The Miami Dolphins suffered a tough loss against the NY Jets on Sunday and now the team is very unlikely to make the playoffs in 2015. Ryan Tannehill had a strong game, but it wasn't enough for Miami, who saw Rishard Matthews and Mike Pouncey injured, while starting running back Lamar Miller was overshadowed by backup Jay Ajayi.
The Dolphins came into the game against the Jets with the chance to stay in the playoff hunt, but instead they were blown out by their division rivals and now have lost four of the last five games. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill put up solid numbers while completing 33-of-58 passes for 351 yards and three touchdowns, but a chunk of that came when the Dolphins were way out of the game.
The team saw Rishard Matthews and Mike Pouncey get injured and now the back stretch of the season could determine who stays and who goes on the roster for 2016. UPDATE: The Dolphins have fired offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, according to NFL.com.
Fantasy owners of Lamar Miller had a tough day in Week 12, as the Dolphins starter did not do much, rushing for just two yards and catching three passes for 11 yards. Miller was barely used in the second half, giving way to Jay Ajayi and Damien Williams at times. Miller's use might have been more about the score of the game over his standing with the coaching staff, but moving forward fantasy owners should have some caution about using Miller as an RB1 option.
Ajayi was used more as a receiver and he ended up with four catches for 52 yards and he was in the game for the bulk of the second half. With the Dolphins likely looking towards the future, Ajayi could get more touches down the back stretch of the season, as he is averaging six yards per carry over four games. The Dolphins offense took a hit in the game with Matthews Pouncey both having to leave early in the game following injuries.
Pouncey was carted to the locker room in the first quarter and Pro Football Talk reports that he suffered an ankle injury. Matthews was injured after taking a hard hit from Jets safety Calvin Pryor and he left the game with a rib injury and did not have a catch in the game. Matthews has been a solid number two behind Jarvis Landry this season and having him out did not help the Dolphins get back in the game.
With Matthews out, rookie DeVante Parker was able to get some playing time and for the first time this season he made a major impact. Parker had four catches for 80 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets and that was his first game with a catch since back in Week 3. Parker had foot surgery before the season started and was slow to get things going for Miami and he could be an option moving forward if Matthews is limited.
Check here for more on the Dolphins and Miller.
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/category/teams/afc/miami-dolphins/
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/11/24/quinton-coples-lands-with-dolphins/
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/11/24/dolphins-held-take-ownership-meeting-on-monday/
https://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/189836/jarvis-landry-up-lamar-miller-down-for-dolphins
https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/armando-salguero/article47105755.html
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/11/29/mike-pouncey-carted-to-locker-room-in-first-quarter/
https://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14253633/ryan-tannehill-calls-jets-players-classless-celebrating-rishard-matthews-injury