The Miami Dolphins went to 3-1 on the season as they suffered their first loss falling 27-15 to the defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals. The game was overshadowed by the scary injury to Tua and we all here at DolphinsTalk.com send our thoughts and prayers to Tua and his family hoping for a full recovery. The game was closer than the score indicated, and many players stepped up their game and had their stock rising.
STOCK UP
Tyreek Hill: When the Dolphins added Hill to their roster, it was to be the centerpiece of their offense. In a game in which Miami lost their starting quarterback, Cincinnati shut down Waddle for the most part, and Miami was playing on the road in a short week; Hill lived up to his reputation. Ten receptions for 160 yards. He put this offense on his back and kept Miami in this game. His amazing 3rd quarter catch from Bridgewater was the highlight play, but the Bengals had no answer for Hill all night long. Tyreek is a blue chip stock; he is on Disney and Amazon level. As good as advertised and as consistent as there is.
Teddy Bridgewater: 14/23 for 193 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT (which wasn’t an INT after further review, thanks refs). Again, short week on the road, and Teddy has had no first-team reps in practice. Yet, he came into the game and played very well. You couldn’t ask for a better performance from your backup quarterback being thrown into that wild situation. I know Dolphins fans have written off Bridgewater already, and that is unfair; he is going to surprise you. This is a buy-low stock right now, as I think Teddy (no matter how many weeks he is the starter) will surprise many people.
Jaelan Phillips: This has been a falling stock in recent weeks as Jaelan has gotten off to a very slow start this season. Well, that all changed on Thursday night. Five pressures on 23 pass attempts, he was outstanding against the run and helped shut down Joe Mixon, and on top of that, when he was targeted in the passing game, he only gave up 3 yards receiving. Phillips was outstanding vs the Bengals and by far his best game of the season. This stock is on an uptick, and buy it now as in a few weeks, it may cost double what it is today.
Raheem Mostert: Each week, Miami flip-flops between who is the primary running back, and this week it was Mostert. Fifteen rushes for 69 yards averaging 4.6 YPC. The Miami running game has been off to a slow start this year but looked to get on track this week and I think that will continue moving forward, especially with a backup quarterback under center. Mostert rose to the occasion and played very well.
STOCK DOWN
Jason Sanders: He just hasn’t been good this year, is what it is, but overall the special teams have been very bad, and Sanders missing kicks and having kicks blocked doesn’t help. He has to get better, he makes a lot of money for a kicker, and if he doesn’t, he won’t be in Miami much longer.
Xavien Howard: This is a bit unfair in some ways as he is clearly injured, but it’s a results-oriented league, and right now, Howard is getting beat….a lot. He hasn’t been good. I fully expect when Howard gets back to 100%, he will be back to his old self, but until that happens, we have to call it as we see it.
Chase Edmonds: He scored a TD, so it’s tough to put him on a stock-down list but running the ball, he averaged 1.2 YPC, and he dropped an easy touchdown pass in the 1st quarter. I’m a big Chase supporter, and I do like him a lot, but Thursday night, even with the touchdown, wasn’t a great showing for him. This may be a momentary blip on the radar for him, but gotta call it like I see it.
