Miami’s rookie running back averaged over six yards per carry against Indianapolis.
Running back Raheem Mostert led the league in rushing touchdowns last year and De’Von Achane hit the ground running with an average of 7.8 yards per carry as a rookie. Miami averaged a league-best five yards per rush, yet the front office still sought reinforcements in Jaylen Wright.
Miami flipped a 2025 third-round pick to select him in the fourth round of April’s draft, and he has quickly proven to be a dynamic player in coach Mike McDaniel’s offense. With 172 yards on 34 carries, he’s maintained an impressive five yards per carry through five games.
While Mostert and Achane were effective Sunday, the Dolphins must creatively integrate Wright to avoid wasting their investment in him. His impressive showing against the Colts—33 yards on just five carries in six snaps—highlights the need to integrate him into the offense more consistently.
Wright is knocking on the door for more playing time, but McDaniel must identify the right balance among the backfield talents. The Dolphins ran the ball 40 times on Sunday while Mostert (11 carries for 50 yards) and Achane (15 carries for 77 yards) each played well.
There’s just one ball on the field, and not only does Wright need to be more involved — it’s going to come on fewer snaps. The Dolphins have reached 40 rushing attempts twice this season — each of the last two weeks. The Dolphins averaged a league-low 43.65% pass play rate over the last three weeks, a number that will only climb with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa expected back soon.
Hill and Waddle remain the engines that power the offense, and Sunday’s target drought will likely not continue with Tagovailoa back at quarterback. Things will look different with Tagovailoa at the helm, limiting opportunities for the running backs—specifically for Wright—to carry the rock.
That said, at 2-4, the Dolphins must maximize every asset on their roster. Mostert and Achane will remain focal points of the ground game, but McDaniel must find a way to get Wright involved and make the most of their investment in his talent.
