Dolphins running back De’Von Achane will play his 11th game of the season this weekend, but he’s already done more on the field than he did in all 11 games he played last season. Achane has 122 carries and 46 catches after compiling 130 touches during the 2023 campaign. The uptick in work has been one of several changes to the depth chart and offensive coordinator Frank Smith said on Thursday that he thinks Achane has handled the change in his role well. “I think him, like all the guys, just whatever the game requires, he’s ready for it and he’s done a great job with everything just making sure he’s ready to go for the season,” Smith said, via a transcript from the team. “Your hardest year as a player is your rookie year because there’s so much transition. So for him, he’s been great. I know he handles everything like a professional and he’s been helping us win, so excited for everything he’s done.” Achane averaged more than seven yards per touch last season and that number has come down to just over five this year, but any drop in production can be made up with the increased volume that Achane is now bringing to the offense.
Ideally, Achane needs to be used most weeks like he was against the Cardinals and Bills. 10-12 carries and 6-8 catches, used in long yardage and change up situations. And then the other RBs on the roster do the heavy lifting, especially running inside and in short yardage. Hopefully next season, Wright is ready to carry the ball 10-15 times a game to balance it out, and I think that we need another bruiser at the position as a third guy too.
Certainly no knock on him to push through the current situation, and he's made a few key plays late in games that have been key, but its clearly not the ideal usage for him. The Rams held him down, and then his rush game vs the Raiders was below average too until the big run late. But he's also likely to always be a bit more fragile than a lot of other RBs, and the less of a beating he takes, the better. Very similar to how Waddle needs to stop being used as if he's a TE, taking hits over the middle of the field, and instead get the ball in space, even for fairly short gains, where he can get out of bounds untouched.
With Tua healthy and the offense functioning properly, he should be able to put up numbers comperable to peak Kamara.
