The Dolphins gave up 349 total yards and forced a turnover in the 27-17 loss to the Colts in Week 4.

Analysis: The Dolphins have forced at least one turnover in every game since Week 11 of the 2019 season, totaling six so far this season. That ranks sixth in the league in addition to 13 sacks, which ranks fourth in the league. With players like Xavien Howard and Byron Jones, they'll always have a high upside, but they've also allowed at least 27 points in three straight games. That upside could be a trap this year with the Buccaneers ranking fifth in the league with 30.4 points per game.

The Dolphins allowed 314 total yards and forced two turnovers in the 35-0 loss to the Bills in Week 2.

Analysis: The Dolphins got picked apart by the Bills and are looking to bounce back in Week 3 against the Raiders. This matchup is tougher than we thought at the beginning of the year, as the Raiders have scored 59 points through two weeks while giving up just one turnover, and QB Derek Carr has been sacked only five times. There's not a ton of upside here, and the Dolphins' offensive woes -- QB Tua Tagovailoa (ribs) is out -- only adds to this unit's uncertainty.

The Dolphins gave up 393 total yards and 16 points in the Week 1 loss to the Patriots.

Analysis: They also added two turnovers, picking up where they left off last year when they led the league with 29 takeaways. Led by QB Josh Allen, the Bills are always a threat to open a game open, but CBs Xavien Howard and Byron Jones should hold their own to some extent. Still, there's not much upside for this unit, as the Dolphins' pass rush still needs work and Allen protects the ball fairly well.

The Dolphins' defense will be at full health for the Week 1 matchup against the Patriots.

Analysis: The Dolphins will take on rookie QB Mac Jones in the season opener. Jones looked good in the preseason, but this is the real action, and the Dolphins' defense wasn't forgiving in 2020, as they recorded 18 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries and 41 sacks. The Patriots don't have a ton of offensive weapons, so Dolphins D/ST has major upside with manageable risk right out of the gate.

During joint practices in advance of Saturday's preseason opener versus the Bears, Xavien Howard and Byron Jones took the field together against an opponent for the first time since last season.

Analysis: Per the report, "the pair picked up they left off. Separation and completions were hard to come by for the Chicago passing game." Now that Howard's contract issues have been settled and he's no longer looking to be traded, he'll continue to work in tandem with Jones, forming one of the better cornerback duos in the NFL. With that in mind, Cynthia Frelund of NFL.com ranks Miami's CB tandem No. 3 in the league, behind only Baltimore's Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters and New England's Stephon…read more

CB Xavien Howard formally requested a trade in late July.

Analysis: Howard explained that he didn't believe the Dolphins were negotiating in good faith. There's a chance this is simply a leverage play, but it appears he's on his way out from Miami. That would be a major blow for the Dolphins, as Howard is widely considered one of the top cornerbacks in the league, especially after for 10 of the team's 18 interceptions last year. The Dolphins will turn to 2020 first-rounder Noah Igbinoghene and Jason McCourty if Howard leaves. Fantasy managers should've expected…read more

The Dolphins led the league with 29 turnovers during the 2020 season.

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The Dolphins allowed 418 total yards and forced a turnover in the 26-25 win over the Raiders in Week 16.

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The Dolphins allowed 303 total yards and forced a turnover in the 22-12 win over the Patriots in Week 15.

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The Dolphins let up 448 total yards and forced four turnovers in the 33-27 loss to the Chiefs in Week 14.

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The Dolphins let up 196 total yards and forced two turnovers in the 19-7 win over the Bengals in Week 13.

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The Dolphins gave up 260 total yards and forced two turnovers in the 20-3 win over the Jets in Week 12.

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The Dolphins let up 459 total yards and forced two turnovers in the 20-13 win over the Broncos in Week 11.

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The Dolphins allowed 273 total yards and forced a turnover in the 29-21 win over the Chargers in Week 10.

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The Dolphins allowed 442 total yards and forced a turnover in the 34-31 win over the Cardinals in Week 9.

Analysis: It was a statement win for the Dolphins, and their defense was a major factor, as it has been all year. The Dolphins have forced a turnover in every game this season, totaling 14 to rank third in the league. They've let up just 20.1 points per game, too. Chargers QB Justin Herbert presents a tough matchup, but the Dolphins can make up for a higher point total with sacks and turnovers. They average 2.5 sacks per game to go along with consistent turnovers, adding modest upside this week. Consider…read more

The Dolphins allowed 17 points, forced four turnovers and recorded two sacks against the Rams in the Week 8 win.

