Miami Dolphins @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Final Score: Steelers 28, Dolphins 15
Writer: Steven Pintado (@coachstevenp)
In a cold Monday Night Football matchup between the Dolphins and Steelers, the game came down to toughness and execution, and Pittsburgh clearly had the edge. The first half was a close, hard-fought battle, with both defenses holding strong and neither side giving much ground.
In the second half, Miami’s defense began to fold, allowing the Steelers offense to execute efficiently and methodically work its way down the field for three straight scores to open the half. Meanwhile, the Dolphins’ offense struggled to find any rhythm. It didn’t generate meaningful production until the fourth quarter, when the game had already slipped into garbage time, and Miami managed to score twice.
The Steelers were the clearly superior team on the night, and that difference became more apparent as the game wore on.
Three Up
- Kenneth Gainwell – The veteran running back found success both through the air and on the ground, which helped move the Steelers’ offense downfield for touchdown drives.
- Aaron Rodgers – Rodgers put on a very efficient game against the Dolphins. Rodgers played a game manager role and was able to put up two passing touchdowns with solid yardage.
- Darren Waller – While some of it came in garbage time, Waller put up a big game with 66 yards and two late-game receiving touchdowns.
Three Down
- Tua Tagovailoa – The Dolphins QB put up decent numbers, but struggled to be a threat in the passing game until the late fourth quarter, which was horrifying to watch on the field.
- Jaylen Waddle – Only being able to see four targets in a game where the Dolphins played behind for most of a half is not what anyone wanted for the star receiver.
- Jaylen Warren – While he did come into the game with an illness, he was inefficient on his runs and would fail on multiple attempts to score a touchdown.
Miami Dolphins
Quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa: 22/28, 253 Yards, 2 TD, INT | 1 Carry, 1 Yard
While Tua Tagovailoa’s stat line looked solid on the surface—completing over 75% of his passes with two touchdowns—the first half showed many of his ongoing issues, particularly in cold-weather games and against zone coverage. He managed just 60 passing yards in the opening half and threw a critical early interception. Tagovailoa struggled to consistently find open receivers and was ineffective at extending plays once pressure arrived. Several first-half throws easily could have resulted in additional interceptions.
In the second half, Tagovailoa didn’t get the passing game going until the fourth quarter, by which point Miami was already down three scores. Most of his completions came on short-area throws, relying on his receivers to generate yards after the catch. Both touchdown passes were well-executed throws, particularly his first score to Darren Waller, where he placed the ball in a spot only his receiver could make the play.
Overall, Tagovailoa continues to feel like a roller-coaster quarterback for fantasy managers—capable of strong stretches but difficult to fully trust for consistent production the rest of the season.
Running Back
De’Von Achane: 12 Carries, 60 Yards | 6 Targets, 6 Receptions, 67 Yards
Dolphins star running back De’Von Achane salvaged a solid performance against the Steelers. Achane ran the ball well in the first half, but it was clear that Pittsburgh’s defensive game plan was focused on preventing him from breaking off explosive runs, which they largely succeeded in doing.
At times during the middle portion of the game, Miami went away from featuring Achane, which stalled several Dolphins drives. As the team shifted into catch-up mode, Achane became a reliable option in the passing game, recording four of his six receptions in the second half.
Despite the difficult matchup and game script, Achane remains a top-tier option in the Dolphins offense and a strong fantasy play moving forward.
Jaylen Wright: 1 Carry, 2 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 9 Yards
Ollie Gordon: 2 Carries, 0 Yards
Alec Ingold: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 4 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Jaylen Waddle: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 26 Yards
Dolphins star receiver Jaylen Waddle had a very disappointing outing against the Steelers. He saw an early target in the first quarter on a quick, short pass over the middle of the field, but did not record another catch until the fourth quarter.
The Steelers clearly limited Waddle’s impact for most of the game by pressuring Tua and using coverage attention to take away his primary receiving options. This disrupted Miami’s timing and prevented Tagovailoa from consistently getting the ball to Waddle.
Waddle briefly left the game early in the fourth quarter but returned shortly after. While he salvaged some involvement late, it remains difficult to fully trust Waddle moving forward, as his fantasy outlook is closely tied to Tagovailoa’s ability to consistently deliver the ball to his receivers.
Darren Waller: 8 Targets, 7 Receptions, 66 Yards, 2 TDs
Veteran tight end Darren Waller ended up having a big day in a favorable matchup against the Steelers. He was quiet for most of the first half, recording just one catch for eight yards. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that Waller’s production surged, as he hauled in six receptions for 58 yards and two touchdowns—much of it coming in garbage time.
