the NFL or other leagues. Despite Sanders' inclusion on this list, it does not indicate a move to the CFL; it merely secures the Argonauts' rights should he choose to pursue that route in the future. Many young NFL quarterbacks are similarly listed, illustrating the CFL's strategy to stockpile potential talent.