Analysis: The Dolphins returned a fumble for a touchdown and ran back a punt for a score to showcase another top-tier fantasy performance. Nevertheless, many are still skeptical of their legitimacy. They've forced a turnover in every game and rank second in the league with 13 total. They rank tied for 10th in the league with 19 sacks. They have let up a league-low 18.6 points per game this year. It's been a remarkable display, and they're worth keeping in mind moving forward. This defense is legit, but a…read more

The Dolphins allowed 263 total yards and forced a turnover in the 24-0 win over the Jets in Week 6.

Analysis: Shutouts are tough in the NFL, so even if it's against the Jets, it's something to be proud of. The Dolphins' defense has been surprisingly good this year, especially lately, as it's allowed 17 or fewer points in three of the last four games while forcing seven turnovers in that stretch. It's tied for 11th with 17 sacks, too. The Rams won't make an easy matchup, though, as they average 25.1 points per game and have turned the ball over just eight times this year. Jared Goff is rarely sacked,…read more

The Dolphins allowed 259 total yards and forced three turnovers in a 43-17 win over the 49ers in Week 5.

Analysis: The Jets are a highly targeted opponent for those that stream fantasy defenses, and the Dolphins make the cut for the Week 6 matchup. The Dolphins have forced a turnover in every game this season, and they're tied for seventh with 14 sacks this year. They've held their own against tough opponents, too, ranking 10th with 22.6 points allowed per contest. Meanwhile, the Jets just cut RB Le'Veon Bell, and QB Sam Darnold has been ruled out, meaning Joe Flacco will start under center. Flacco's well…read more

The Dolphins allowed 441 total yards and forced a turnover in a 31-23 loss to the Seahawks in Week 4.

Analysis: The defense held its own for a while, but eventually, QB Russell Wilson got the job done against the Dolphins. It was the second time in three weeks that the Dolphins let up 31 points, but they've managed to force a turnover in every game this season. Still, they rank in the bottom half of the league in both rushing and passing defense, and with the 49ers getting healthy, it's an unfavorable matchup for Dolphins D/ST.

The Dolphins allowed 318 total yards and forced two turnovers in Week 3's 31-13 win over the Jaguars.

Analysis: The Dolphins' defense impressed in Week 3 to help the team secure its first win of the season. However, Week 4's matchup against the Seahawks is far more daunting. QB Russell Wilson is on a historic pace with 14 TD passes through three games, and both Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf look uncoverable thus far. If CB Byron Jones (groin/Achilles) sits out, too, this could get ugly quickly. Leave Dolphins D/ST on the open market in Week 4.

The Dolphins allowed 524 total yards and forced a turnover in Week 2's 31-28 loss to the Bills.

Analysis: The Dolphins lost Byron Jones (groin) early in the first quarter, which likely played a role in QB Josh Allen torching their secondary for 417 yards and four TDs. Jones would need a quicky recovery to play in Thursday's game versus the Jaguars, so it's fair to assume that the Dolphins will need to lean on rookie Noah Igbinoghene again in this state rivalry. However, QB Gardner Minshew and the Jaguars have proved they're not slouches, as MInshew has thrown for 512 yards, six TDs and two INTs so…read more

The Dolphins allowed 357 yards and forced one turnover in Week 1's 21-11 loss to the Patriots.

Analysis: The Dolphins mostly contained QB Cam Newton through the air, allowing just 155 passing yards and sacking him twice, but they let him run wild. Newton rushed for 75 yards and two scores. Josh Allen is a similar style of QB and picked up 57 yards and a score on the ground in his season opener, so the Dolphins could have their hands full again. Still, there is some upside for deeper fantasy leagues since Allen's fumbling woes popped up again in Week 1, as he lost two fumbles on three sacks.

CBs Xavien Howard (knee) and Byron Jones (Achilles) are dealing with injuries ahead of Sunday's game versus the Patriots.

Analysis: Both players were able to log limited practices to begin the week, so there's a decent chance they'll be ready for the season opener. Howard missed the last 11 games of the 2019 season, but his return with the addition of Jones should make the Dolphins' secondary more dependable than we remembered. Still, there was a ton of roster turnover this offseason, and with no preseason action to get in the groove, it may take a few games for the Dolphins defense to become even a mediocre bunch. They're…read more

The Dolphins ranked 32nd in 2019 with 30.9 points allowed per game.

