Fantasy Football Preview: Breakout, Bust and Sleeper: Miami Dolphins
Fantasy Football Preview: Miami Dolphins
In every fantasy football draft there are a handful of breakouts you’re okay with reaching for, sleepers worth risking a draft pick on, and busts you plan to avoid or let fall deeper into the draft. There will be plenty in the 2017 season; you just have to know where to look. Let’s get into our Fantasy Football Preview for the Miami Dolphins!
Breakout: DeVante Parker
After an injury plagued rookie campaign, DeVante Parker bounced back with a respectable sophomore season. He posted 56 receptions for 744 yards and four touchdowns. Despite the numbers, Adam Gase has challenged the young wideout to increase production in his third year. There have been positive reports out of camp about Parker’s commitment and consistency heading into the 2017 season.
Ryan Tannehill’s recent knee injury will likely sideline him for the season, so the Dolphins have decided to bring in Jay Cutler to reunite with Gase. The inconsistencies of Cutler do have some fantasy implications, but when it comes to Parker, there shouldn’t be any repercussions. Cutler had his most effective season under Gase in Chicago and has developed a liking for big-bodied receivers. The 6’3” 212 pound Parker is currently being drafted as the 39th wide receiver and 95th overall player, according to Fantasy Football Calculator. Don’t be surprised if Parker finishes as a top-25 receiver and most productive on his own team.
Fantasy Football Preview: Bust and Sleeper Pick
Bust: Jay Ajayi
Jay Ajayi is coming off of a breakout performance in 2016 in which he posted games of 200-plus rushing yards in back-to-back weeks and a total of three on the season. Ajayi was the cornerstone of the Dolphin offense and is currently being drafted as the ninth running back and top-15 overall. Ajayi was recently diagnosed with a concussion, but isn’t expected to be out for a long period of time. However, should concussion issues linger throughout the regular season on top of his knee and shoulder injury history, Ajayi could be in for a slower 2017 campaign.
He hasn’t proven himself as an effective pass catching back, which could lower his value even further with the addition of Jay Cutler. In Chicago, Cutler relied heavily on the receiving skills of Matt Forte out of the backfield. Ajayi could find himself outside the top-15 running backs at the end of the season.
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Sleeper: Kenyan Drake
Kenyan Drake needs to be viewed as the Dolphin’s number one fantasy sleeper option. Depending on Ajayi’s medical issues and potential decline, Drake could factor into a larger role this season. Adam Gase and running back coach, Danny Barrett, have both expressed positive remarks about Drake’s performance this offseason.
He has been described as an all-around back and has increased pass catching skills. Should Ajayi miss anytime this season, Drake could be next in line to handle full responsibility as opposed to a committee approach. Currently going un-drafted, Drake should be on the radar if Ajayi’s health diminishes, or even in deeper PPR leagues. The Dolphins didn’t spend a third round draft pick on the explosive play maker out of Alabama just to let him sit on the bench. Drake should be valued as Ajayi’s potential handcuff with high upside at the moment.
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