Tag Archive for: NFL

Fantasy Football: Injuries Plaguing Your Season?

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Notable injuries in the NFL this week that may affect your fantasy football team:

Amon-Ra St. Brown: 

Detroit Lions Wide Receiver St. Brown left Sunday’s game early with a concussion. He may be out next week, but should be expected to be back at full speed within a week or two. We have seen his potential flash many times from last season into this season, and he was noted as “This seasons Cooper Kupp” at the start of the NFL season. Due to him being injured for a majority of this season, his owner may be lower on him. Mark this as a buy low opportunity and a possible league winner if healthy.

 

Mike Williams: 

Los Angeles Chargers Wide Receiver Williams left Sunday’s game early with a high ankle sprain. He is reportedly expected to miss 3-4 weeks. While this injury hurts Quarterback, Justin Herbert’s value, this skyrockets Wide Receiver, Keenan Allen’s value. While Allen was out, we saw Williams rack up 485 yards, and 3 touchdowns. Expect Allen to see a near similar jump in production with Williams out.

 

DK Metcalf: 

Seattle Seahawks Wide Receiver Metcalf left Sunday’s game with an injury to his patellar tendon. The good news? He won’t need surgery. The bad news? There is no know timetable for his recovery. My advice for now is to stash him on your injury reserve. He is a tough guy, and will most likely be back this season, but don’t bank on it. Expect Wide Receiver Tyler Lockett to skyrocket in value similarly to Keen Allen.

 

Breece Hall:

We had to get to this one at some point… The injury everyone is dreading the most has to be New York Jets running back Breece Hall. Hall tour his ACL, ruling him out for the season after starting off as the RB6 in his rookie season. This one hurts many owners, including myself. Running Back Michael Carter, on the other hand, is now the lead back in this Jets offense. He may not be Breece Hall, but he can easily start as a flex option on almost any team.

Other notable buy low candidates not mentioned in the injury reports include:

Deebo Samuel

Christian McCaffrey

Michael Pittman Jr.

Leonard Fournette

Mark Andrews

D’Andre Swift

Ceedee Lamb

Brian Robinson

The NFL dream start, and the disaster

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The 2022 National Football League season is already well underway, and we have enjoyed a rollercoaster opening five rounds. The various divisions are beginning to take shape as the strongest sides force their way to the head of the pack, leaving others to play catch up. There has also been one or two nightmare starts to the season, and we bring you the best of those in our early-season round-up.

 

Football fans are delighted to see the play return to our TV screens, with games coming thick and fast. Between now and the festive period, the fixture list will continue to go through the gears as we race towards the end of the regular season and towards the playoffs. Five rounds of results may already be in the bag, but it’s not too late to get involved and have your say, thanks to the leading NFL betting sites. Make your predictions today.

 

The top bookmakers offer odds and accept bets on this season’s outcome with various markets and specials available. Pick the team you expect to win the Super Bowl, back a side to make it to the playoffs or go against a rival and have your stake on them not making the final list. Who will be the most valuable player or the best of the rising stars? Football fans passionate about betting and targeting a profit certainly aren’t light on options.

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Eagles soaring high

The Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t have started any better in the NFC East, with five wins from as many starts. They now sit proudly atop the division and hold the record as the only team still holding onto their 100% record. They know bigger challenges are in the pipeline, but it’s also obvious that there’s more to come from this Eagles side that looks like they mean business. Is this the season they go all the way to Super Bowl glory? It’s certainly looking possible at this stage of proceedings.

 

The Eagles have played five and won five to take control of the group. They have won their first two home games and taken victory from their three road trips, scoring 135 points and conceding just 88. Now, there are teams with more impressive strike rates and better defences, that’s for sure, but there’s no other team with an unbeaten record, and that’s what matters most at this stage. 

 

Indeed, fans couldn’t ask for any more from the coaches and players. But will they keep pushing hard, or is this little more than a good start to the season? Only time will tell, and all will be revealed before the end of the year.

Pittsburgh lack steel

The Philadelphia Eagles are the only team with a 100% record, but it wasn’t as easy to find the side that has made the worst possible start because there are a few contenders to the crowd. It’s still very early in the campaign, and we’ve seen plenty of teams struggle in the opening exchanges, only to turn things around during winter as the schedule gathers pace.

