De’Von Achane has endured a sophomore slump. (Miami Dolphins)
This week, Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker made the longest fair catch free kick in NFL history; Baltimore’s wide receiver corps is down to bare bones for its big game against Pittsburgh on Saturday; and Indianapolis leading receiver Alec Pierce is out with a concussion. Now, some other Fantasy football stories we’re tracking…
De’Von Achane Should Find the End Zone
After a very strong campaign last year in which the Miami Dolphins racked up 11 wins — their most since 2008 — this season has been a real slog. With losses in two of their last three games, the Fins are down to 6-8, and their chances of making the playoffs are clinging by a thread.
There hasn’t been much to celebrate in Miami, and running back De’Von Achane has regressed along with most of his teammates. After such a promising rookie season in which he racked up 800 and 30 first downs in just 11 games, he’s been held to 641 yards on 165 carries (3.9 YPC) and just four rushing TDs in 2024.
Achane’s saving grace this season has been his dramatically increased role in the passing game. How about 70 receptions already? Talk about PPR gold.
Also, he’s hit paydirt in every home game except one this season, so looks like a solid play as an anytime TD scorer against San Francisco on Sunday.
Miami’s third round pick last year, Achane is a serious burner (see video below) who has great faith in his feet, so he tends to stay in control early in run plays. And while he is strong, he’s definitely not a big NFL RB (5’9″, 188), so there are legitimate concerns about his ability to carry a big load over time.
When Tua Tagovailoa plays, Achane tends to get plenty of touches, so we’re expecting more of the same in Week 16. His streak of four straight Top 15 showings among Fantasy RBs ended in Week 15, but a bounce back is likely on Sunday. Consider him a mid-range RB1 for Week 16.
Can Alexander Mattison Take Advantage?
The Las Vegas Raiders had a better year in 2023, flirting with .500, but oh man have things ever crashed and burned this season. After a 2-2 start, Las Vegas has dropped 10 straight games, making Week 16’s game against 3-11 Jacksonville a fun battle for the No. 1 overall pick. If the Raiders can somehow lose this one, they can really improve their odds of landing a franchise quarterback in Shedeur Sanders.
But first, they’ve got to play out the rest of the season, and believe it or not, there remain Fantasy-worthy developments to track.
Running back Sincere McCormick (ankle) landed on the IR this week, thereby ending his season and thrusting veteran Alexander Mattison into the starting role. Mattison has had his chances before, and when he was on Minnesota and Dalvin Cook got hurt, we suggested Mattison was an excellent waiver wire pick.
And while Mattison did post a career-high 491 yards rushing in 2021, his opportunities shrunk the following year (although he scored a person best five touchdowns). Last year, he enjoyed career bests with 180 carries and 700 yards rushing, yet failed to score a rushing TD. This season in Mattison’s Raider debut, things have not gone well at all. Not only has he missed some time, thereby limited his chances (just 104 carries), but he has struggled with what he’s gotten (only 341 yards for a career worst 3.3 YPC).
Mattison again failed to seize his chance last week (just 21 yards rushing and an ugly three yards per carry), but he’s got an excellent opportunity to score his first TD since mid-October (currently listed as +130 anytime TD scorer according to FanDuel).
Consider Mattison a low-end RB4 at best for Week 16, but beware that he may not operate as the lead back, and could wind up working in a time-share with Ameer Abdullah.
RotoRob Tune of the Day
Van Morrison has always done extremely well in the UK and Ireland; in fact he’s had over 40 recordings in the UK Top 40. In 1973, he released his seventh album, Hard Nose the Highway, which included his indictment of sub-culture “The Great Deception.”