Kelly: Is De’Von Achane ready to carry a larger load for Dolphins? | Opinion
De’Von Achane has teased the sports world with greatness, achieving career milestones in his first two NFL seasons that raise eyebrows.
First it was Achane setting an NFL record for yards per carry (7.8) in his rookie season.
Again, that’s not a rookie record, or a Miami Dolphins record. It’s an NFL record, one which shattered the average (6.4) set by the late Mercury Morris in 1973.
So a record that stood for 50 years was reset by Achane, who amassed 800 rushing yards on 103 carries that season, by more nearly a yard and a half.
The next year the Dolphins’ 2023 third-round pick inherited the starting role and came 1 yard shy of producing 1,500 scrimmage yards.
His 1,499 scrimmage rushing and receiving yards in 2024 were the third most by a tailback in franchise history, trailing only Ricky Williams’ 2002 (2,216) and 2003 seasons (1,723).
So, the former Texas A&M standout the Dolphins selected in the third round of the 2023 has outproduced every back to wear a Dolphins uniform except Ricky Williams?
Considering these are Achane’s opening acts, one has to wonder if there’s more meat on the bone?
Seeing as how last year’s offensive line struggled mightily when it lost starting right tackle Austin Jackson at midseason, it is not a stretch to conclude that Achane could produce his first 1,000-yard rushing season in 2025 if he can stay healthy throughout the season.
That’s one of Achane’s goals for the upcoming season, and if he manages to achieve it the Dolphins offense, which believe it upgraded the guard spots by signing James Daniels as a free agent and drafting Jonah Savaiinaea in the second round, could potentially become more balanced. Doing that could potentially help Miami replicate the kind of success the Dolphins had in 2023 when they were the No. 1-ranked offense in the NFL.
“Me watching film, I feel like I left a lot of plays [out there],” Achane said about his 2024 season. “I feel like I could have [done] more.”
Achane rushed for 907 yards, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. Those totals were significantly boosted by Achane producing two of his biggest runs at the end of 2024, when he gained 50 yards on a second-half run in a win over San Francisco 49ers, and 61 yards on one run in Miami’s season-closing loss to the New York Jets.
Before those big gains the Dolphins’ rushing production was meager. Achane averaged less than 3.3 yards per carry in eight regular-season games.
Miami’s offensive line struggled so much in 2024 the coaching staff equated short passes to Achane as substitutions for running plays, and that’s why he caught a career-high 78 passes and turned them into 592 yards and six receiving touchdowns, which brought his 2024 total to 12.
His 78 receptions and six touchdowns in 2024 set the single-season record for the most by a tailback in franchise history, surpassing the 75 catches Terry Kirby produced in 1993.
However, from his vantage point, his success has more to do with the weaponry around him more so than skill.
“I feel like most defenses try to stop ‘10’ (Tyreek Hill), and ‘17’ (Jaylen Waddle) and that just leaves a lot of opportunities for me,” Achane said.
His goal in 2025 is to live up to his potential, and subsequently help the Dolphins as a team live up to theirs.
“Part of our vision moving forward is we have high expectations of that tandem of De’Von [Achane] and Jaylen [Wright] and think that they give us an opportunity to really be effective handing the ball off and doing stuff in the pass game,” McDaniel said before adding Alexander Mattison, a six-year veteran in free agency, and former Oklahoma State standout Ollie Gordon II in sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Much like what happened when he arrived, Achane’s focus this offseason is on sharing his knowledge with his peers, whom he claims all brings something different to the table.
“When I first got here I was lost and confused,” Achane said, reiterating something he’s pointed out since his rookie season.
So imagine what a seasoned, stronger and healthy Achane is capable of doing in his critical third season, which is what sets up most massive paydays for NFL tailbacks.
“I didn’t come out with any major injuries. I missed no games,” Achane said. “Year 1 to Year 2 it was a major jump.”
Just imagine if he makes another one.
This story was originally published May 15, 2025 at 2:33 PM.