The side we picked as the one with the worst start of the season is the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFC North. They are already stuck at the foot of the group, having managed just one win in their first five outings. The Steelers are yet to win at home with an 0-2-0 record on their patch, while things haven’t been much better on the road, with their stats stuck at 1-2-0. Will that elusive home win every fall? Fans certainly hope so.

 

Pittsburgh has scored 77 goals and conceded 128, which isn’t the worst defensive record you will see at the moment. Steelers have conceded fewer points than a few of the other early strugglers, but their offence is the problem. The 77 points managed is the lowest of the NFL regular season at this stage, and that’s something the coaching staff know must improve. They must begin putting points on the board if they are to fight their way out of the situation they find themselves in, and that must start this weekend. It’ll soon be too late.

Quick react: Tua, defense help Dolphins slip past Bills, lead AFC East

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The Miami Dolphins are a force to be reckoned with after week 3 in the NFL. Last week, the Dolphins arguably played their best game ever, beating the Baltimore Ravens 42-38 after a 21 point fourth quarter comeback. This week, the Dolphins put up a score of 21-19, beating the best team in the NFL, the Buffalo Bills.

This unbelievable performance was the most balanced game the Miami Dolphins have played this season. While the offense didn’t have 500+ yards this week like they did against the Ravens, Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and company looked amazing again.

Tagovailoa threw a bullet to wide receiver River Cracraft for a touchdown early in the game. In the second quarter, Tagovailoa seemed to get injured, standing up and stumbling, a very scary sight for Dolphins fans. However, when the third quarter started, the quarterback was back in the game and unfazed.

Tagovailoa set the Dolphins up for a pivotal touchdown on a 45 yard pass to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. This may be the most beautiful ball we have seen from Tagovailoa, not to mention this throw allowed the Dolphins to take the lead in the fourth quarter.

The Miami defense also played the best game any team has played against the Buffalo Bills so far this season, holding them to 19 points. With a strip sack from safety Jevon Holland and many defended passes from cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Nik Needham, the Bills offense looked lost.

All Dolphins fans can agree this is the best start to a season we have seen in many, many years.

QB Controversy in Pittsburgh?

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Since Ben Roethlisberger retired last year, there has been a big question mark at the quarterback position for the Steelers. Time is running out for Mike Tomlin and his coaching staff to make a decision as the regular season begins in less than a week. It still feels unlikely that one QB is going to start every game this year, and it’s creating uncertainty with the best offshore sportsbooks because it makes it so much harder to predict what the Steelers are going to be like this year.

Mitch Trubisky has been the front-runner through camp and improved his case during the pre-season. In the final game, Trubisky went 15-19 with 160 yards. His accuracy and precision was put on display and turned some heads in the process. After a disappointing stint with the Chicago Bears, Trubisky hopes to make a new name for himself in Pittsburgh. However, you simply cannot count out Kenny Pickett. In Week 3 of preseason play, Pickett lead a game-winning drive against the 1st string Jaguars defense.

On that drive, Pickett went 6-7 with 76 yards and 1 TD. The University of Pittsburgh graduate is fresh of an ACC Championship and seems to have carried his game over perfectly to the professional level. These two may still be fighting for the spot deep into the season. I do believe it is just a matter of time before Kenny Pickett is given his opportunity. Last but not least, we have Mason Rudolph. 

Mason has had some extremely bright spots in his time with Pittsburgh and most of it can be credited to being behind Ben Roethlisberger. Ben was Rudolph’s mentor and took him under his wing. Rudolph started against the Jaguars in Week 3 of the preseason and had a great game. He went 17-21 with 127 yards and a touchdown. He made some great reads and proved himself as a quality QB.

Now that the pre-season is over, Mike Tomlin has to make a decision. It may be the toughest decision he has had to make in his career. However, he must continuously remind himself that this is a good problem. If one of these QB’s doesn’t take advantage of their opportunity, there are two more highly-talented guys waiting to be put in. The Steelers are going to be just alright.

5 Takeaways from Dolphins’ 20-7 Win over Patriots

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Dolphins’ Dominant Defense Picking Up Where They Left Off Last Year! 

