Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets
Final Score: Dolphins 28, Jets 25
Writer: Steven Pintado (@coachstevenp)
Three Up
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Mason Taylor — Taylor stepped up in a big way for the Jets, helping keep them competitive. He became a red-zone machine, scoring two impressive touchdowns.
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Omar Cooper Jr. — The rookie receiver proved that last week’s performance wasn’t a fluke. Cooper showed off his speed, made explosive plays with the ball in his hands, and found the end zone.
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Ollie Gordon II — There were questions about whether Gordon would maintain a heavy workload, but he finished with over 20 carries. The Dolphins are clearly trusting him to handle a workhorse role in the backfield.
Three Down
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Jaylen Wright — Coming off the bye week, there was some hope that Wright would see more opportunities in the offense. However, Wright struggled as a runner and looked like nothing more than a true backup to Gordon.
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Garrett Wilson — Wilson failed to make a significant impact, finishing tied for fourth on the team in targets. His frustration was evident as he was seen arguing with Geno Smith on the sideline during the game.
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Jets’ play-calling — When it mattered most, the Jets made several questionable offensive play calls that hurt their ability to move the ball and sustain drives. Their decision-making in critical situations left plenty to be desired.
Miami Dolphins
Quarterback
Malik Willis: 14/21, 103 Yards, 2 TDs| 8 Carries, 37 Yards, TD
Willis had a great game against the Jets. Willis was solid as a passer, making impressive throws off play-action, which proved to be very successful for the offense. He showed off his arm strength, firing quick passes to his receivers while also connecting on big throws downfield when given time. His first touchdown was a well-placed pass with plenty of zip to Caleb Douglas in the back of the end zone. Willis also showed improved pocket presence, moving around to avoid pressure while continuing to look for big plays downfield. He used his legs effectively throughout the game, especially on several third-and-long situations where he found openings and took off to pick up first downs. It was encouraging to see Willis avoid unnecessary hits rather than putting his body on the line for extra yards. While the Jets are a lower-ranked opponent, this was exactly the type of performance we expected from Willis. He used his mobility to keep drives alive and set up the play-action passing game, allowing him to make big plays downfield.
Running Back
Ollie Gordon II: 25 Carries, 103 Yards., TD | 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 0 Yards
Gordon had another impressive outing, showing that he can handle a workhorse-level role in the offense. He is clearly the Dolphins’ lead back moving forward. Gordon showed off his physical running style, consistently breaking tackles throughout the game. His best run came on the opening drive, when he bounced outside for a 25-yard gain. Gordon did lose some red-zone opportunities to Jaylen Wright, who received a few carries inside the 10-yard line. However, Gordon still handled a heavy workload and performed well, averaging a solid 4.1 yards per carry. His role in the receiving game will likely remain limited, but seeing three targets was an encouraging sign for his future involvement. Gordon also found the end zone late in the first quarter on a short 1-yard touchdown run, capping off another strong performance as Miami’s lead running back.
Jaylen Wright: 6 Carries, 8 Yards | 1 Target
Wright was primarily used as a change-of-pace back to give Gordon a breather. He did see a few carries inside the red zone, showing that he could still have some touchdown opportunities moving forward. However, Wright was ineffective with his touches and struggled to gain yardage throughout the game. His best run came in the fourth quarter on a six-yard carry. Overall, Wright failed to make much of an impact and appears to be firmly behind Gordon in the Dolphins’ backfield.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Greg Dulcich: 5 Targets, 5 Receptions, 86 Yards
Dulcich could not be stopped in this game! Dulcich started things off with a big 32-yard catch up the seam, bringing the ball down to the 1-yard line. After struggling to earn targets in recent weeks, Dulcich bounced back by leading the team in targets. He saw plenty of opportunities on short out routes, serving as a reliable safety valve for Willis. The Dolphins also did a great job getting Dulcich the ball in space, allowing him to pick up additional yards after the catch. Overall, this was an encouraging performance for Dulcich, but it’s still too early to tell whether this level of involvement will continue moving forward.
Caleb Douglas: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 70 Yards, 2 TDs
Douglas made his return after being sidelined since Week 2. Douglas finished with just two receptions, but both went for touchdowns. On his first score, Douglas faked out his defender and created enough separation for Willis to find him in the end zone. His second touchdown came on a short pass from Willis, who was under pressure, but Douglas broke a tackle and worked his way upfield for 63 yards to find the end zone. The Dolphins’ offense has been missing that big-play ability in recent weeks, and Douglas brought exactly that against the Jets. His return could provide a much-needed spark to Miami’s passing game moving forward.
Malik Washington: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 27 Yards | 2 Carries, 8 Yards
The Dolphins’ WR1, Washington had a quieter game than we’ve typically seen from him this season. All of his production came in the first half, as he was primarily used on short, underneath routes. Washington was able to make the most of those opportunities, using his quickness and space to pick up a few first downs. He also saw some involvement in the rushing game, including an eight-yard carry that nearly resulted in a touchdown before he was brought down at the 1-yard line. That run helped set up an Gordon touchdown a few plays later. The biggest question moving forward is whether this was simply a change in game script or if Miami is looking to get its younger receivers more involved in the offense. If it’s the latter, Washington could see his opportunities decline, which would hurt his rest-of-season fantasy value.
