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.

The Dolphins’ backup tackle depth is under a microscope three weeks from Week 1. Austin Jackson and Patrick Paul, when healthy, anchor the right and left sides, but durability is the lingering question. The club has lost several backups to IR buys, including Germain Ifedi, Yodny Cajuste, and Bayron Matos, turning attention to a group once considered “inadequate” that’s slowly finding its footing in joint practices and August tests. With Armstead’s injury history and Tua Tagovailoa’s dependence on protection, any setback could trigger a domino effect on Miami’s passing game and the quarterback situation behind him. The good news: current backups are improving; the bad news: trust isn’t fully earned with the opener looming. There’s still time to add depth via free agency or late cuts, and the coaching staff remains hopeful that the line cohesion and technique translate to Week 1 readiness. The Dolphins have never had both starting tackles stay healthy in McDaniel’s tenure, so every rep matters as they navigate a pivotal early schedule and the weight of securing protection for their high-octane offense.

The Dolphins endured a tough day at a joint practice with the Detroit Lions, with Miami’s offense repeatedly stalling as Tua Tagovailoa battled timing against Detroit’s aggressive secondary. The session followed a rocky preseason opener, and reporters described Miami’s day as lopsided, frustrated, and difficult to offset with schemes that had looked promising in camp. Tagovailoa declined to grade his own performance, saying it’s up to how the media reports it, while noting the frustration on offense as the Lions’ pressure mounted.

Historically, Tagovailoa posted 2,867 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven picks across 11 games last season. The day’s takeaway is less about one afternoon than about вопросов around timing, rhythm and protection entering a Dolphins club that remains under scrutiny as training camp continues. Detroit’s consistency on both sides of the ball underscored the challenge Miami faces if timing issues persist, and it could influence how fantasy managers view Dolphins pass-catchers and the offense overall in early-season projections.

Miami’s 24-17 win in Detroit capped a bold week of growth for a Dolphins squad that spent 11 days in the Midwest. The trip yielded cohesion more than consensus, as undrafted corners and backups pressed the competition, and a late game interception by Ethan Robinson underscored progress in the secondary. Zach Wilson’s second preseason outing looked steadier, and the rookie third-string fluttered with a pair of touchdowns from Quinn Ewers-like play (chemistry with Wease) against Lions depth. Miami now eyes Jacksonville for one final warmup and keeps a tighter grip on the roster battles ahead.

Key fantasy angles: Tua Tagovailoa’s Week 2/3 joint-practice arc showed the offense can reset after setbacks, while Wilson stabilized the backup role with a TD to Eskridge and limited turnovers. On the ground, Ollie Gordon II’s emergence hints at a later-depth RB fight, and the rookie Kenneth Grant chased pocket pressure for Miami. In the secondary, Storm Duck and a retooled nickel role (Mike Hilton) are shaping a mid-August battle. A handful of veterans remain on the mend, but the Dolphins’ depth pieces delivered a compelling shot across the bow for fantasy managers monitoring which players will starter-adjacent come Week 1.

Miami’s 24-17 preseason win over Detroit highlighted a QB depth look with mixed results. Quinn Ewers delivered a clearer development arc, tossing two TD passes to Theo Wease Jr. on a late 17-play drive that sealed the game; he finished 11-of-17 for 116 yards after a rough opener. Mike McDaniel praised the process and the reps, noting the journey of a quarterback is about taking opportunity, applying it, and continuing growth.

Zach Wilson started for Miami and put up 151 yards with a touchdown on 15-23 passing, while most starters rested. McDaniel said preseason results won’t determine the pecking order, emphasizing improvement and consistency. Tua Tagovailoa didn’t play, leaving the frontrunner role untouched as the team weighs backup plans. The next preseason finale against Jacksonville looms as a critical, more revealing session for the depth chart.