The Miami Dolphins may have an embarrassment of riches at an important position. No, not quarterback, don’t get crazy. With De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II, the Dolphins have a pretty deep running back situation.
And, with Achane nursing a calf injury that could cost him weeks, could Gordon seize the spotlight and leapfrog Wright?
After outplaying Wright so far in the preseason, Gordon could end up earning the backup spot to Achane (which right now would most likely mean the starting job). Then again, with 19 yards on 13 preseason carries, most running backs in the UFL are outplaying Wright.
Offensive coordinator Frank Smith sounded like he might be making excuses for Wright, but he’s really just being professional and saying the right things.
“Really, for us, it’s an ongoing process all the way because sometimes the look that one guy gets is different than what the other guy gets,” Smith said Tuesday. “One guy gets maybe a better look or better blocked play, the other one has to make more out of something else.”
Gordon, the sixth-round pick out of Oklahoma State, could be making a run at the number-two running back job as he’s clearly been better Wright at this point.
“So I think Ollie has done a great job understanding what we’re trying to do,” Smith continued. “He, too, has things that he’s working on, but he’s done a good job in his preseason opportunities.”
Ollie Gordon is averaging way more per carry than Wright
Wright is averaging about three yards less per carry than Gordon. While it’s only two preseason games, it might as well be 10 yards. Wright is only in his second year, but he averaged 3.7 yards per carry last year – which isn’t putrid – but it’s also below the Mendoza Line of four yards-per-carry for a running back.
“When you’re talking about running the football, we have to create consistent lanes,” Smith said. “There are certain things that he’s working on, that he’s growing on, especially this next week will be huge, but I think collectively, guys need to understand when we’re running into certain looks, we’ve got to maximize it.
“We’ve got to be more aggressive when we see looks, so I think overall as a blocking corps, we’ve got to help our running backs as much as we can.”
Ollie Gordon should get his chances against the Jaguars
To the excitement of no one, the Dolphins are hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars this week for a joint practice session, culminating in the fireworks of the third and final preseason game. Gordon and Wright will most likely get plenty of touches, especially with Achane out with an injury.
“I think this week will be important for all of the blocking guys in the running game, along with the backs to really [see] what we have learned over these 10 days,” Smith said. “When we were running into looks that weren’t ideal, what do we take from that into this week in preparation for Jacksonville?”
Could Gordon be your fantasy sleeper? I’d say so. As of right now, he could likely be a Week 1 starting running back. How long might he hold that job? I have no clue, but considering there is a chance he goes undrafted in your league (depending on the collective IQ of your fantasy league), he could be a late steal.
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