Dolphins' De'Von Achane Facing Extended Absence After Knee Injury
The short version
- De'Von Achane suffered a knee injury in Week 3 against Kansas City and faces a potentially extended absence pending further testing.
- Ollie Gordon II replaced Achane against the Chiefs, but a committee with Jaylen Wright is likely once Wright returns from a foot injury.
- Braelon Allen would start for the Jets if Breece Hall's thigh injury keeps him out of Week 4.
- Keaton Mitchell outproduced Chargers starter Omarion Hampton in Week 3.
- Justice Hill and DeeJay Dallas are speculative options tied to Week 4 blowout scenarios.
Miami running back De'Von Achane could miss significant time after a Week 3 knee injury, sending fantasy managers to a thin waiver wire ahead of Week 4.
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane went down with a knee injury during Sunday's Week 3 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, and the initial outlook suggests he could be sidelined for a while. Achane is undergoing further testing, but head coach Jeff Hafley indicated the early signs were not optimistic.
The injury lands hard on fantasy rosters. Achane was drafted as a starter in most leagues, and even though his numbers through three weeks had been modest, his absence creates a hole that must be filled in Week 4. Timing compounds the problem: the running back position produced few breakout performers in Week 3, so beyond a couple of clear names, managers will have to dig for value this week.
Miami's own backfield offers the first candidates, though neither comes with certainty. Jaylen Wright had held the backup job but was inactive for Week 3 with a foot injury after missing practice time and carrying a doubtful designation into the weekend. Ollie Gordon II stepped into the reserve role and took over once Achane exited, closing out the Chiefs game with 17 carries for 41 yards and a touchdown plus three receptions for 14 yards. That showing was uneven, and the expectation is a committee unless Gordon or Wright runs away with the job — Gordon gets a slight edge because he is healthy, but the situation otherwise amounts to a coin flip.
The New York Jets may produce the week's most in-demand addition. Breece Hall left Sunday's game with a thigh injury in the fourth quarter and did not return; if he is unable to play in Week 4, Braelon Allen, not Isaiah Davis, would draw the start. A Monday update on Hall's status should settle the question, and if Hall sits, Allen shapes up as the most popular pickup on waivers.
In Los Angeles, Omarion Hampton retains the Chargers' starting role, but Keaton Mitchell outplayed him in Week 3. Hampton posted 56 rushing yards on 15 carries and failed to record a catch despite one target, while Mitchell gained 52 yards on eight carries and added three receptions and a touchdown, though those catches lost five yards in total. Mitchell outproduced Hampton by better than a two-to-one margin and heads into Week 4 as an intriguing option off a strong outing.
Baltimore's Justice Hill belongs to the desperation tier. He will not displace Derrick Henry in the Ravens' lineup, but Baltimore sits as a double-digit favorite against the Tennessee Titans in Week 4, and a lopsided game could hand Hill extended late work. For managers with no better options, that scenario carries some appeal.
Minnesota's DeeJay Dallas falls into the same category. The Vikings host the Dolphins in Week 4 as 9.5-point favorites, and while Aaron Jones will absorb most of the carries, a blowout could carve out snaps for Dallas. He is a speculative play best suited to deeper leagues.
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