Transitioning into 2022, the Josh Boyer lead Miami Dolphins defense did not miss a beat. Even with the absence of stalwart Byron Jones in the secondary, the New England offense could never get into a rhythm. Both Miami safeties, Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones, made game-changing plays for the defense. But it was undrafted cornerback Kader Kahou, who? Kahou shined at critical game moments. He may not be on your regular Miami Dolphin program but he will be moving forward. Kahou had himself a “Cinderella type day.”  He made several game-changing plays today including dropping Rhamondre Stevenson for a 4-yard loss and forcing a fumble by Patriot’s Nelson Agholor.  The Miami defense is back with a renewed swagger highlighted by a shining rookie -Kahou. Who? 

 

Mike Gesicki Absent in Dolphins Offense

Calling Mike Gesicki? Mike? The tight end out of Penn State was nowhere to be found on the newly minted McDaniel offense. Gesicki was targeted just once today for one yard.  The absence of Gesicki today was disconcerting, to say the least, and the utilization of the tight end position never really catalyzed. Durham Smythe recorded only one reception as well, going for 14 yards. It’s not rocket science, the Mike McDaniel scheme relies on production from the tight end position.

 

Mike McDaniel’s Head Coaching Debut

There aren’t many rookie head coaches who can say they have a winning record against Bill Belichick, yet McDaniel accomplished this feat today.  Although the Dolphin’s offense sputtered and was inconsistent at times, there was a noticeable and refreshing difference in play calling and schematic formations highlighted by using players in space with bold and aggressive play calling. For example, towards the end of the second half, McDaniel had a 4th and 7 from the Patriots 42-yard line. McDaniel with 24 seconds left elected to go for it. How did that turn out?  How about an “in-your-face” 42-yard touchdown from Tagovailoa to Waddle. The transition to McDaniel calling the plays from a strange dual system in 2021 led to a noticeable decrease in head-scratching plays of the past.  

 

Miami’s New Offensive Focus

It was no secret that Miami’s first-half game plan was to let the Cheetah (Tyreek Hill) loose in Miami Gardens. The Cheetah ran every which way in a variety of creative play calls dialed up by the first-year coach.  Hill made his presence known early and often.  The Patriots and their legendary coach, at the end of the day, did not have an answer for Hill who they were forced to account for on each play.  Hill finished the day with 8 receptions for 94 yards. Tagovailoa did look solid at times but flashed some of his trademark inconsistent play, especially in the fourth quarter. He continues to hold onto the ball too long in the pocket and must learn to throw the ball away.  Perhaps McDaniel has some more coaching magic up his sleeve; if he does, these new-look Dolphins may be playoff bound.   

 

Why The Dolphins Were Able to Pull Out the Commanding Win

While New England was able to win the field position and running game battle, the Dolphin’s defense with their relentless pressure and tight secondary coverage was able to come up with game-changing turnovers which ultimately won them the contest. New England’s offense showed little promise despite coming out strong on the initial drive. It was that suddenly reliable combination of Jevon Holland and Xavien Howard who stripped all hope away for the suddenly anemic Patriots. Holland grabbed the deflected Howard ball from ex-Dolphin Devante Parker and sent them packing back to the cold Northeast.  It was Kahou (who?), McDaniel, Xavien, Tyreek, and that rugged and reliable defense that said “get back on that plane; not today, not this year!”   

 

*****

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Dolphins preseason Bucs

Skylar Thompson forcing Dolphins to make hard choices

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Very few people knew the name Skylar Thompson when the Miami Dolphins drafted him in the 7th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In fact, many were wondering why Miami would use a draft pick on a QB who many believed would be available as an undrafted free agent. Surely, there were other developmental players available the Dolphins could invest in during a win-now year.

However, from the moment he put on the uniform, Skylar Thompson was turning heads.

The 25-year old rookie out of Kansas State is showing extreme poise under pressure. Granted, he’s playing against backups the majority of the time, but his preseason performances are undeniably impressive. In just over five quarters of preseason play, Thompson has gone 29-of-38, with 347 yards and two touchdowns.

Even the team’s starting quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, can’t help but be impressed by Thompson’s play so far.

“I’ve been extremely impressed with Skylar.” Tagovailoa said after Saturday’s game. “Skylar handled the Tampa game extremely well, and then now he comes in a little later into the third quarter, gets his group going, has — I don’t even know how many plays he had. He probably had a 10-play drive leading up to the score that we had our first score that we had here at Hard Rock for this 2022 season. But I think he has handled it extremely well. He gave us an opportunity to kick a field goal to win the game. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case, but I think he has done an extremely great job for us.”

