MIAMI GARDENS ― The devastating season-ending knee injury to Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane puts the team in a significant bind.
It is also awful news for fantasy football participants who drafted Achane in the first round.
Where might the Dolphins turn next?
Where might fantasy football football players turn?
Well, we're here to tell you that Jaylen Wright
entered this season with a slight edge over Ollie Gordon II.We're here to slightly recommend Wright over Gordon as an Achane successor.
Gordon was the Dolphins No. 2 running back in Week 3 because Wright was out due to foot and stinger injuries.
Scouting reports for Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II
Jaylen Wright
Age: 23
Year: 3rd
School: Tennessee
Draft: 4th round, 2024
Ht/Wt: 5-foot-10, 205 pounds
NFL stats: 3.9 yards per rush on 141 attempts
Strengths: Wright
is not quite as fast as Achane, but he is very fast. Wright was timed at 4.38 in the 40-yard dash at Tennessee. He is explosive. He is a blend of speed and enough power to break some tackles. The Dolphins believe he is a good fit for Miami's current offensive scheme. Wright is capable of creating long runs. Wright has good contact balance. Wright showed off his skills on a 77-yard kickoff return earlier this season. Wright also has the physical strength to be a competent blocker.
Weaknesses: Wright should be a more consistent receiving threat. Wright has said that he needed to mature and that he did that maturing before this season. Wright will need to stay healthy. Wright has continued to work on his vision. Wright lost three fumbles in his first two seasons. He cannot allow ball security to become an issue.
Projection for remainder of 2026: Lead back when healthy; 2/3 of carries.
Ollie Gordon II
Age: 22
Year: 2nd
School: Oklahoma State
Draft: 6th, 2025
Ht/Wt: 6-foot-2, 225 pounds
NFL stats: 2.7 yards per rush on 90 attempts
Strengths: Gordon has ideal size for a power back, which suits perfectly what coach Jeff Hafley wants. Gordon can be difficult to bring down as he continues to churn his legs. Gordon has demonstrated patience. He has outstanding pedigree as a former Doak Campbell award winner as college football's top running back. Gordon is a downhill runner capable of punishing defenders. Gordon is not a bad receiver. Once he completes the catch he can be dangerous threat. Gordon should be a capable blocker. At times, it hasn't been perfect.
Weaknesses: Wright's game is more about power than burst and explosiveness. He is a totally different kind of back. He is a north-south runner and not dynamic in the area of lateral agility. Gordon has expressed a desire to work on becoming less of an upright target for defenders. Gordon fumbled too often in college and that cannot become a problem in the NFL.
Projection for remainder of 2026: No. 2 back when healthy; 1/3 of carries.
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Threads and Instagram and X at @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins' De'Von Achane out for season: Why Jaylen Wright gets edge
