Dolphins play Bills in Week 3. Who should I start for my fantasy football team?
Are you ready for some (Thursday night) football?
I certainly am.
And after the Dolphins let a close one slip away to the Patriots 33-27 on Sunday, I’m sure they’re glad to have a quick turnaround to correct their mistakes against the Buffalo Bills.
Look, I would be a fool to ignore how dominant the Bills have been as of late, especially against the Dolphins. That said, this isn’t one big Bills praise fest. There’s at least one Dolphins player who deserves to start.
That said, let’s get into it.
START
Bills QB Josh Allen
A not-so-fun fact for Dolphins fans: Allen has completed more passes (316) for a high percentage (66.3) and more yards (3,737) as well as touchdown throws (37) in his 14 games vs. Miami than he did during his MVP season.
As previously written, it’s not hyperbole to say that Allen finds a new gear when he plays the Dolphins.
Don’t overthink it. Start him and forget about it, especially against a Dolphins defense that has given up seven touchdowns and an average of 375.5 yards through two games.
Bills RB James Cook
The Miami Central grad has yet to have a 100-yard rushing performance against the Dolphins.
Still, Cook will be worth the start as he has averaged one touchdown a game in his last five matchups with Miami.
With him being the No. 1 running back in fantasy to start the year, there’s nothing to stop him from continuing his dominance against a Dolphins team that has a 25th-ranked rushing defense.
Dolphins RB De’Von Achane
The Bills happen to be one of the few teams that could actually be worse than the Dolphins against the run.
They gave up 100 yards on the ground to the New York Jets, just one week after Derrick Henry hung 169 and two touchdowns on the Bills.
Despite the lack of opportunities, Achane still averages a respectable 4.7 yards per carry. The third-year tailback’s real value, however, comes in the passing game as he currently leads the team in both catches (11), targets (14) and touchdown grabs (two). His 112 yards receiving ranks second on the team behind Tyreek Hill.
SIT
Dolphins defense
Despite bolstering the fourth-ranked defense in terms of yards allowed in 2024, the unit has seemingly regressed in 2025.
Whether you place the blame on the lack of a pass rush, poor secondary play or simply youth, the defense has simply been a sieve, forcing just two punts through the same number of games.
And now they have to travel to upstate New York to face what many consider to be one of the best teams in football, led by the reigning MVP. The Dolphins defense should stay on your bench until proven otherwise.
TOSS-UP
Dolphins WRs Tyreek Hill/ Jaylen Waddle
True, Tua Tagovailoa seemingly found the chemistry with his two best receiving threats vs. the Patriots. It’s also true that the Dolphins likely may find themselves down early Thursday night — something that has certainly been the case in their previous two games — and may be forced to throw a lot.
For those two reasons alone, it would make sense to start either member of the duo. What’s ultimately concerning, however, is that Hill (52.2) and Waddle (53.7) averaged virtually identical, somewhat lackluster receiving numbers against the Bills. Waddle, in particular, had the worst game of his career in his second matchup vs. the Bills in 2024, with two catches for -4 yards.
The Bills, meanwhile, walk into Thursday with the best passing defense in the NFL, having allowed just 248 yards through the air in two games.
Bills WR Keon Coleman
Is this the Coleman breakout year?
It certainly looked so after the second-year receiver caught eight balls for 112 yards and a touchdown in a Week 1 thriller against the Baltimore Ravens. Unfortunately, he followed that up with a three-catch, 26-yard performance against the Jets.
Here’s why context becomes important: Allen — and Mitch Trubisky — threw for just 179 yards combined vs. the Jets as the run game put the Bills up big.
With the Dolphins cornerbacks still in search of their chemistry, Coleman has a chance to further his breakout campaign on Thursday. Or, if the run game gets going again, he could be relegated to an afterthought.