To some draft pundits, Thompson’s success comes as no surprise. Matt Waldman – creator of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio since 2006, stated during his evaluation that Thompson has at least one trait that stands out above every other QB prospect in this draft.

“Thompson has the best pocket management of this class. He maneuvers from all types of pressure better than at least half of the NFL starters I’ve watched this year.  He also takes hellacious hits and maintains the equanimity to deliver an accurate ball.”

Perhaps what held Thompson back during the draft were the injuries he suffered at Kansas State. During his senior year in 2020, Thompson suffered an upper-body injury which limited him to only three starts. But in those games, he went 40-of-64, 62.5 completion percentage, 626 yards and four touchdowns.

He didn’t have much better luck in 2021, as he suffered a knee injury that allowed him only ten starts. However, he still put up decent numbers (162-of-233, 69.5%, 2,113 yards, 12 TDs, four INTs) and finished his career by winning Texas Bowl MVP honors in the team’s win over a depleted LSU roster, in which he went 21-of-28, 259 yards and 3 TDs.

Had he been healthy throughout his collegiate career, it’s safe to assume Thompson would not have fallen all the way to the 7th round. His lack of production at Kansas State was partly due to those injuries. It was also partly due to the demands of the scheme he was in. Nonetheless, coach Mike McDaniel saw something in Thompson that caused the Dolphins to deem it fit to use a draft pick on him.

So far, McDaniel appears justified in that assessment.

“He just gets better every day.” McDaniel said after the preseason loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. “This game the operation was better. There was one time that he kind of lost the play clock a little bit, and we had to burn a timeout, but more than anything, he really had command over everything. And he is starting to make plays that when one or two aren’t there, feeling the concept. And like that touchdown they threw to ‘Z. White’ on the left-hand side, that’s something that Skylar doesn’t make at the beginning of preseason. So, I’ve seen continued improvement, but he is very diligent about the process. He has got the makeup of what it takes to be an NFL quarterback. So I think all of his teammates can feel that too.”

Now given the opportunity to produce in a QB friendly offensive scheme, it’s clear Skylar Thompson’s production was not due to lack of skill. PrizePicks.com had Thompson’s O/U on passing yardage at 165.5 yards, assuming that he would play the entirety of the second half if not more.

In spite of entering the game with less than a minute left in the 3rd quarter, Thompson was nearly able to reach that prop. As he led the Dolphins down the field and nearly led what could have been the game-winning drive, Thompson went 9-of-10 for 129 yards and a touchdown, all in the span of barely over one quarter’s time.

Skylar Thompson wasn’t supposed to make things difficult. But he is. Now, the Miami Dolphins have a difficult choice to make. Do they run the risk of letting him test the waiver wire? There are surely QB-needy teams who would love to claim him as their own. Or, alternatively, do they roster three quarterbacks? That idea is unprecedented in today’s modern NFL, but the Dolphins may not have a choice.

Veteran backup QB Teddy Bridgewater has a contract worth up to $10 million. $6.5 million of it is guaranteed. The way it’s structured, as of this moment, releasing Bridgewater saves Miami a grand total of zero dollars in cap space. And it puts them in a deep hole financially as they would be forced to pay him that amount no matter what.

However, if the Dolphins can trade Bridgewater, that changes. Trading him saves Miami $4.5 million in cap space with only $2 million in dead cap. The hard part is finding a trade partner.

These are the questions Skylar Thompson is forcing the Dolphins to answer. His performance in preseason and in practice make it extremely difficult to justify waiving him. By the same token, keeping him instead of Bridgewater hurts the team financially. In 2023, Miami is going to need every penny they can save.

And if they simply keep all three QBs? Then another position that may need the extra depth will lose an important piece. The Dolphins are low on cornerbacks and good offensive line depth. Can they afford the extra roster spot? It’s up to Mike McDaniel to weigh the pros and cons and make that choice.

As for Skylar Thompson himself, he’s determined not to let the situation get to him as the preseason rapidly approaches its end.

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“That decision is out of my control.” He said. “All I can do is focus on being the best teammate that I can possibly be every day, continue to grow and try to learn and get better. That’s really all I’m focused on right now, and everything else I know will take care of itself whichever way that may fold. This is out of my hands. I’m just here to be a good teammate – help the team the most whichever way I can.”

