Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane is dealing with an injury that will sideline him for the remainder of the preseason. While the team does not consider the injury serious, fantasy football managers are keeping a close eye on his recovery.
If Achane isn’t fully healthy by opening day, Jaylen Wright and rookie Ollie Gordon could see expanded roles in the backfield. With Achane’s explosive playmaking ability and key role in Miami’s passing attack, his health status carries major implications for both the Dolphins’ offense and upcoming fantasy football drafts.
What Is De’Von Achane Injury?
Achane is sidelined with a mild calf strain. The team has downplayed the severity and expects him to be ready for Week 1, but he will miss the remainder of the preseason. Should Achane not recover by opening day, Jaylen Wright and rookie Ollie Gordon would likely split duties.
Although the team is optimistic, others do not share said optimism. CBS’s injury analyst Marty Jaramillo expects Achane to miss the first three weeks of the season, which is a far cry from being ready for Week 1.
“If you’re too aggressive with coming back, it can become a chronic problem or even worse, [exposing] you to an Achilles tear… his injury risk is very high,” he said.
CBS Injury Analyst Marty Jaramillo expects De’Von Achane to miss the first 3 weeks of the season:
“If you’re too aggressive with coming back, it can become a chronic problem or even worse, [exposing] you to an achilles tear… his injury risk is very high.” (@NFLonCBS)… pic.twitter.com/YJG70uAXkD
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) August 19, 2025
Achane Fantasy Football Outlook
Achane is an explosive back who can be an elite producer in the passing game. At the same time, we saw a decline in rushing efficiency last season, which came with a huge role through the air, as highlighted by his 78 receptions for 592 yards and six touchdowns.
The Dolphins’ offense was a bit broken last year, with targets force-fed to Achane and Jonnu Smith in the short-to-intermediate passing game. With Smith now in Pittsburgh, we don’t have to worry too much about Achane’s fantasy value because he’ll continue to get a high volume of targets.
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On the other hand, if Miami can get back to its previous form — as a high-scoring offense with tons of explosive plays — Achane can return to 2023 efficiency levels. In other words, both outcomes should yield high-end production, making Achane have a nice combination of floor and ceiling.
We just need QB Tua Tagovailoa to stay healthy because we definitely don’t want to have to deal with a backup ruining Achane’s value like last season. Zach Wilson would be next in line if Tagovailoa were to miss time. This is the one risk in Achane’s profile.
Could Jaylen Wright Be the Biggest Beneficiary of Achane Injury?
Jaylen Wright is coming off a disappointing rookie season, putting up 68 carries for just 249 yards at 3.7 yards per carry. The Dolphins drafted Ollie Gordon in the sixth round, posting strong college production. This includes 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2023 as a sophomore at Oklahoma State. This makes me concerned that Wright will lose the RB2 job to Gordon.
While Wright is known as an explosive runner, we haven’t seen that at the NFL level just yet. With that in mind, I’m completely fading Wright in drafts, targeting Gordon instead, who is virtually free in drafts.
I understand the appeal with Wright because there’s a chance that you’re getting De’Von Achane’s handcuff, but there’s a risk that you get a complete zero if he gets overtaken by Gordon. Instead of taking Wright at ADP, consider options like Rico Dowdle or Will Shipley.
