Miami Dolphins DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The Miami Dolphins have no concerns about quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (hip) being limited at practice due to a hip injury on Wednesday as the team prepares to face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in Week 16. "No concern with us," offensive coordinator Frank Smith said. Tagovailoa appears to be a little beat up coming out of the Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans, which is why he was limited in the first practice of the week, but he's in no danger of sitting out this weekend. As long as Tagovailoa is able to return to a full practice on Thursday or Friday, he should be removed from the final injury report heading into Sunday. The 26-year-old signal-caller broke a streak of three straight games with 300-plus passing yards in last week's loss to Houston in which he threw for under 200 yards and three interceptions. The Niners defense hasn't been kind to opposing QBs this year, making Tua more of a high-end QB2.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist, rest) was officially a non-participant in his team's first practice of Week 16. It's been the veteran's routine for some time now -- kicking off Miami's week of practice listed as either a limited participant or DNP each week since Week 11. Fellow wideouts Jaylen Waddle (knee) and Dee Eskridge (knee) were also tagged with DNPs, though their status for Sunday's meeting with the visiting San Francisco 49ers is far less certain. Fantasy managers should not be concerned about Hill's status for now. The 30-year-old could be in store for all the work he could handle in Week 16 if his teammates cannot play. Currently, the only other active Miami wide receivers without a designation are Malik Washington and River Cracraft.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (hip) was limited in Wednesday's practice due to a hip injury. It's a new injury for Tagovailoa, but the fact that he's practicing at all in the first session of the week is a sign the injury likely isn't serious enough to keep him from playing in Week 16 versus the visiting San Francisco 49ers. As long as the 26-year-old signal-caller is able to return to a full practice in the next two days, he should be removed from the final injury report by Friday. Tagovailoa should probably be considered a high-end QB2, at best, with limited upside in Week 16 despite clearing 300 passing yards in three previous games before the Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans, where he went for 196 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. The 49ers defense has been one of the worst matchups in fantasy for opposing QBs, especially in the last five weeks.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Grant DuBose (head) is expected to return to Miami on Wednesday after suffering a scary hit to the head in last week's loss to the Houston Texans. The 23-year-old has been hospitalized in Houston since Sunday, so this is great news. That said, the 2023 seventh-round pick has already been placed on Injured Reserve and will not play again this season. DuBose caught two passes for 11 yards in three games for Miami this year.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (knee) will not practice on Wednesday, but head coach Mike McDaniel is calling him day-to-day. Waddle injured his knee early in the Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans and never returned, leaving his fantasy managers with a donut in the first round of the fantasy playoffs. McDaniel is hopeful that Waddle will get back on the field this week, but his status for Week 16 against the San Francisco 49ers is in question. If Waddle cannot go, it will mean more targets for receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Jonnu Smith, while wideout Malik Washington would essentially serve in the WR2 role for Miami. The good news for the Dolphins is that Waddle's injury isn't considered long-term, so even if he sits out of Week 16, he should play again before the end of the 2024 regular season. Check back later this week for an updated view of his Week 16 availability.