Chris Bell: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 25 Yards
Bell saw some opportunities in this game but was primarily used as a short-area target in the passing offense. He served as a reliable chain-mover for the Dolphins, consistently creating separation against Jets defenders. However, with Douglas back in the lineup, it’s fair to question how much upside Bell will have moving forward. If Miami continues to spread the targets around, Bell could struggle to see enough volume to make a consistent fantasy impact.
Kevin Coleman Jr.: 1 Target
Seydou Traore: 1 Target
New York Jets
Quarterback
Geno Smith: 23/30, 287 Yards, 3 TD, INT | 2 carries, 0 Yards
Smith had an uneven performance throughout this game, showing flashes of impressive quarterback play while also making some questionable decisions. Smith was throwing the ball all over the field, and his two touchdown passes to Mason Taylor were beautifully placed throws where only his receiver could make the catch. He really stepped up in the second half, making smarter throws and decisions as he tried to bring the Jets back into the game. Unfortunately, Smith struggled with consistency, especially in the first half. He threw a costly interception into traffic with the Jets inside Miami’s 20-yard line, taking away a potential scoring opportunity. His ability to read the field was also disappointing, as there were several plays where he missed Adonai Mitchell and Omar Cooper Jr. running wide open downfield with no defenders near them. Play-action helped Smith settle into the offense and make better decisions, but he couldn’t maintain that level of play consistently. Overall, Smith showed he could make impressive throws, but his missed opportunities and poor decisions ultimately hurt the Jets’ chances of winning.
Running Back
Braelon Allen: 17 Carries, 104 Yards| 7 Targets, 6 Receptions, 30 Yards
Allen continues to show why he deserves to be involved in this offense, even when Breece Hall returns. On the ground, Allen was solid, showing off his physical running style by breaking tackles and picking up extra yards. He had at least four runs of 10 or more yards, with his best coming on a 27-yard gain in the third quarter. Allen also played a significant role in the receiving game, serving as Smith’s safety valve when pressure forced him to get the ball out quickly. He frequently ran short routes toward the sideline, giving Smith a reliable checkdown option. While Allen failed to find the end zone, he came close several times, receiving multiple touches inside the 5-yard line but failing to punch the ball in. Overall, Allen showed his ability to contribute as both a runner and receiver.
Isaiah Davis: 1 Carry, 5 Yards|3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 49 Yards
Davis, the backup, saw some opportunities in this game, primarily serving as a change-of-pace option to give Allen a breather. Most of his involvement came in the fourth quarter, when Davis caught three consecutive targets to help move the Jets into scoring position late in the game. His best play came on a 19-yard reception off a short dump-off pass, where he took advantage of the open space to pick up additional yards after the catch. While his overall role was limited, Davis made the most of his opportunities and helped keep the Jets’ offense moving late in the game.
Andrew Beck: 1 Carry, -1 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Omar Cooper Jr.: 5 Targets, 5 Receptions, 115 Yards, TD
Cooper has arrived in the Jets’ offense as a dominant playmaker. After a solid performance last week, Cooper followed it up with a huge game, providing the Jets with several explosive plays in the passing game. On the first play of the game, Smith found Cooper on a deep curl route, where he faked out his defender and turned upfield for a 52-yard catch and run. That play helped set up a touchdown on the Jets’ opening drive. Cooper’s other big play came in the third quarter on a 60-yard reception, as Smith found him in stride to help set up another scoring opportunity. This time, Cooper finished the drive himself, getting wide open on a short out route and walking into the end zone for a touchdown. Cooper also beat his defender deep earlier in the game, but Smith failed to recognize the opportunity. Overall, Cooper continues to show off his elite speed and big-play ability, bringing much-needed life to the Jets’ passing offense.
Mason Taylor: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 62 Yards, 2 TDs
Taylor also shined against his father’s former team, becoming Smith’s go-to weapon in the red zone with two impressive touchdown catches. His first score came on the opening drive, when Taylor hauled in a high pass despite having a defender draped all over him. His second touchdown came late in the fourth quarter on a 12-yard pass, as Taylor made an impressive falling-backward catch over a defender to secure the score. Outside of his touchdowns, Taylor served as a reliable short-area target for Smith, frequently running short out routes and creating additional yards after the catch.
Garrett Wilson: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 26 Yards
Wilson had a disappointing outing against the Dolphins, struggling to make much of an impact in the passing game. Wilson didn’t see his first target until the second quarter and failed to record a reception until the third quarter. His best play came on a tough 19-yard catch, where he high-pointed the ball and secured it for a big gain. Wilson’s frustration was evident on the sideline, as he was seen yelling at quarterback Smith during the game. Miami frequently double-covered Wilson, limiting his opportunities and making it difficult for him to get involved in the offense.
Kenyon Sadiq: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 6 Yards
The rookie tight end was quiet for most of this game, seeing just one target in the first quarter on a tight end screen and failing to get involved afterward. Meanwhile, Taylor stole the spotlight with an impressive performance, including two touchdowns. Sadiq’s role in the offense remains limited and somewhat confusing, especially with a healthy Taylor dominating the opportunities at the position.
Adonai Mitchell: 3 Targets
Mitchell had a frustrating game, as nearly all of his targets were uncatchable passes from Smith. Mitchell often seemed to be the closest receiver to several of Smith’s inaccurate throws, leaving him with little chance to make a play. He also managed to get wide open on a deep route, but Smith failed to recognize him downfield, missing what could have been a huge gain.
Jelani Woods: 1 Target, 1 Reception, -1 Yards