For good reason—rookie running back De’Von Achane has quickly ascended to the forefront of the Miami Dolphins’ record-breaking offense. He’s on pace for an amazing 121 total touches over just seven games! This latter figure is good for tenth in the NFL and speaks to how essential he’s become to the fabric of the team. With Achane leading his teammates by a wide margin, he has accounted for roughly 42% of Miami’s offensive touches, underscoring his importance to the team’s performance.
Achane’s closest competitor for touches, Ollie Gordon II, is a distant second with just 32 touches. Achane instantly became the featured weapon in the Dolphins game plan. That was driven home in the wake of Tyreek Hill’s season-ending knee injury in Week 4. Since then, Achane has seamlessly stepped into the role Hill previously occupied, proving his versatility and dependability while making the most of his touches.
In last week’s game against the Cleveland Browns, Achane finished with 98 total yards on 16 touches. He’s one of the most entertaining players to watch this season and has made huge offensive plays game after game. Right now, he’s tied for the league lead with five rushes of 20-plus yards. Achane holds the second-most rushes of at least 50 yards among all players since entering the league this year.
Looking ahead to future games, Achane is going to continue being the focal point of Miami’s offensive game plan. Coach Mike McDaniel acknowledged Achane’s contributions but emphasized the need to involve other playmakers on the team.
“I do think there’s very talented players in our backfield that it does best for the team if we can spread the ball out,” – Mike McDaniel
Achane’s performance is the loudest indicator of his abilities. He’s always on time and in the correct spot on designs meant to confuse defenders. When not the first option, he still makes sure to take full advantage of every opportunity that finds its way to him. His great consistency is the gas that powers a clutch offensive execution. Like McDaniel said, those successful touches breed confidence.
The duo rushed for 100 yards apiece in their first meeting against the Buffalo Bills. The breadth of possibilities in this striking performance underscored their power when wielded skillfully. Achane’s influence has remained dominant. He has accumulated just one fewer touch than all his teammates combined over a certain period, illustrating his extensive involvement in Miami’s playbook.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami’s quarterback, described their synchronized movement in locating open space and making plays with precision.
“I think it’s me finding the spaces that guys are going to be, kind of being on the same page with those guys,” – Tua Tagovailoa
The Dolphins’ issues have been compounded by turnovers, which McDaniel has often pointed to in his postgame analyses over the last month. The head coach mentioned that being good at avoiding turnovers is a HUGE part of expanding touches to more players.
“I think it’s a lot easier when you have games if you don’t turn the ball over,” – Mike McDaniel
As the season progresses, Achane’s contributions will be crucial for Miami’s success. The Dolphins have some issues to navigate as they go forward, but are still massively dependent on Achane’s contention in getting these types of performances.
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