Miami’s inability to consistently push the ball downfield in the first half eased once the team fell well behind, forcing a pass-heavy approach. Waller’s first touchdown came on a beautifully contested catch over multiple Steelers defenders, while his second score came after he found separation across the back of the end zone.
While Waller’s stat line looks impressive, it remains difficult to fully trust the Dolphins’ passing offense given Tua’s ongoing struggles to produce consistently.
Greg Dulcich: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 46 Yards
Julian Hill: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 26 Yards
Malik Washington: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 10 Yards
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: 1 Target
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers: 23/27, 224 Yards, 2 TDs
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers put together a very solid performance against the Dolphins, though it felt more like a game-manager outing than a dominant showing. In the first half, Rodgers leaned heavily on short-area throws and dump-offs, rarely pushing the ball downfield. His lone deep completion of the half came on a 20-yard gain to DK Metcalf.
Rodgers operated similarly in the second half, consistently taking what the Miami defense gave him underneath. That approach proved effective, as he repeatedly found his receivers on quick passes to generate steady yardage.
Rodgers did exactly what was required against a tough Dolphins defense, but to unlock more fantasy upside, he will need to push the ball downfield more consistently.
Running Back
Jaylen Warren: 12 Carries, 33 Yards | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 15 Yards
Starting running back Jaylen Warren entered the game as a question mark after dealing with an illness. While he was active, Warren was out-touched by his backup, Kenneth Gainwell. As a runner, Warren struggled in the first half to find much room on the ground.
He saw a bit more space in the second half, but with the Steelers playing from ahead early, Gainwell continued to see the majority of the work. Whether it was the lingering illness or simply Gainwell playing better, Warren turned in a mediocre performance against the Dolphins. Warren had multiple opportunities to score at the goal line but was unable to convert.
Without a touchdown, Warren failed to produce meaningful fantasy numbers, and his outlook moving forward could point toward a larger split in the backfield, with Gainwell emerging as the more reliable option for the Steelers.
Kenneth Gainwell: 13 Carries, 80 Yards | 7 Targets, 7 Receptions, 46 Yards
Steelers backup running back Kenneth Gainwell was the star of the offense. In the first half, Gainwell operated as the primary pass-catching back and a reliable safety valve for Aaron Rodgers. It was clear that Rodgers consistently looked his way after scanning the field, targeting Gainwell for short, quick gains.
Gainwell caught all seven of his targets and turned them into solid yardage through the air. In the second half, as Miami’s run defense began to soften, he took advantage on the ground as well, breaking off longer runs—highlighted by a 38-yard carry on the opening drive of the third quarter.
Gainwell continues to offer strong PPR value due to his consistent role in the passing game.
Kaleb Johnson: 2 Carries, 4 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
DK Metcalf: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 55 Yards, TD
Steelers star receiver DK Metcalf put together a solid outing against the Dolphins. He recorded a catch early in the game for a big chunk gain, which was Aaron Rodgers’ deepest throw of the first half. Metcalf added a reception in each of the next two quarters, with his final catch going for a 28-yard touchdown.
On the score, Metcalf found space over the middle of the field, broke through multiple defenders, and used his combination of power and speed to finish the play in the end zone. Unfortunately, Metcalf did not see heavy volume, as the Steelers played from ahead for most of the game and leaned on their offensive scheme rather than a pass-heavy approach.
Darnell Washington: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 25 Yards
The young tight end Darnell Washington was used early and often as a short-area target in the Steelers’ offense. Washington served as a dump-off option, using his size and power to break a few Dolphins tackles and push up the field after the catch. He was also heavily involved as a blocker, especially in the red zone and on short-yardage plays.
Washington largely disappeared as a receiving option in the second half, as Pittsburgh continued to rotate its tight ends. His fantasy upside remains limited, as he has been an inconsistent and situational player in the Steelers’ offense.
Pat Freiermuth: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 45 Yards
Tight end Pat Freiermuth had his best game since Week 7. After a quiet first half, Freiermuth came alive in the second half as a reliable short-area, underneath target for the Steelers offense. Most of his looks came near the line of scrimmage, and on the catches he secured, he showed good speed and toughness to pick up extra yards after the catch.
While this performance was encouraging, Freiermuth remains a very inconsistent target in the Steelers’ passing attack, making him difficult to trust on a week-to-week basis for fantasy purposes.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 19 Yards, TD
Jonnu Smith: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 12 Yards | 1 Carry, 14 Yards, TD
Adam Thielen: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 7 Yards
Calvin Austin: 1 Target
Connor Heyward: 4 Carries, 4 yards, TD
Photo by Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky