Panthers face a must-win Week 5 trip to Miami with a reshaped backfield. Chuba Hubbard is out, so Rico Dowdle carries the early workload, backed by Trevor Etienne and Deejay Dallas. Tremble and Mitchell Evans handle tight end duties, while Corey Thornton could earn slot time with Chau Smith-Wade inactive. Tyreek Hill’s season-ending injury shifts Miami’s targets, elevating other pass-catchers for Carolina’s fantasy plans.

Miami’s inactives thin the depth behind Cedrick Wilson Jr. and the rest, which could push more volume toward secondary options. Panthers fans and fantasy managers will watch Dowdle’s usage, Etienne’s involvement in all phases, and the TE duo as potential DFS or league-long values in a game that could hinge on who seizes the thin workload.

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 faces a bruising Week 2 test vs. New England with a slew of practice absences. Six Dolphins — Storm Duck, Austin Jackson, Benito Jones, Darren Waller, Ethan Bonner, and Jaylen Wright — missed practice, while Jaylen Waddle remained limited with a shoulder. De'Von Achane and Tyreek Hill both cleared, and Zeek Biggers could see action if Jones can’t go. New England’s report included Christian Gonzalez, Harold Landry III, Morgan Moses, Keion White, Kayshon Boutte, Christian Elliss, and Marte Mapu as limited or missing. Fantasy impact centers on Hill’s volatility, Waddle’s health, Achane’s workload, and the rookie Biggers stepping in—plus how Gonzalez’s absence could widen targets for the Pats’ pass game.

In short, Week 2 leans toward stabilized star production from Hill, with Waddle’s status a key ceiling driver. The Patriots bring attention to Boutte and White as potential value if misses mount, while Miami’s depth will be put to the test at corner, tackle, and interior D-line. Streaming defenses and opportunistic plays could define a close divisional tilt.

Miami’s rookie-heavy plan is real: as many as four newcomers could start Week 1 and seven may contribute on opening day. Ollie Gordon II flashed in the final preseason, taking advantage of injuries to De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright and piling up 126 yards on 26 attempts while also delivering solid pass protection against blitzes. Kenneth Grant, Jonah Savaiinaea, and Jason Marshall Jr. are being asked to contribute early, with Quinn Ewers pushing for more opportunities behind Tua Tagovailoa. It’s Dolphins 101 all August: stack good days, develop the young core, and hope the class delivers.

Miami Dolphins' 2025 roster battles hinge on three up-front spots: tight end, interior defensive line, and the ninth offensive line slot. Waller's training-camp debut is delayed, so Tanner Conner leads the inline TE push while Pharaoh Brown and Julian Hill chase the primary in-line role. Ingold's injury opens more chances for Conner’s versatility, including fullback duties in certain packages. Zeek Biggers emerges as a stock-up option at DT, leveraging length and a developing pad level to push for a spot in a deep interior line group. Andrew Meyer and Jonah Savaiinaea sit among the hot names to backfill depth, with Kion Smith losing traction after a tough Chicago outing. The Dolphins face a Bears tune-up and two Detroit joint practices that will help sort the 53-man roster.

On the trenches, Miami could keep eight or nine linemen this season, depending on health and growth. Meyer’s camp ascent and Conner’s TE flexibility could be decisive in the final cuts, especially if Waller’s return slips. The Detroit sessions highlight Biggers’ potential impact on the inside, while Brunskill remains a veteran fallback option for the ninth OL spot. Overall, the emphasis remains on versatile pieces who can fill multiple roles and adapt quickly as the season unfolds.

For fantasy players, the smart play is to monitor Waller’s debut timing, Conner’s usage in inline and move roles, and Biggers’ early snaps for a hint of an upshot in interior rushes. If Waller sits longer, Conner could command more targets in the short term, with Brown offering red-zone flashes. Meyer and Savaiinaea are long-shot depth pieces whose eventual roles could tilt late-season rosters.