Journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and second-year head coach Brian Flores are back for another season. Although the Dolphins selected Tua Tagovailoa No. 5 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, Miami will be starting Fitzpatrick at the beginning of the season. Miami decided to part ways with 2018’s No. 10 overall pick Josh Rosen, who was going to be the third quarterback for the team. Rosen remained in the state of Florida, as he is now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are also looking to improve their record this year. The last time Miami won the AFC East was 2008, and with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay as well, the New England Patriots are no longer the heavy favorite to win the division. Therefore, if Miami’s defense has an average season, the Dolphins may have value at +1000 to win the AFC East in 2020.
Read Also: New England Patriots Predictions and Odds
2020 Dolphins Draft Picks
Tua Tagovailoa, QB (Alabama)
Austin Jackson, OT (USC)
Noah Igbinoghene, CB (Auburn)
Robert Hunt, OT (Louisiana)
Raekwon Davis, DT (Alabama)
Brandon Jones, S (Texas)
Solomon Kindley, OG (Georgia)
Jason Strowbridge, DE (North Carolina)
Curtis Weaver, DE (Boise State)
Blake Ferguson, C (LSU)
Malcolm Perry, WR (Navy)
Notable Other New Faces for the Dolphins
Jordan Howard, RB
Matt Breida, RB
Lynn Bowden Jr., WR
Adam Shaheen, TE
Shaq Lawson, DE
Elandon Roberts, LB
Kyle Van Noy, LB
Kamu Grugier-Hill, LB
Emmanuel Ogbah, LB
Byron Jones, CB
Nate Brooks, CB
Clayton Fejedelem, S
Kavon Frazier, S
Notable Dolphins in New Places
Josh Rosen, QB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kenyan Drake, RB – Arizona Cardinals
Samaje Perine, RB – Cincinnati Bengals
Kalen Ballage, RB – released
Ricardo Louis, WR – released
Chester Rogers, WR – released
John Jenkins, DT – Chicago Bears
Taco Charlton, DE – Kansas City Chiefs
Avery Moss, DE – released
Charles Harris, DE – Atlanta Falcons
Raekwon McMillan, LB – Las Vegas Raiders
Johnson Bademosi, CB – New Orleans Saints
Cordrea Tankersley, CB – released
Notable Dolphins on the Injury Report
Patrick Laird, RB – questionable for Week 1 for an undisclosed reason
DeVante Parker, WR – questionable for Week 1 with a hamstring injury
Jakeem Grant, WR – questionable for Week 1 for an undisclosed reason
Kyle Van Noy, LB – questionable for Week 1 with a hand injury
Vince Biegel, LB – placed on injured reserve with an Achilles injury
Xavien Howard, CB – questionable for Week 1 with a knee injury
Nate Brooks, CB – placed on injured reserve for an undisclosed reason
Dolphins Who Have Opted Out of 2020 NFL Season
Allen Hurns, WR
Albert Wilson, WR
Dolphins Offense Predictions
Ryan Fitzpatrick, who will turn 38 years old in November, is playing for his eighth NFL team, and he continues to play well at the quarterback position. The Harvard graduate is still running the football, which is very impressive for a quarterback at his age. In his 15 games in 2019, Fitzpatrick ran 54 times for 243 yards and a career-best four touchdowns on the ground. Those four touchdowns led all rushers on the Dolphins last year. Fortunately for Fitzpatrick, he gets help from Jordan Howard and Matt Breida at the running back position in 2020.
Fitzpatrick’s offense also received a new weapon just before the season began. The Dolphins added to their depth on offense and special teams with the acquisition of Lynn Bowden Jr. from the Las Vegas Raiders. Bowden had 215 touches for 1,816 yards from scrimmage in 2019 for Kentucky. The 2019 consensus All-American receiver and returner led the nation in rushing yards per attempt en route to 13 rushing touchdowns. He also added a receiving touchdown after scoring five in 2018.
Dolphins Running Backs: Who Will Lead the Dolphins in Rushing in 2020?
Miami’s revamped backfield includes Howard, Breida, and Myles Gaskin. Patrick Laird, who went undrafted in 2019, was beginning to be utilized more in the rushing and passing game near the end of last season. However, he is questionable for Week 1’s matchup against the Patriots for an undisclosed reason. If injuries continue to hit the backs, Bowden may factor into the running game. For now, though, the backfield will mostly be manned by Howard and Breida.
In 2019, Howard ran 119 times for 525 yards and six touchdowns in just ten games for the Philadelphia Eagles. Breida amassed 743 yards from scrimmage on 142 touches for the San Francisco 49ers last season. Those two will vie for the team’s leading back role, but it appears that Howard will get the first crack at impressing the coaching staff.
