Here’s why De'Von Achane is No. 11 on our Dolphins’ Top 20 players
(Part of a series counting down to the start of 2024 Dolphins training camp.)
It would be hard to name many Dolphins whose second NFL season was anticipated more than De’Von Achane’s will be in 2024.
There can be no question he’s a fine running back. The question is just how good? Let's review the evidence.
Why De'Von Achane is No. 11
The Dolphins essentially kept Achane on the shelf for the first two games of 2023.
Then, an explosion.
Achane rushed for 203 yards in the historic 70-20 blowout of Denver. The next week, it was 101 yards against Buffalo. Then 151 against the Giants. Put it together and in a three-week span, Achane amassed 455 yards — but he did it on just 37 carries. That's a 12.3 average.
Although Achane finished the season with 103 carries for 800 yards, things didn’t come as easily later in his rookie season. Achane suffered a knee injury, landed on injured reserve and essentially missed six games. At times, he didn’t look like himself. At one point he was unable to surpass 50 yards in three of four games.
Telling stat
Achane averaged 7.8 yards per carry for the season — most by any rookie in NFL history with a minimum of 100 attempts. It easily beat the previous mark of 6.4 by Mercury Morris, also of the Dolphins. Fifth on that list at 6.1, by the way, is Barry Sanders.
How we see Achane's future
Still only 22, Achane can be expected to have a long career with the Dolphins. Assuming he’s healthy through training camp, all eyes will be on him to see if he can regain his early season form of 2023 (although 12.3 per carry might be a bit much to expect).
Also worth considering is that Raheem Mostert, coming off a career year, isn’t going anywhere and the team added Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright — whose speed puts him in the class of Mostert and Achane — in Round 4.
How will coaches Mike McDaniel and Frank Smith keep all three happy?
Stay tuned.
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal. Click here to subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins 2024: Our Top 20 player countdown rolls on with De'Von Achane