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for eight years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

******

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5 Takeaways from Miami Dolphins Training Camp Day 9

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1: Stars of the Day

 

Jaylen Waddle seemed to be everywhere on the field today. Waddle caught multiple mid-range throws but the highlight was when Tagovailoa was able to feed waddle a 25-yard strike in stride as waddle immediately bursted down field finished the play in the end-zone. Fourth-round pick Erik Ezukanma caught a beautiful touchdown as quarterback Skyler Thompson rolled out and delivered a bomb. Ezukanma’s consistent performance in camp has been impressive and is making a case for the 53-man roster. 

 

2: Training Camp Vibes at an All-Time High

 

Defensive End Ben Stille was the player hyping the fans up to start practice by doing the “Worm” dance.

 

 

Stille is an undrafted free agent from Nebraska who is also having a relatively impressive camp. Defensive tackle Christain Wilkins later, jokingly told us that Stille “stole” and “plagiarized” the move from him. 

 

About midway through camp, the quarterbacks lined up near the 50-yard line and started launching balls aiming for a net sitting near the back of the endzone. Each time a QB “scored,” the crowd would subsequently erupt in cheers, especially when Tua did so (twice).

 

 

3: The Front 4

 

The defensive line has no doubt been a force to be reckoned with all throughout camp, and that didn’t stop today. Our own “Three Yards Per Carrry” cited Emmanuel Ogbah as practice player of the day but it was also Christian Wilkins, Jaelan Phillips and Zach Sieler who continue to burden the offensive line. 

 

4: Trill Williams

 

Defensive back Trill Wiliams has been showing his diverse set of skills throughout the week. You usually see WR Tyreek Hill burn every corner in the book, but Williams was able to keep up with him today. Williams had a great coverage on a deep ball from Bridgewater to Hill and was able to close the window and force the incompletion. Then shortly after, Williams shut down a quick hitter to Hill. 

 

5: Did Noah Igbinoghene get an INT?

 

During one of the plays on 11-11, Igbinoghene was able to jump a route on a telegraphed throw from Tagovailoa. There was an immense debate during some of the conversations had today abot whether Igbo indeed came down with the football. Nevertheless, a good sign from Igbinoghene as he had one of his better days at camp. 

 

2023 NFL Draft Quarterback Watchlist

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Summer scouting season is underway and it kicks off with the 2023 quarterback class. Here is my 2023 NFL Draft quarterback watchlist.

Top 5 2023 quarterback watchlist

Bryce Young

Alabama’s Bryce Young is coming off a heisman season and is looking to build off that as he’s regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the nation at making throws out of the pocket and out of structure. 

Although, his draft stock may be hurt by his slight frame. Young looks more like a slot receiver compared to what a franchise quarterback is billed at.

Young led the Crimson Tide to a win in the SEC Championship game, becoming the only quarterback to beat the vaunted Georgia defense last season. In that game he was 26 of 44 passes for 421 yards and three touchdowns. 

While the Crimson Tide ended up losing in the title game in the rematch against Georgia, Young showed throughout the season that he could play the position at a high level.

In the play above you see Young’s quick feet moving him to allow him a clean pocket. He throws a rope in-between two defenders outside the hash marks. 

His anticipation and touch at this level makes him one of the top quarterbacks in the nation and number one in this 2023 quarterback watchlist.

C.J. Stroud

Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud is one of the most pro-ready quarterbacks in this class. He completed 72% of his passes in 2022. Stroud will look to build off what he did in the rose bowl game against Utah.

Stroud is accurate, aggressive, willing to attack the middle of the field, and reads the field extremely well as a passer.

Pre-snap, Utah show single-high coverage in the defensive backfield. However, the post-snap reality does not match the pre-snap expectations. The Utes defense converts into a two-deep shell.

Stroud, after opening to the left side of the field, reads the rotation and throws to the post route from Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

He’s a smart signal-caller who is a natural leader with great instincts and the ability to quickly cycle through his reads. Which makes him the second quarterback on my 2023 quarterback watchlist.

Tyler Van Dyke

There is excitement in the area around the Miami Hurricanes this season, mainly in part to new head coach Mario Cristobal. Tyler Van Dyke’s play last season is another big reason for that excitement.