Dolphins Wide Receivers: Will Devante Parker Be Able to Surpass 1,200 Yards Again?
DeVante Parker and Preston Williams, the primary two wide receivers on the Dolphins, should be getting the majority of the targets. In 2019, Parker was far and away the team’s best receiver, as he had a career year. He brought in 72 receptions for 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns. Meanwhile, Williams, who went undrafted in 2019, caught 32 passes for 428 yards and three touchdowns in his rookie season. If Williams can double those numbers in 2020 and Parker is his same 2019 self, the Dolphins will have a very successful season with the passing game.
Dolphins Tight Ends: Is Mike Gesicki Going to Be Fitzpatrick’s No. 2 Target in 2020?
Mike Gesicki’s 89 targets, 51 receptions, 570 receiving yards, and five receiving touchdowns all ranked second on the team behind Parker in 2019. Gesicki, who is entering his third NFL season out of Penn State, made a massive jump in his second year. However, that development may be hampered by fellow third-year tight end Durham Smythe, who is the better blocker of the two men at the position. The Notre Dame product who was selected two rounds after Gesicki in 2018 has been announced as the starting tight end on the Dolphins website.
Read Also: Buffalo Bills Predictions and Odds
Dolphins Defense Predictions
If the Dolphins want to succeed and fight for a playoff position, they will have to play better on defense in 2020. They were the worst team in terms of points allowed in 2019, as they allowed at least 30 points in 10 games last year. Also, Miami’s defense allowed more than 100 rushing yards 12 times in 2019. The Dolphins made tremendous changes to their defensive unit, and they hope that can do the trick.
The team’s sack leader DE Taco Charlton is now with the Kansas City Chiefs. He also tied LB Jerome Baker for the most forced fumbles on the team last year. Linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts have followed Flores to Miami, and the team also brought in DE Shaq Lawson, CB Byron Jones, and 2020 first-round draft pick CB Noah Igbinoghene. With these new additions, the Dolphins should be able to vastly improve on defense this year.
Read Also: New York Jets Predictions and Odds
Dolphins Special Teams Predictions
Kicker Jason Sanders is back for the Dolphins in 2020, as he enters his third NFL season. In his career, he has yet to miss a field goal inside of 34 yards. He has missed just one extra point in each of his first two seasons. Unfortunately, Sanders may be on thin ice if his overall field goal kicking percentage does not improve from 2019. In 2018, he made 90 percent of his 20 field goal kicks. In 2019, he attempted 10 more field goals but made just 23 (77 percent).
Sanders will continue to assume his kickoff role as well, but the Dolphins may be looking for a replacement. Sanders’ ranks last year were the following among kickers: 24th in field goal percentage, 11th in extra point percentage, and 20th in points scored. Sanders should be kicking a lot again in 2020, but if he cannot get above 80 percent with his field goal percentage, this will most likely be his last season with the Dolphins.
Dolphins Head Coach Predictions
From 2016 to 2018, Brian Flores held the role of linebackers coach for the Patriots. His time at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts was lengthy, as he began his New England tenure in 2004 as a scouting assistant. After having several roles under Brian Belichick, he has now become his contemporary in the league. Flores enters his second season as the Dolphins head coach after an impressive coaching performance last year.
The Dolphins were not expected to win many games and even began the season 0-7 under Flores and Fitzpatrick. However, they had multiple two-game winning streaks, as they won five of their final nine games of the season. Included in those five wins were victories against the Eagles and Patriots. The Week 17 victory against New England prevented the Patriots from having a first-round bye and provided Flores a win against his mentor Belichick.
Dolphins Predictions for Week 1
Can the Dolphins make it two wins in a row against the Patriots? Miami travels north to take on Cam Newton’s team in New England. The line opened with the Patriots as a 5.5-point favorite, and the line has moved to 6.5 in most books. The over/under for the contest is just 43 points, as a low-scoring affair is expected. The Dolphins can upset the Patriots here, and they are a strong value pick for the Week 1 contest.
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Dolphins Predictions for 2020 Season
With the 2020 over/under for the Dolphins being six wins, the bookmakers have increased from their 2019 over/under of 4.5 wins. It is understandable to feel that the Dolphins have been slighted, as the New York Jets’ over/under is 6.5 wins. The over bet of six wins for Miami is not a bad idea if bettors want to find value in the AFC East. Miami’s Super Bowl odds stand at +10000, which is tied with the New York Giants for the fourth-lowest odds. It is a fun flyer to take, but most likely a pipe dream.
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