MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- At Dolphins camp, the most outstanding player from the prior practice wears an orange jersey on the next practice day. On Thursday, second-year running back De'Von Achane was the man in orange.
CBS Sports was present at the practice, and considering how Achane is among the most polarizing players in Fantasy drafts this year, we made the following observations:
- While stretching with his backfield mates, Achane's added muscle was noticeable. Not that he was a hulk, but he compared favorably to burly back Jeff Wilson. A year earlier, Achane looked the same size-wise as Salvon Ahmed.
When asked about his added weight, Dolphins running backs coach Eric Studesville admitted that Achane was a more physical player than he first thought but felt that wasn't the most important part of the addition.
"Durability-wise is probably the best area where that could potentially help," Studesville noted.
- In practice drills Achane worked behind Raheem Mostert consistently -- almost certainly a nod of respect to the veteran, but it's also a reminder that the Dolphins will always mix and match their running backs.
Both backs were as quick and agile as you remember from last year. Both backs also participated in receiving drills not just within their position group but with the offense as well. I'd argue that there was an emphasis on getting some throws in to the running backs given the number of targets they got in drills, both against air and the Miami defense.
In red-zone drills, Tua Tagovailoa connected with a wide-open Achane for a would-be touchdown.
- The Dolphins offensive line remains a serious concern, more so in terms of pass protection than run blocking. Case in point: There were several throws quarterback Tua Tagovailoa made downfield that would have otherwise been sacks in a real game because the O-line gave up too much pressure.
However, Achane (and Mostert) enjoyed sizable gains on the ground thanks to the blocking. Keep in mind this was not a padded practice, so those holes made by the offensive line are subject to future review.
Outside of a holding penalty called on Achane, he had a pretty good day. The emphasis on his work in the passing game is encouraging after reports this offseason suggested he'd do more there.
"You can really see the growth of his understanding of the offense, where he fits in just overall in the run game ... and then in the passing game as well," Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith said. "You can tell it's Year 2 for him. He's really made substantial growth and I think this camp will really be good the next couple of weeks for him to continue to grow on everything he's done."
The hyper-efficiency from Achane's rookie season is unrivaled across the league. The Dolphins know it and seem prepared to use him in every way possible, including as an explosive target in the passing game. The idea of him running a wheel route against a linebacker or a safety probably gets the Dolphins coaches and quarterbacks hyped up.
But his health remains a factor. Not only did Achane struggle to stay healthy as a rookie but he also missed a pair of games in 2022 with Texas A&M because of a foot problem. The Dolphins appear to be sensitive to that, not just for Achane but for all their running backs.
His playing time remains a factor. A core philosophy for how Miami uses its backs is to give work to at least two of them every game. Last year, two Dolphins running backs had 10-plus touches in the same game seven times -- six were in blowout wins or losses. Achane (who missed one of those seven with an injury) had more than 12 touches twice.
It also bears mentioning that his biggest numbers came in three blowouts -- romps over the Broncos and Commanders, and a butt-kicking by the Bills. More than half (54.3%) of his total PPR production from last year came in those three games.
Achane's Fantasy status remains lofty but with some clear downside. Can he be hyper-efficient again? Will he be used reliably every week and not just in blowouts? And can he stay on the field? The more aggressive you are on Draft Day, the more likely you are to take Achane before the end of Round 2.
The good news is that Achane looked good in practice. His orange jersey suggests he's been rolling in practice for at least two days in a row, but probably more like all summer. Up next are joint practices with the Falcons and Commanders -- practices that could be telling as far as how Miami intends to utilize Achane.
