Dolphins Fantasy Football Recap Week 15
As part of the Dolphins dismantling of the Jets this past Saturday night, they helped prove me wrong into thinking that it was an easy game to avoid in fantasy football leagues.
I’m willing to admit when I’m wrong, and this past Saturday proved that I clearly was. Initially, with a backup QB starting for the first time this year in a cold weather game, I didn’t believe Dolphins players were appealing fantasy football options against the Jets. There were some duds on the team of course, but Miami’s offense overall looked very good, even if it was against the Jets. Here is this week’s fantasy football recap.
Stud of the Game – Matt Moore
Matt Moore is a no-brainer for stud of the game this week. In his first start in nearly five years, Moore was exceptional for Miami, making the offense look as if they had not skipped a beat in wake of Ryan Tannehill‘s injury. He completed just 12 of 18 pass attempts, but when four of them go for touchdowns, that’s all you need. Granted, Moore had his breakout performance against one of the worst pass defenses in the league, and will have a much tougher test against Buffalo later this week. Still, Dolphins fans have to be pleased from what they saw from Moore, and feel more confident in his ability to lead Miami to the playoffs.
Week 15 Fantasy Points: 23.44
Dud of the Game – Jay Ajayi
Part of my inaccurate fantasy projections revolves around Jay Ajayi. In last week’s start/sit, Ajayi was the only Dolphins player I recommended starting. My initial thought was that Miami would lean on the run game more because of Moore starting and the cold weather. There’s a chance the Jets were thinking the same thing.
If the Jets did do anything well defensively, it would have to be their ability to contain Ajayi. Ajayi was able to muster just 51 yards on the ground on 19 carries. That averages out to just 2.7 yards per carry. Surprisingly, Moore did not target Ajayi at all in the passing game either. While the run game has been a key contribution in Miami’s turnaround, Ajayi’s fantasy value has taken a nosedive since the middle of the season, and he simply can’t be trusted from week-to-week.
Week 15 Fantasy Points: 5.10
Surprises of the Game – Dion Sims / Dolphin Defense
With a new quarterback under center, there was bound to be a new favorite target. For Moore, that player had to be Dion Sims. Sims led the team in receptions (4) and caught a pair of 1-yard touchdown passes. The first of which was initially ruled incomplete, but later overturned after Miami challenged the ruling.
It remains to be seen if Sims will remain a favorite of Moore’s, but any production from Miami’s tight ends is a welcoming sign.
Miami’s defense was the only option I was personally considering this past week against Bryce Petty and the Jets. In this particular league, tackles for loss and 3 and outs each count for 1/2 point. That allowed the defense to come through in a big way for me, and a big reason why I’ll be playing for the league championship this week. Even without the added bonuses, Miami’s defense was huge, and even though they may not be dependable from week-to-week, proved to be an excellent streaming option for at least one week.
Week 15 Fantasy Points – Sims: Standard – 15.10, PPR – 19.10
Week 15 Fantasy Points – Defense: 23.00
Other Notables
The only part of my start/sit suggestions that was partially accurate was to sit all three of the Dolphins key wide receivers. The only exception was Landry, who benefited from a 66-yard touchdown pass in the 3rd quarter that put the game out of reach. Prior to that, Landry had two receptions for 42 yards. With Moore completing just 12 passes, it was tough for production to be spread out.
Week 15 Fantasy Points: Standard – 16.80, PPR – 19.80
With Sims and Landry combining for over half of Moore’s completions, there was little left over for Miami’s other stud receivers. Both Parker and Stills caught one pass each, although Stills made the most of his.
Stills lone catch was a 52-yard bomb for a touchdown that gave Miami their first lead with under two minutes remaining in the first half. The touchdown proved to be a big momentum swing in the Dolphins favor as they would never look back in rout of the Jets.
Parker had a more quiet evening than his counterparts. Targeted just three times on the evening, his lone catch came early in the 2nd quarter. It was a big play kind of night for the Dolphins, and unfortunately, Parker could not cash in on the festivities. He’ll get his chance to bounce back, however, and will have a major impact if the Dolphins reach the playoffs.
Week 15 Fantasy Points – Parker: Standard – 1.70, PPR – 2.70
Week 15 Fantasy Points – Stills: Standard – 11.20, PPR – 12.20
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