The Miami Dolphins have had a rollercoaster offseason with front office punishments and new faces on the coaching staff. We all know about the owner Stephen M. Ross and the picks he lost while adding a $1.5 million fine. Before this occurred, the team hired new Head Coach Mike McDaniel as the 14th in team history. McDaniel is more of an offensive-minded coach and mainly a running game specialist.
Josh Boyer is entering his third year as defensive coordinator with a stellar 2021 season behind a defense that scored five touchdowns, the most since 2001, and held opponents to fewer than 300 yards passing the final ten games of the season. Add 48 sacks, a league lead with 91 passes defended, and were second with 121 quarterback hits. Now adding all this together makes for an excellent defense to fill your fantasy stats full from the IDP drafted.
Defensive Line
Christian Wilkins
Wilkins had his fifth-year option picked up after a solid 89 tackles, 4.5 sacks, one FF, and one FR through 17 games. He is someone to target in your drafts after all the top-tier DLs are gone. Regarding trading for him, he is worth going after to add depth to your team. I like him as a DL3 in most formats but much more in DT formats.
Emmanuel Ogbah
Ogbah signed a four extension in the offseason after back-to-back seasons of nine sacks and zero missed games. Emmanuel added 12 pass deflections as well, solidifying himself as a premier pass rusher entering his prime, and the Dolphins have made sure to make him a big part of their future. Trust him this season to crack the double-digit sacks and be DL1/DL2 comfortably to start weekly.
Linebackers
Jaelan Phillips
Do not let the LB ranking fool you. Phillips has dual eligibility (LB, DL), and when slotting him into DL, your get DL2 numbers or better. He managed a solid rookie season with 42 tackles, 8.5 sacks, one PD, and one FF, which as a rookie, is impressive. He can also be someone for the Dolphins who can get double-digit sacks. As an up-and-coming elite edge rusher, I would try and trade for him to plug into your DL spot and move pieces you have extra of, like WR. They are best to gain IDP in most cases.
Elandon Roberts
Roberts is coming off a career-best 83 tackles. I will be lining up as the left inside linebacker in the 3-4 defense. He will be a bye-week filler or injury plug-in due to his inconsistency in performing weekly. IM not making any trades for him, but if I have a roster spot and need LB depth, make a waiver add as far as drafting. It makes him late for depth and does not reach by any means.
Jerome Baker
Jerome had a down year compared to 2020 (111 tackles, seven sacks) even though he didn’t lose any snaps or games with 92 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Baker has been the model of consistency since 2018 and has only missed one game while averaging 100 tackles a season. Jerome is an LB. I would trade target for my second LB in a startup; as for an established league making a trade for him isn’t a bad idea. If you need the position, he is a buy-low candidate.
Defensive Backs
Brandon Jones
Jones has looked like he has carved out a role as the starting strong safety in the Miami secondary. He has been known for his elite ability to blitz off the edge since his days at Texas. But his coverage agility has been displayed this offseason and training camp. Jones had an interception on Tua this past week, and Miami coaches are raving about it. Lock him into a DB2/DB3 and plug him in. Trade for him before he waves. When the season starts, he buys low.
Jevon Holland
After a promising rookie season, Holland has settled into his role as the free safety. He enters his sophomore campaign looking like an all-pro in the making. He has elite field vision with incredible closing speed, which allows him to find the ball from anywhere on the field. In your startup drafts, target Holland as a DB1/DB2 for your defense. Trade for him if you see someone shopping him, or they may have extra DB.
Xavien Howard/Byron Jones
The two starting corners are Pro Bowlers, which tells you all you need to know. Howard has been one of the top-scoring defensive backs for the last two seasons while leading the NFL in interceptions (15). He also can force fumbles and recover them and is truly an all-around corner. Xavien is locked in DB2 with his playmaking ability. Jones doesn’t have the extra fumbles nor the number of interceptions as Howard, so he is more of the low-end DB3 bye-week filler/ injury.
Wrap Up
The 2022 Miami Dolphins will be a well-rounded team with multiple Pro Bowlers or will be Pro Bowlers. The entire defense is getting their hands on the ball, and the playmakers are doing it at the right time in the big moments throughout the season. Tagovailoa has been throwing interceptions in practice, and he is one of the more accurate passers in the NFL. It’s evidence that he is throwing against a top-five secondary in a top-five defense.
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