In 2021 as a sophomore he played in 10 games as he passed for 2918 yards on 326 attempts with a completion percentage of 62 for an average of 9.0 yards per pass, with 25 TDs, while also taking 23 sacks, and putting up a QB rating of 108.9. After the first year as starting quarterback, he earned ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

This touchdown early in that contest is a good example of how well Van Dyke sees the field and throws with anticipation. He hits the post route for a touchdown on a switch concept, letting the ball fly as the receiver gets into his break.

Van Dyke is my third ranked prospect in this 2023 quarterback watchlist because of his processing skills. Also, he uses good technique, squaring his shoulders to the target and stepping into his throws

Will Levis

Kentucky’s Will Levis came from nowhere last year and is now looked at as a legitimate first-round talent. He has great physical gifts as well as good accuracy and powerful quick release as well a natural feel for the game

Levis offers a nice blend of size, arm strength and toughness. In the pocket, he has a good feel to climb and avoid pressure — and also possesses enough athleticism to extend plays with his legs.

If he can work on ball placement issues, and lower-body inconsistencies with his mechanics, he’ll live up to the hype.

The Wildcat product has an elite quick-release coupled with fast processing skills which makes him an ideal for a condensed formation offense, similar to the likes of the Rams.

Tanner McKee

In his first year starting at Stanford, Tanner McKee showcased a handful of NFL Traits. He has elite size for the position – stands 6-6 and weighs 230lbs and has the arm strength to match.

The Cardinals product accuracy is decent but his ball placement is one of his best traits overall. McKee shows excellent accuracy on short timing routes to backs and receivers. Slightly, he places the ball in front of receiver to lead them to potential yardage after the catch.

This completion against Oregon highlights two of his strengths: Aggression and ball placement. McKee is not afraid of challenging small throwing windows, and has no fear throwing over the middle. Couple that with accuracy, and McKee can have a solid foundation for the NFL.

He’s an intriguing pro prospect due to his obvious tangibles. McKee looks the part possessing prototypical drop-back passer qualities, is a quick decision-maker, and decent accuracy. He can easily transition into a pro-style offense which makes him the fifth prospect on the 2023 quarterback watchlist.

Honorable Mentions:

Phil Jurkovec-Boston College, Spencer Rattler- South Carolina, Hendon Hooker-Tennessee, Anthony Richardson-Florida, Jake Haener-Fresno State.

 

***This article was originally published on the ATB Network by Hussam Patel***

 

Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor and Lead NFL Draft analyst at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel

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Dolphins breakout candidates

5 Breakout Candidates for the Miami Dolphins in 2022

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The Miami Dolphins kicked of the Mike McDaniel era this week when rookies reported to the team’s facility. The Dolphins 2022 draft class featured a franchise-low four selections, but with undrafted rookies, a decent crop arrived to start training camp. With veterans poised to report on Tuesday July 26th, it’s time to consider which Dolphins are breakout candidates for the coming season.

McDaniel, the quirky offensive guru and 11th head coach in franchise history, is tasked with reshaping one of the most stagnant offensive attacks in the NFL. The Dolphins haven’t had a top-10 offense in 27 years, when Dan Marino was still under center.

Entering his first training camp as a head coach, McDaniel must identify the players that can help take Miami to the next level. The Dolphins haven’t won a playoff game in 2000 but seem to have populated the roster with players talented enough to end that drought.

Here’s a look at five breakout candidates for the Miami Dolphins in 2022.

Dolphins Breakout Candidate: WR Cedrick Wilson Jr.

The headlines this offense naturally went toward the trade acquisition of Tyreek Hill, but the signing of Cedrick Wilson Jr. should also excite ‘Phins fans. Miami targeted Wilson early in free agency, which signals confidence in potential production and offensive fit.

At 6-foot-2, Wilson stands as a solid complement to Miami’s other speedy pass catchers, and he’s something of a burner himself. He fits McDaniel’s as a run-after-the-catch threat, something that, coupled with the addition of Hill, pushed DeVante Parker off Miami’s roster.

Wilson comes to Miami following a career-year with the Cowboys. He made 45 catches for 602 yards and six touchdowns. Last season, Dallas quarterbacks registered a 138.0 passer rating when targeting Wilson on intermediate routes. That figure ranked eighth among all wideouts.

