RADIO
In this edition of the NFL Draft 32 for 32 series, we will examine the Miami Dolphins. We've already covered the Giants, Bengals, Lions, and Redskins.
This series takes an in-depth look at each team and the potential picks that may be made in the upcoming draft. Based on each team's needs, I will project the first three selections and give fantasy football managers perspective on how this affects fantasy value. Whether it be a positional player or players on the defensive side of the ball, all selections made can help in some way when it comes to fantasy scoring.
As we have seen in recent memory, some rookies can enter this league and make an immediate impact. Based on the appropriate landing spot, this year's crop of prospects has the potential to create some very fantasy-friendly situations.
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2019 Review
The notion heading into the 2019 season was that the Miami Dolphins were going to do everything within their power to lose each game to ensure holding the top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. But something interesting happened mid-way through the season. The team started to play tough behind starting QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. The team graded out as one of the worst in the league in multiple categories, but the fight they showed was encouraging sign moving forward.
Although the Dolphins are in the midst of a rebuild, they have some pieces to work with in fantasy for the 2020 season. Fitzpatrick has now had back-to-back seasons ranking as a top-15 option at the position. He may not be the team's future, but he has shown he can get the job done if asked to. When looking at the skill positions, DeVante Parker had a career resurgence finishing the season as a WR1 (1,202 receiving yards and nine TD). Meanwhile, youngsters Mike Gesicki (TE12) and Preston Williams (428 yards and three TD in eight games) look like they will develop into solid supporting options in fantasy.
As we head towards the draft, the Dolphins will be busy early on with three selections on night one. They have several selections and many holes to fill. They will have every opportunity to find the building blocks necessary to get this rebuild going in the right direction. The trouble will be whether they are smart with the draft picks or swing and miss. The team needs major upgrades along the offensive line and on the back-end of the defense, where they were one of the worst in the league a season ago. I expect to see them go after these positions during the middle of the draft as they attack the skill players early on. So let's take an in-depth look at this team as I determine what selections can make the 2020 Dolphins more fantasy-friendly.
Miami Dolphins - 2020 Outlook
TEAM GRADES
Offense: 62.5 (30th)
Defense: 53.8 (32nd)
Overall: 58.9 (32nd)
TEAM NEEDS
QB, OL, RB
First Selection (1.05)
Tua Tagovailoa, QB Alabama
The plan for the better part of a year now has been for the Dolphins to get their hands on Tagovailoa as their potential franchise QB. Once the team started winning games, many believed that this would not be a possibility. But the hip injury sustained by Tagovailoa put him back in play for the team. Assuming the health situation continues to look positive, this could prove to be the QB that the Dolphins have been searching for.
He is a dual-threat QB that can make most of the throws on the field, but also create plays with his legs. His release, accuracy, and touch are viable on all three levels of the field. He also does an excellent job of reading through his progressions and getting the ball into the hands of the right player. The only knock on him moving forward will be his health. Can he hold up to the rigors of play at the prop level?
As for his stock as a fantasy asset, Tagovailoa could become this year's Kyler Murray under the right circumstances. But it would be smart of the Dolphins to let him sit as long as possible and get completely healthy. When it comes to dynasty formats, he should be a player that you can get in the second round of drafts that will become a consistent QB1 for years.
Second Selection (1.18)
Yetur Gross-Matos, DE Penn State
Adding a piece to a defense that had troubles getting after the QB last season, Gross-Matos will be a solid pick. He has the prototypical combination of size, speed, and athleticism that you look for at the position. His 17.5 sacks in two seasons as a starter shows his knack for getting after the QB.
He also can face-up and range sideline to sideline as a run defender, giving him the potential as a three-down defensive player. He will be a good addition to Brian Flores's defense, but making this a unit worth drafting in fantasy is a stretch for sure.
Third Selection (1.26)
D'Andre Swift, RB Georgia
Swift is exactly the type of player that this team needs. The Dolphins struggled running the ball a year ago, and the addition of Swift gives them a dynamic playmaker. His tempo and decisiveness give him the patience to allows blockers to set his path. Then he uses his quick-cut agility to blaze through even the smallest of holes.
He may not be the most explosive back in this year's class, but he has all the tools to make an immediate fantasy impact in all formats, a la Josh Jacobs. Look for Swift to be one of the first players off the board in dynasty drafts and could go very early in seasonal leagues as well. He has the ceiling of an RB2 in 2020 but look for Swift to quickly become a steady producer as an RB1 for several seasons.
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