The Miami Dolphins are set to begin their 2026 NFL regular season on Sunday, kicking off a 17-game-over-18-week schedule. The analysts expect the Dolphins to struggle this season, with many predicting Miami to own the first-overall pick in the 2027 Draft by the time the season ends. The Dolphins, themselves, are not buying into those prognostications and are still setting lofty goals – especially running back De’Von Achane.
Miami’s 2023 third-round pick explained the importance of setting goals, saying,
“I feel like you don’t got goals, I feel like what are you playing the game for? And you know, I kind of add more goals as we go through the season, but we always start with some.”
When asked to share one of his personal goals, Achane set a lofty objective. “I always try to go for the rushing title so that’s just something I do,“ he stated.
Achane, coming off his first career Pro Bowl selection, is expected to be the focal point of the offense this season. Head coach Jeff Hafley joked earlier in the summer that he would be looking to give Achane 45 touches per game this season. While 45 touches is not realistic, Achane was asked how many touches he thinks he will get in Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders. “I have no idea,” he replied. “I feel like, don’t nobody really know how many times you’re going to touch the ball. I feel like it’s just kind of a however the game is going type thing.”
With all the focus on Achane, opposing defenses will likely keep defenders close to the line of scrimmage to slow him down. Asked about what they would do to the offense, the running back recognized how that would open up the passing game, saying, “It just gives opportunities for our young receivers, or whoever’s out there, to make plays. Like you said, this is a team game. I can’t just go out there and win by myself. So when teams do stack the box, we can still try to run the ball, but if we have to adjust, it just gives opportunities for receivers to make plays.”
He continued, “It takes all of us. Just like they need me to run, I need them in the pass game. It goes both ways.”
The Dolphins underwent a coaching staff change this offseason, with former head coach and offensive play caller Mike McDaniel fired after the year ended and former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley hired as the 12th full-time head coach in team history. Bobby Slowik, working as the passing game coordinator under McDaniel, was hired as the offensive coordinator for Hafley, keeping some stability in the offense while bringing a new perspective to the attack.
How will Slowick’s promotion impact Achane’s utilization? The fourth-year rusher said of the offense, “Of course it’s new…because it’s a new coach. So it’s kind of still the same, you add new stuff, but Slo was here last year with Mike, so some stuff is the same, some things are different. But at the same time, I feel like Slo uses me in the pass game, run game, so it’s good for me.”
Achane has lofty goals for himself this season and is probably going to have a great opportunity to reach them. But, in the near term, he is excited just to get the season started this weekend, saying, “I mean, it feels good, man. Like you said, it’s been a long time since we actually played four quarters, and I’ll been excited to be out there and just to go out there, just watch our team, to see how we come and basically just see how we hold up against somebody else for a full game.”
