5 breakout stars to watch for Miami Dolphins in 2020

3. RB Kalen Ballage

In each of his first two NFL seasons, former Arizona State standout Kalen Ballage has appeared in a dozen games. In his rookie campaign, he touched the football 45 times on offense and finished with 247 yards and one touchdown. He also saw action on kickoff returns.

This past year, he actually made a half-dozen starts. He also nearly doubled his plays from scrimmage (88) before going down in Week 13 with a season-ending foot injury. But this was a Miami offense had its season-long issues, particularly when it came to the ground attack. He actually ran for three scores. But the 2018 fourth-round pick totaled a measly 135 yards rushing on 74 attempts – a disturbing 1.8 yards per carry.

Of fourse, this was a Miami running attack that was led by quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick an averaged a league-low 72.3 yards per contest.

Now asking Ballage to come up with big rushing numbers figures to be a challenge considering the Dolphins signed free-agent workhorse Jordan Howard, late of the Philadelphia Eagles. But could two-year performer could wind up being a Kalen-of-all-trades in new coordinator Chan Gailey’s attack? He is an intriguing player despite last year’s disappointing showing and while this selection looks like a bit of a reach, there’s nowhere to go but up for the 24-year-old performer.

Next: No. 2