Dolphins vs. Steelers: who should I start on my fantasy football team?
Welcome to the beginning of the end.
If you were lucky enough to sneak into the fantasy football playoffs, congratulations. If you unfortunately missed the cut, better luck next year.
For those lucky enough to get a postseason bid, the next few weeks will be crucial. Make sure to keep it locked here for fantasy analysis on the Dolphins and their upcoming opponents.
START
Dolphins RB De’Von Achane
The good news: Achane will play despite a rib injury that he sustained against the New York Jets.
The bad news: it’s unclear whether said injury will have any effect on his play.
Honestly, Achane has taken you this far. Don’t overthink it. Start the man.
SIT
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa
As of this writing, the temperature for Monday night’s game will be around 19 degrees.
Tagovailoa’s record when temperatures hit below 40 degrees?
0-5.
The Dolphins have found a formula that appears to be primed for the cold — i.e. running the ball — so don’t expect that to change in Pittsburgh. If anything, Miami should lean even further into its newfound identity.
Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers
The last time Rodgers faced the Dolphins, he lit them up, completing 64% of his passes for 274 yards and four touchdowns.
Granted, he did have Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson at receiver.
This time, Rodgers will have DK Metcalf and “checks notes” 35-year-old Adam Thielen out there.
Don’t expect a repeat performance. Find another quarterback.
WAIT & SEE
Steelers Defense
Edge rusher T.J. Watt won’t suit up after he underwent surgery for a partially collapsed lung.
That will likely have a huge impact as the defense will be without its best player.
Specifically, this defense struggles against the run — no team has given up more rushing first downs than Pittsburgh — which just so happens to be the Dolphins’ best trait. Even with Achane a little bit banged up, the Dolphins could still run rampant on this defense.
That said, the cold has historically been the Dolphins’ kryptonite. This defense could still put up a fight as it still has solid players like linebacker Patrick Queen, defensive tackle Cameron Hayward and defensive back Jaylen Ramsey.
Steelers RB Jaylen Warren
This will be a game that’s won on the ground.
Although the Dolphins run defense has drastically improved, Warren could still gash teams on the ground as evinced by his 16-carry, 127-yard performance in Week 7.
What makes Warren especially dangerous, however, is his pass-catching ability. He took a pass 38 yards to the house last week against the Baltimore Ravens.
With the Dolphins’ defensive tackles growing up week-to-week, Warren could be bottled up on the ground — as he was in that Ravens game, in which he finished with just 13 yards rushing. And with the game’s temperature already in favor for a run-first attack, Warren might not be the guaranteed play as many opposing tailbacks were early in the season.
This story was originally published December 14, 2025 at 7:09 PM.
