ClutchPoints
One week after Malik Nabers and CeeDee Lamb went down, Tyreek Hill became the latest star receiver to suffer a devastating injury. The injury is heartbreaking for the Miami Dolphins and creates a rippling effect for his teammates’ on-field and fantasy football production.
The biggest impacts were obvious as soon as Hill went down. Jaylen Waddle is clearly a big winner and has WR1 potential the rest of the year, while Malik Washington receives the biggest opportunity of his career. Waddle, who should already be owned in every league, now joins the ranks among the best receivers in fantasy football.
Hill’s injury will also benefit De’Von Achane and Darren Waller from a fantasy football perspective. Like Waddle, both players will undoubtedly become a bigger part of the offensive game plan moving forward. Waller, in particular, made a huge impact in his Week 4 season debut.
However, the Dolphins’ offense as a whole takes a hit with the loss of its top weapon. With it, Tua Tagovailoa‘s rest-of-season outlook takes a slight hit. While the southpaw still benefits from Miami’s other elite assets in Mike McDaniel’s creative offense, he loses his top deep threat and best big-play weapon.
There is a lot to break down from a fantasy football perspective when a player like Hill goes down. While nobody on the Dolphins can truly match Hill’s production, several will become significant assets moving forward.
Jaylen Waddle is the obvious beneficiary of Tyreek Hill’s injury, but De’Von Achane might receive the most significant fantasy football boost.
Waddle is the Dolphins’ second-leading receiver on the year with 185 yards through four weeks. However, Achane actually has more targets and catches than he does, while tied for the team lead with two receiving touchdowns. The versatile running back’s 25 targets and 19 catches have only been topped by Hill.
With Hill in the lineup, Achane has already been operating as the Dolphins’ third-best receiver. With Hill sidelined, he becomes their de facto No. 2 receiver and the team’s overall top offensive weapon.
Without much receiver depth behind Hill, McDaniel will need to get creative on offense. Achane has already been used as a receiver more than the typical running back, taking 37 snaps on the line — 27 at slot and 10 at receiver, per Pro Football Focus.
Whether out wide or from the backfield, Achane has run 95 routes through four games, averaging 23.75 pass-catching opportunities per week. Expect Achane to receive more touches — both on the ground and through the air — with Hill out, making him an elite fantasy football weapon moving forward.
Hill’s injury could also impact Ollie Gordon II, who has already been a part of the Dolphins’ game plan. Gordon will not benefit nearly as much as Achane, but expect a lot of two-running back looks from Miami in the coming weeks.
What a return Darren Waller...
