Dolphins running back De’Von Achane is quickly solidifying himself as the biggest steal of this year’s draft.
Achane has totaled six touchdowns over his past two games, and he will look to continue his frantic scoring pace Sunday when the Dolphins face the New York Giants in Miami Gardens, Fla.
After totaling four TDs (two rushing, two receiving) during Miami’s 70-20 rout of the Denver Broncos on Sept. 24, Achane rushed for two more scores in last Sunday’s 48-20 loss to the Bills that dropped the Dolphins to 3-1.
With his performance against Buffalo, Achane joined Doug Martin (2012), Mike Anderson (2000) and Randy Moss (1998) as the only rookies since 1970 to find the end zone six times in a two-game span.
Even though Achane has burst onto the scene, Miami coach Mike McDaniel isn’t comfortable turning over the backfield to him just yet.
“He’ll continue to have a role, for sure, for our offense moving forward,” McDaniel said of Achane. “What does that look like in terms of ratios and touches? That will be something that I would be remiss if I didn’t wait to see the tape before making judgments like that.”
New York (1-3) hopes it will be able to counter with a talented running back of its own, Saquon Barkley.
Barkley has missed the Giants’ past two games with a high ankle sprain. He was limited practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and the team listed his status for Sunday as questionable.
Life without Barkley has been torture for New York, which is on a short week after Monday’s ugly 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
The Giants have the worst point differential in the NFL at minus-76, and that number could continue trending in the wrong direction against a Dolphins offense that averages a league-best 511 yards per game.
Quarterback Daniel Jones hasn’t been able to step up in Barkley’s absence, either. He threw for just 203 yards with two interceptions and suffered 10 of the Seahawks’ 11 sacks Monday.
Although it hasn’t been the start he anticipated following last season’s promising 9-7-1 mark, New York coach Brian Daboll still believes better days are ahead.
“When you’re in this position, you tell them what we’re not doing right, you own it, you own it as a leader and you come back ready to go,” Daboll said. “Not the start that we had hoped for, we had worked for, but a long road ahead and a lot of improvement to be done.”
The Giants will be working with a makeshift offensive line as they try to get back on track on Sunday. Guard Shane Lemieux (groin), center John Michael Schmitz (shoulder) and tackle Andrew Thomas (hamstring) will all sit out the game. Tackle Evan Neal (hand, ankle) has been limited in practice this week.
New York tight end Daniel Bellinger (knee) and linebacker Micah McFadden (ankle) are listed as questionable to play.
Miami also has offensive line issues. Left tackle Terron Armstead (back, ankle, knee) landed on injured reserve on Friday, guard Robert Jones (knee) won’t play against the Giants and guard Lester Cotton (ankle) and center Connor Williams (groin) are listed as questionable. Defensive back Nik Needham (Achilles) was ruled out, and linebacker Jaelan Phillips (oblique) was regarded as questionable.
The Dolphins added to their offensive depth on Friday when they acquired wide receiver Chase Claypool from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a draft-pick swap in 2025. It was not immediately clear if Claypool would be in uniform on Sunday.
–Field Level Media