Although he’ll share time and targets with Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Mike Gesicki, among others in the passing game, Wilson should provide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with a reliable redzone threat. Waddle led the Dolphins with 15 redzone targets last year, but no other player was in double figures.

Gesicki saw nine, as did running back Myles Gaskin. Departed wideouts Mack Hollins and Parker vacate 14 redzone targets between them, so Wilson could pick up the slack there. He saw nine redzone targets last season, making six catches, including three for touchdowns.

 

While the 27-year-old fourth-year pro has never recorded a 1,000-yard season, he’s poised to assume a significant role in the Dolphins’ passing attack.

Dolphins Breakout Candidate: RB Chase Edmonds

Miami revamped their backfield this offseason with the additions of Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert, Sony Michel, and Alec Ingold. While there’s a clear tie between Mostert and McDaniel given their shared time in San Francisco, Edmonds stands taller among Dolphins breakout candidates.

Edmonds was one of two running backs last season that registered more than 100 carries, over 5.0 yards-per-carry, and over 40 receptions. He finished top-10 in yards-per-rushing-attempt (5.1) and generated 341 yards after contact. Edmonds posted career-highs in 10-plus yard carries (19) and missed tackles forced (16).

Edmonds looks like a great system fit, too. The 49ers used a zone blocking scheme 282 times last season, 6th-most in the NFL. Edmonds thrived behind zone blocking last season, ranking first in the NFL in yards-per-attempt (5.8).

Edmonds seems to have an inside track for the starting role in Miami, and his dual-threat nature has him poised for a breakout season. He made 43 catches in 12 games last season, finishing 14th among running backs. He averaged 3.6 receptions per game, so if he had played a full season, he might have finished with 61 grabs. That figure would have put him top-5 among all running backs.

Dolphins Breakout Candidate: S Brandon Jones

While most of the offseason attention will go to Miami’s other safety Jevon Holland, Brandon Jones also looks ready to make the leap next season. He flashed an elite skill for his position last season, blitzing the quarterback, and finished with five sacks. That figure led all defensive backs in 2021. He also recorded 14 pressures.

Miami personnel official Matt Winston said recently Jones is “very reliable, in terms of what you’re getting day in and day out. You know you’re going to get some sort of explosive play. He’s got a niche rushing the passer in exotic packages. Really being a force in and around the line of scrimmage is where he’s stood out to me.”

Jones posted a 77.6 pass-rush grade in 2021 for Pro Football Focus, which ranked 10th among qualified safeties.

During OTAs, Jones told reporters he wants to avoid being labeled a “blitz only” guy. He said his goal is “just trying to be and find the best way for me that I could be well rounded.”

Dolphins Breakout Candidate: Jaelan Phillips

The No. 18 overall pick in the 2021 draft, Phillips finished with 8.5 sacks, second among all rookies last season behind only Micah Parsons’ 13. He also registered 16 QB Hits as a rookie.

Phillips played all 17 games last season, but seemed to get more comfortable as the year progressed. He recorded seven of his sacks in the second half of the season, including a run of five games registering at least half a sack. Phillips should get more run in 2022 following a rookie campaign that saw him play just 54 percent of defensive snaps overall.

Teammates recognize Phillips’ potential as well. Three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead said Phillips “has the chance to be special” in the NFL. And Phillips’ pass rush partner, Emmanuel Ogbah, noted Phillips “has the mentality” and he’s “excited to see his growth this year.”

For comparison’s sake, Jason Taylor managed five sacks as a rookie, then nine in his second season. Taylor set Miami’s single-season sack record (18.5) in 2002, his sixth season.

If Phillips follows a similar trajectory, he’ll be among the elite pass rushers in the game. Should he make a four-sack jump in Year 2, he’d finish with 12.5, a figure that would’ve tied for seventh-most last season.

Dolphins Breakout Candidate: Tua Tagovailoa

This one seems like the obvious one, so I’ve saved quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for last among the Dolphins breakout candidates. Behind an improved offensive line and with a ground attack designed by running game guru McDaniel, a run-after-the-catch design for this offense should be one Tagovailoa thrives in.

