Carolina rode a second-half surge to stun Miami 27-24 in Week 5, riding a ground-heavy attack and a sharp late rally. Bryce Young shook off early mistakes to finish 19 of 30 for 198 yards and two touchdowns, the second of which sealed it to Mitchell Evans. Rico Dowdle exploded for a career-best 206 rushing yards and a TD on 23 carries, while the 2025 draft class chipped in with McMillan leading with 73 receiving yards. Carolina’s defense bottled up De'Von Achane and Ollie Gordon II to 14 rushing yards on 13 carries, with Rozeboom and Moehrig piling up tackles. Miami’s Jaylen Waddle totaled 110 receiving yards and Minkah Fitzpatrick added an early pick on Young. The Panthers showed resilience and depth that could reshape their fantasy upside as they eye a favorable slate ahead.

Miami’s Week 5 inactives keep De’Von Achane and Ollie Gordon II as the backfield anchors, with Jaylen Wright sidelined again and Tyreek Hill on IR. Tahj Washington will be active for his first NFL game as the emergency QB, while Zeek Biggers, Storm Duck, and Cedrick Wilson Jr. sit. Ethan Bonner returns to the lineup. Panthers list Chuba Hubbard, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Tershawn Wharton, Chau Smith-Wade, Jaden Crumedy, and Clauden Cherelus as inactive. Fantasy note: Washington’s debut adds a floor-upside element for Miami while backfield shares tighten with limited RB depth, and the Panthers’ inactives hint at defensive or positional matchups to exploit.

Miami’s Week 5 tilt at Carolina features a surprising backfield shakeup. Jaylen Wright is inactive, leaving De’Von Achane and Ollie Gordon II as the Dolphins’ main two behind Raheem Mostert’s departure. Gordon has surged past Wright on the depth chart, setting the stage for a midseason breakout push.

With Tyreek Hill out, Tahj Washington lands in the WR mix for the first regular-season action, joining Waddle, Malik Washington, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Dee Eskridge in a five-receiver lineup. Cedrick Wilson Jr. is sidelined, Storm Duck out, and Quinn Ewers serves as emergency QB. Carolina hosts a Miami offense navigating injuries and a thinner receiver corps, while the two-back committee looks to stay efficient against a Panthers defense that has shown gaps to exploit.

Tyreek Hill’s season-ending injury forces the Dolphins to reinvent their plan against Carolina. Expect Tua Tagovailoa to lean on Jaylen Waddle, De’Von Achane and Darren Waller, while the run game takes on a larger, more patient role. Miami’s special teams and third-down efficiency could swing the result in a close game as Miami reshapes its weapon set without Hill.

The defense faces a test from Carolina’s ground attack, and the offensive line reshuffle at right guard adds uncertainty in the run game. Fantasy managers should chase the new movers in Miami’s offense and monitor how the Dolphins leverage Waller and the backfield in a run-heavy script that could define the weeks ahead.