The Miami Dolphins face the Cleveland Browns in Week 17. Here’s fantasy football starting pitching advice for every veteran Dolphins player who has the potential to make a fantastic impact during the game.

Looking for more lineup tips? Visit our Week 17 fantasy starting sit cheat sheet where we cover every fantasy-relevant player in every game.

Tua Tagovailoa, QB

Updated Sunday, December 29, 2:35 p.m. ET
Tagovailoa is inactive for today’s game.

Tua Tagovailoa is far from a perfect fantasy quarterback. He doesn’t run (two rushing yards so far in December) and he doesn’t stretch the field. Instead, he relies entirely on his playmakers to do the heavy lifting.

This isn’t a profile I’m necessarily investing in, especially with one of these players (Jaylen Waddle) dealing with a knee injury, but I think this has the potential to be the week – the week to watch with kindness Approval of a good DFS lineup yields an explosive, low-possession Dolphins game.

Think about it.

For the reasons stated above, Tagovailoa is unlikely to become an owner. He’s also not at his best (411 passes with more interceptions than touchdowns in the last two weeks), and this game is being played in the Northeast.

But wait.

Will a warm front move across the coast this week?

But wait.

Do the Browns rank 31st in interception rate on deep passes and 32nd in yards per short completion?

If either the Chargers or Broncos lose this week (both playing in Miami before their scheduled kickoff), the Dolphins still have postseason life. It would be little more than a pulse, but the heart would still be beating if any of these things happened, putting us in a highly motivated spot against a defense that is playing to its strengths (all four losses during their current sweep have occurred). through several points).

Interesting.

Of course, I would prefer Waddle to be healthy and take a loss to Denver on Saturday to ensure those things, but the more uncertainty that arises, the more I like the chances of getting a compressed passing game with upside at a very low cost.

Slate Soppe DFS provisional main roster

Let’s pay off some Christmas debt!

De’Von Achane, RB

De’Von Achane joins Alvin Kamara (Weeks 4-9 earlier this season) as just the second running back in the last three seasons to have a four-game streak with at least seven targets and seven rush attempts.

He fits this Tua Tagovailoa-led offense like a glove, and there’s no reason to change course now. Efficiency on the ground wasn’t nearly as high as it was a season ago, but the increase in usage in the air has more than made up for it.

Achane has been a top-15 producer at the position in six straight games, and that feels like he’s all but assured this week too. The hard part will be planning for 2025 – can we weaken his efficiency and retain the receiving role? If you go this route, we’re talking about a running back who is undoubtedly a first-round pick.

Jaylen Wright, RB

It’s fair to question how Jaylen Wright has been used this season (65 touches), but that won’t change anything. I believe he could fill a similar role to Jaylen Warren next season, but that’s a prediction that’s all about June – he’s not going to help you win a title in the next few weeks, it unless Miami decides to call its number if/when mathematically eliminated from postseason contention.

Raheem Mostert, RB

When this game begins, we will be more than two months removed from Raheem Mostert’s last touchdown; Not a sentence I thought I’d type after a 21-point campaign for 2023, but here we are.

There’s no reason to look Mostert’s way this week; His story should serve as a good reminder that each season is its own entity. Past production is certainly something to consider, but overstating it will result in a great 2024 team and be locked out of the 2025 playoffs.

Jaylen Waddle, WR

Updated Sunday, December 29, 2:35 p.m. ET
Waddle is inactive for today’s game.

Jaylen Waddle seems to be constantly struggling, and a sore knee prevented the Week 16 win. Malik Washington stepped into his role and gave Miami a whopping 28 yards. So I don’t think you’re in danger of losing your looks when he comes back into action.

This is a read and react situation for me. There’s a good chance the Dolphins will be out of playoff contention by kickoff, and that would obviously impact Waddle’s appeal should he put in some work in practice this week.

That means, IF He overcomes all medical hurdles and IF Miami remains alive in the playoff picture, I’ll rate Waddle as a top-35 receiver. He’s had plenty of obstacles in his path this season, but in a matchup against a defense that puts up the fourth-most YAC at the position and ranks dead last in both yards per attempt and per completion in the slot this season, there are a path to profitable PPR production.

Tyreek Hill, WR

Updated Sunday, December 29, 2:35 p.m. ET
Hill is active for today’s game.

Tyreek Hill hasn’t had a catch of more than 30 yards since Week 1 and has caught just five of 14 targets over the past two weeks after making 10 of his 14 receptions against the Jets in Week 14. We spent a first round pick him this summer hoping for groundbreaking games – we don’t even get the slightest idea of ​​them these days.

The short touchdown last week was nice, a little sprint that seems almost irredeemable if the defense isn’t 100% ready to sell out, giving him five in his last seven games, but that allows him to go for Fantasy managers to stay afloat rather than dominate.

I doubt you have three receivers I would rather play, but I think it’s not impossible. In theory, this is as good a place to break through as any – the Browns have the second-lowest rate of deep pass interceptions this season, so why not give it a try?

You play Hill, even if it’s not as comfortable as we hoped. No weather issues are expected, so I won’t spam you with “Tua in the cold” numbers. I’ve already bet on this game to go over the total. If I cash this ticket, I’ll be happy with the position of any fantasy team with a Hill presence.

Jonnu Smith, TE

As of 2021, Travis Kelce, George Kittle and Jonnu Smith are the only tight ends with a dozen PPR points in six straight games. I’m not calling him Tom Brady, but like the GOAT, Smith breaks all sorts of age barriers.

A career year at age 29?

At this point in the season I can no longer ask questions and am simply impressed by the profile. Smith has posted at least a 24% shooting percentage in four of his last five games on the field and has found stability in this fast-paced attack.

Smith’s athletic ability was his calling card to begin with, but with only three games of 50+ yards, I like his fit into Miami’s offense more than any hope of him breaking out on the field. We’re looking at one of the cheat codes for winning fantasy teams in 2024 – there’s no reason to shy away from it now that your season is on the line!