Over his 12 games last season, Tagovailoa registered 2,653 yards, 16 passing touchdowns, and 10 interceptions with a 67.8-percent completion percentage. He led the league in deep ball completion percentage (50.0 percent) and red zone completion percentage (64.9 percent). Tagovailoa posted the highest clean-pocket completion percentage among starting quarterbacks (76.3 percent). That’s noteworthy considering offensive line play should improve following the additions of Armstead and Connor Williams.

Tagovailoa ranked fourth in play-action completion percentage (69.0-percent), too. While he might not excel throwing into tight windows, his top-3 receivers for 2022 can all create space for their quarterback with their speed.

Following his hire as Dolphins head coach, McDaniel said of Tagovailoa: “I think it’s important that you empower the quarterback with the rest of the players around him and the scheme you bring forth. So, I think his best days are in front of him.”

Tagovailoa’s accuracy and decision-making should help him capitalize on the talent upgrades surrounding him in Miami this season.

 

These veterans will report to Miami’s facility on Tuesday, July 26th, set for training camp. The first practice open to the public will occur on July 30th. Follow 5 Reasons and Three Yards Per Carry host Alfredo Arteaga for updates during training camp to see who stands out among the Dolphins breakout candidates.

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Guide to Live Betting on the NFL

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NFL games are fast and furious, which make them ideal for live betting, especially when live bets are so easy to place. In fact, when it comes to betting, many see NFL games as perfect candidates for a wager. 

 

On its website, the NFL, reporting figures from the American Gaming Association, informed visitors in 2021 that more than 45 million Americans had said they planned to bet on NFL games this year. There are many different types of bets these punters lay down, however, we are here today for a rather engaging type of bet.

Below is a look at some of the different live bets you can place on the NFL, plus a discussion of tactics you can use for more successful live betting.

 

The different types of live bets you can make

 

Live betting offers a range of advantages, the main one being that you can follow the action and place the right bet at the right time. If you’re on the ball, you can also wager on a certain income before the sportsbook has time to change the odds. Here are some of the live bets you can make:

Money line

A money line bet is a straightforward bet on who you think will win the game. As the game goes on, you’ll see the money line change. The advantage of this type of bet is that you can place more than one bet as the game twists and turns. 

 

Point spreads

The point spread is the advantage or disadvantage the sportsbooks give to the opposing teams and the number is based on the margin of their victory or defeat within a specific timeframe. One of the advantages of point spread betting is that you’re betting against the spread, rather than on a straight winner, and it’s easier for an underdog to come through for you. You can also win more money because of this.

 

Second half

The second half line bet is an excellent way to mitigate risk. Suppose you’ve already laid your wager on the favourite, but now the underdog looks like it’s going to fight its way back and reduce the difference between the two teams. Your second half bet could be on the underdog, guaranteeing that one of your bets will win. 

 

Totals

This is a straightforward bet. You’re simply betting on whether the total number of points will reach a certain number or not, or fall short of it. Totals betting is a popular type of bet and keeps you in suspense until the end. The advantage of a totals bet is that you can bet on anything that’s countable, providing you with lots of flexibility in what you can bet on.

 

Parlays

You don’t have to bet on just one live game, however. If there’s more than one game being played, you can live bet on several at once, all as part of the same bet. If one bet fails, however, you lose the whole bet. It’s a risky type of bet but will pay handsomely if it comes off.

 

Tips for live betting on the NFL

Naturally, when you place a live bet, you want to win (or maybe you’re just in it for the excitement!). Here are some tips for live betting on the NFL:

 

Watch the game

This may sound elementary, but it needs to be said. You can’t tell if a team is mounting a comeback and make a live wager if you’re not actually following the game as it happens. If you can’t follow the game, place your bet before it starts.

 

Decide upon your strategy

One of the most important things you can do is determine your strategy before the game. Decide which bets you’re going to focus on. The common ones are the money line, the point spread and the totals. If you focus on multiple aspects of the game, it will be harder for you to spot the signs or events that will help you to gain an advantage when you place your bet. 

 

Know the team’s best quarters

Before the game, research into the teams’ games and see if you can identify a quarter in which they consistently seem to perform better in some way. This is useful knowledge you can use to your advantage when making a bet.

The NFL presents some amazing opportunities for live betting, and players can mix things up by betting on different aspects rather than just straight outcomes if they wish. Following the tips above will also help you to bet more successfully. Why not give them a try and see how they work for you?