Miami Dolphins star De’Von Achane receives some hard-earned respect, yet still has every reason to feel slighted entering 2026
Even amid a compliment from NFL staff and personnel, Miami Dolphins’ running back De’Von Achane should probably feel a bit slighted.
The month of July marks the final stretch of the NFL’s rare dead period. And with it comes one of the most enlightening content series of the offseason — ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler polls league executives and personnel about the best players at every position. For the Miami Dolphins, there’s some strong representation right off the bat in 2026.
Running backs were the first group to be revealed. And Miami Dolphins star running back De’Von Achane made the cut for the first time. But even amid the compliment, there’s room for motivation.
Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane ranks 8th in ESPN poll of NFL personnel for top running backs
“Achane’s production in his first three NFL seasons — amassing more than 4,300 scrimmage yards — makes him hard to ignore. Nearly half of Achane’s votes were inside the top five. His 5.62 career yards per rush are the most by any running back in NFL history with a minimum of 500 attempts.
“An explosive play waiting to happen,” a veteran NFL defensive coach said. “Elite receiver out of the backfield.”
Achane is the ultimate make-you-miss back. Since entering the league, Achane ranks first in yards after the catch per attempt (3.8).”
JEremy Fowler, ESPN
On Miami Dolphins RB De'Von Achane ranking as NFL's 8th-best running back
Listen. I’m not going to sit here and blow smoke about how how undignified it is to be voted in the top eight of your peers going into the 2026 season. Achane is certainly getting his due with this poll. And that’s even more evident by the tidbit that half of his votes were inside the top-five.
But I do have to ask what the ballots looked like for the voters who left Achane out of their top-10 ballots altogether? Really?!
I just don’t follow there. You can make acknowledgements that Achane isn’t a pile pusher in short yardage situations. You can raise questions about his appeal in pass protection. Heck, I’ve pointed them out myself. You, justifiably, would like a powerful runner in short-yardage situations to help combat scrums and convert with power.
But to assert that De’Von Achane hasn’t performed as a top-10 back in the league is outrageous. He’s maxed out all of the best part of his game to become a legitimate game-breaking player. The 5.62 career yards per carry figure is a video game statistic.
You won’t catch me begging for Achane to be ranked ahead of the likes of Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, for example. Those guys have been so good for so long and aren’t slowing down. But there will likely come an intersection where their decline meets Achane’s continued ascent. Remember, Achane is just 24 years old. But I would say that he’s closer to those names than he is to Kenneth Walker III, who checked in at 9th overall on the poll.
Hopefully the voters who left Achane out of their top-10’s this offseason will get a chance to actually watch him play in 2026. Perhaps he’d make their lists next offseason if they did.
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