Analysis: The Dolphins' defense was horrendous last year, allowing fewer than 20 points on just three occasions. They made multiple attempts this offseason to boost the unit, though, signing CB Byron Jones, OLB Kyle Van Noy, OLB Shaw Lawson and OLB Emmanuel Obgah and drafting CB Noah Ibinoghene in the first round and FS Brandon Jones in the third round. The Dolphins' defense is far more talented this year, but the number of new players with a limited amount of time to prepare could mean some early-season…read more

The Dolphins allowed 35 points and 430 total yards in Week 16's win over the Bengals.

Analysis: In an unforeseen offensive battle, the Dolphins were able to force a turnover and sack Andy Dalton four times. They can play spoiler for the Patriots in the season finale, but there's little to get excited about for fantasy purposes. Tom Brady has been sacked on 4.3 percent of dropbacks -- the 29th-most in the league -- and coughing up just 13 turnovers. Their offense ranks sixth with 26.4 PPG as well, so don't get fancy by rolling out Dolphins D/ST this week.

The Dolphins allowed 36 points and 412 yards allowed but forced three turnovers in Week 15's loss to the Giants.

Analysis: The Dolphins have forced a turnover in seven of the last eight games, including two three-turnover games in that stretch. While they've allowed their last five opponents to hit or exceed 20 points, the Bengals are a more favorable opponent, as they've exceeded 19 points just once over the past nine outings. There's also major upside, as Andy Dalton is sacked on 6.7 percent of dropbacks -- 13th-highest in the league -- and throws a pick on 2.9 percent of attempts -- eighth-most. The Dolphins do…read more

The Dolphins allowed 22 points and 374 total yards to the Jets in Week 14's loss.

Analysis: The Dolphins managed to force a turnover for the sixth time in seven games, but they've allowed 27 or more points four times in that stretch. It's looking like Eli Manning will make another start in this matchup, and he showed some promise in Week 14, throwing deep and connecting with receivers in tight windows. Furthermore, the Dolphins also have to worry about Saquon Barkley, as they've been torched by the run this year, allowing 4.6 YPC -- the ninth-highest rate in the league. There's no…read more

The Dolphins allowed 31 points and 386 total yards in Week 13's win over the Eagles.

Analysis: The Dolphins allowed 30 or more points for the third straight week, and their average of 31.3 PPG allowed is the worst in the league. They've shown life at times but it's a banged-up unit. The Jets followed up three straight 34-point efforts with a six-point dud against the lowly Bengals, so it's tough to get a grip on where the Dolphins D/ST stands. Considering they rank last in the league in both turnovers (nine) and sacks (16), there's no reason to take the risk.

The Dolphins allowed 41 points and 467 total yards to the Browns in Week 12's loss.

Analysis: After a couple strong wings against the Jets and Colts, the Dolphins couldn't hide their weakened secondary anymore, as they've been torched for at least 37 points in back-to-back weeks. The Eagles have faced their fair share of injuries to pass-catchers lately, but Alshon Jeffrey (ankle) should be healthy for this contest. If that's so, it'd be huge for the team, as they've posted nine total points against the Seahawks/Patriots over the last two weeks. The Dolphins are ill-equipped to handle…read more

The Dolphins allowed 37 points and didn't force a turnover in Week 11's loss to the Bills.

Analysis: The Browns' offense has been flaky lately, but it matches up well the Dolphins' defense, which ranks 28th with 4.8 YPA and has allowed an average of 167.5 yards from scrimmage per game and nine total touchdowns to opposing running backs this season. The Browns feature two of the top backs in the league with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, and the latter has logged double-digit touches in both games since his return. That's not to mention the spector of Odell Beckham, who hasn't seen the targets but…read more

The Dolphins allowed 37 points and didn't force a turnover in Week 11's loss to the Bills.

Analysis: The Browns' offense has been flaky lately, but it matches up well the Dolphins' defense, which ranks 28th with 4.8 YPA and has allowed an average of 167.5 yards from scrimmage per game and nine total touchdowns to opposing running backs this season. The Browns feature two of the top backs in the league with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, and the latter has logged double-digit touches in both games since his return. That's not to mention the spector of Odell Beckham, who hasn't seen the targets but…read more

The Dolphins held the Colts to 12 points and forced three turnovers in Week 10's win.

Analysis: This marked a season low in points allowed by the Dolphins, and it was a massive day for their ball hawks, as they recorded just four turnovers over the previous eight contests. They could have similar fantasy viability in Week 11, as they held the Bills to 31 points on the road earlier this year but look much more polished lately. QB Josh Allen should cause issues as a dual-threat signal caller, but he's a main reason they've coughed up 19 turnovers this year -- third-most in the league. That…read more