Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith praised Achane's improved "understanding of the offense" Thursday, saying "he's really made substantial growth," Adam Stites of USA Today reports.

EDGE Analysis

Achane said earlier this offseason that he's added muscle and improved his route running, and it appears that he's made a substantial mental leap as well. Even in a crowded backfield that also houses Raheem Mostert, rookie fourth-round pick Jaylen Wright and veteran Jeff Wilson, it's difficult to ignore Achane's positive offseason momentum, especially coming off a rookie campaign in which he averaged 7.8 YPC on 103 carries during the regular season, including four games with over 100 rushing yards. If Achane is able to maintain similar efficiency while both staying healthy and retaining a large workload, he'll have a clear path to superstardom and elite fantasy production, and thus far it appears he's put himself in prime position to make good on that potential. Of course, Achane's small frame remains a concern despite added muscle, especially after he missed he missed five games and most of a sixth due to injury as a rookie. Still, if his building offseason drumbeat is to be believed, Achane's explosiveness, improvement as a receiver, and upgraded mental game could be enough for consistent high-end production, even without a true workhorse role.

Achane has prioritized improving his route running this offseason and could earn more opportunities to line up out wide in Year 2, David Furones of the Sun Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

Achane said during June mandatory minicamp he's been "lining up at different positions, as far as like receiver, running routes and stuff," calling those drills "something that we're doing different this year." The second-year pro, who logged record-breaking efficiency during his rookie season, said that in addition to becoming a more versatile pass catcher, his priority this offseason has been adding muscle in order to better avoid injury. Achane will have to compete with position mates Raheem Mostert and rookie Jaylen Wright for touches during the 2024 campaign, so it would be encouraging to see him develop into a capable enough receiver to catch passes out wide, rather than only out of the backfield. Despite the Dolphins looking primed to deploy a backfield committee, Achane's explosiveness and big-play ability make it easy to project a high fantasy ceiling in 2024. If he's indeed able to improve his versatility and durability this offseason, that could also give him a more consistent floor.

Head coach Mike McDaniel said Tuesday that Achane has made "some strength gains" and improved his understanding of Miami's offense, Andre Fernandez of The Miami Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Achane seems to be off to a good start to the offseason program, potentially allowing him to earn a larger share of the snaps in the backfield in 2024 behind returning starter Raheem Mostert. Both backs should have significant roles after the impressive work they did in 2023, while fourth-round pick Jaylen Wright is a wild card to earn occasional carries. Adding some weight might lower Achane's injury risk a bit and/or allow him to take on more touches, though he'll still be one of the smallest and fastest running backs in the league, at least among players competing for a significant number of carries and early down snaps. He ran a 4.32-second 40-yard dash at 188 pounds at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, then took 103 carries for 800 yards (7.8 YPC) and three touchdowns in 11 regular-season games as a rookie. Achane also drew 37 targets and recorded three receiving touchdowns, with the pass-catching work allowing him to stay involved even when Mostert was healthy and gobbling up carries.

Achane and Raheem Mostert gained some competition for snaps via the additon of rookie Jaylen Wright in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

Achane is coming off a rookie campaign in which he rushed for 800 yards and eight scores in just 11 games, while Mostert racked up 1,012 yards and an outstanding 18 touchdowns. Both should still enter the 2024 season as Miami's clear top backfield options, but Wright brings blazing speed (4.38-second 40-yard dash time) to the table, and neither Achane or Mostert boast the size to hold up to extreme workloads. While both Achane and Mostert demand double-digit touches, it's possible that the addition of Wright could represent a cap to their respective fantasy ceilings, especially if the rookie impresses enough to eventually force his way into a three-headed backfield split.

Achane appears to have added muscle to his frame through his workouts earlier this offseason, Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

A photo of Achane showing up for OTAs went viral, with some saying he looks much larger than he did during his rookie campaign. It's his second offseason bulking up for football without also considering track and field, though at this point it's unclear how much muscle he's added relative to his weight from the 2023 NFL Combine, where he ran a 4.32-second 40-yard dash at 188 pounds. Achane averaged 7.8 yards per carry and scored a touchdown per game last season, albeit with injuries (six missed games) and Raheem Mostert's presence (209 carries) limiting the rookie to 103 carries and 27 catches in his 11 appearances. The Dolphins still have Mostert under contract -- along with backups Jeff Wilson, Salvon Ahmed (foot) and Chris Brooks -- but they'll presumably prepare Achane with more of the backfield work in his second NFL season.

Achane rushed six times for nine yards and secured three of six targets for 21 yards in the Dolphins' 26-7 wild-card loss to the Chiefs on Saturday night.

EDGE Analysis

Achane flashed with a multitude of explosive plays throughout his rookie season, one he finished with 800 rushing yards, 197 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns (eight rushing, three receiving) across 11 games. The 2023 third-round pick put together four 100-yard efforts as well and averaged a whopping 7.8 yards per carry, and come his second training camp this summer, Achane figures to be a prime contender for an appreciably larger role despite the expected return of veteran Raheem Mostert.

Achane (toe/ribs) doesn't have an injury designation for Saturday's wild-card game against the Chiefs, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

As anticipated, Achane will be able to play through his pair of injuries Saturday after he concluded prep for the postseason opener with a full practice Thursday. Achane shined as the Dolphins' lead back over the final two weeks of the regular season, but it's unclear if he'll remain the No. 1 option in Kansas City. Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle) was sidelined for Weeks 17 and 18 and is listed as questionable for Saturday's contest, but he may be in a better spot on the health front after he was listed as a limited practice participant Tuesday through Thursday. Even if Mostert is active for the wild-card round, Achane should at least have a path to 10-to-15 touches in a change-of-pace role.

Achane (toe/ribs) is listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's injury report, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

The same goes for Raheem Mostert, whose status is actually in question following his absences for Weeks 17 and 18 due to ankle and knee injuries. Achane took 29 touches for 198 yards and two TDs the past two weeks, and he should be ready for Saturday's wild-card game against the Chiefs, be it as Miami's lead back or coming off the bench behind Mostert. The Dolphins should hold a more strenuous practice Thursday, after not practicing Tuesday and having a walk-through Wednesday.

Achane (toe/ribs) was listed as a limited participant on Tuesday's estimated practice report, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

Both Achane and Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle) were gauged as limited participants to kick off the week of prep ahead of Saturday's wild-card game against the Chiefs, but the latter's health seems to be the bigger question mark than the former's. Mostert sat out both of the Dolphins' final two games of the regular season while managing just one limited practice apiece leading up to those contests, enabling Achane to see two of his larger workloads of the season. Achane didn't sacrifice much efficiency with the added touches, as he carried 24 times for 163 yards (6.8 average) and a touchdown to go with five catches for 35 yards and another score in losses to the Ravens and Bills. The Dolphins have optimism that Mostert will be cleared to play Saturday in Kansas City, but Achane may have earned himself a larger share of the backfield pie based on how he finished out the regular season.

Achane rushed 10 times for 56 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 21-14 loss to Buffalo.

EDGE Analysis

Regular starter Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle) missed his second game in as many weeks due to multiple lower-body injuries, which opened the door for Achane to continue operating as Miami's lead back while also scoring the team's lone rushing touchdown Sunday. The explosive rookie unfathomably neared 1,000 combined yards from scrimmage (936) while scoring 10 total touchdowns despite spending a good portion of his 10 active games operating in a change-of pace role behind Mostert. Achane was already an exciting prospect in fantasy, but he could really put his name out there with a couple of big runs on the national stage against the Chiefs when the playoffs begin Saturday.