X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Jordan Howard to Dolphins: Fantasy Impact

Running back Jordan Howard signed a two-year deal as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins. Pierre Camus examines the fantasy football impact of this move and whether Howard can be trusted in 2020 drafts.

Lost among the quarterback shuffle of free agency and news of the G.O.A.T. heading to Tampa Bay is the fact that the other Florida team was busy making moves too. Since the new league year began on March 18, the Dolphins have signed Byron Jones, Shaq Lawson, Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts, Emmanuel Ogbah, and Ereck Flowers among others. None of those players will have any impact for fantasy football owners outside of deep IDP leagues, though.

There is one signing that does have fantasy ramifications, however, and that is the two-year deal given to tailback Jordan Howard. It's no secret the Dolphins were in the market for a running back after shuffling through players in their backfield all season long in 2019.

The fantasy community hasn't held Howard in high regard recently, so it will be intriguing to see if this moves the needle in terms of his draft stock at all. Of course, much of that depends on what else the Fins do this offseason at the position. For the time being, let's reflect on Howard's accomplishments and determine what his fantasy value is at the moment.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Beginner's Luck?

Jordan Howard has been mostly dismissed by the fantasy football community over the last couple of years, largely due to the fact that he has continued to fail in living up to expectations set in his rookie year of 2016. Ironically, he entered the league with no fanfare as a fifth-round pick from Indiana University; he was undrafted by consensus ADP rankings that preseason and mostly unowned until Week 4 of that year when he went for 111 rushing yards against Detroit. He went on to post seven 100-yard rushing efforts and found the end zone seven times, good for an RB9 fantasy finish on the season.

In 2017, Howard was firmly on the fantasy radar and largely delivered. He tallied 1,247 scrimmage yards with nine touchdowns and followed up with 1,080 total yards and nine touchdowns in 2018. Unfortunately, his effectiveness waned as his rushing average dropped from 5.2 down to 3.7 over those three years. This dip in efficiency led to diminishing returns in the face of rising ADP. Howard then moved on to Philadelphia to see if he could recapture the magic of his rookie campaign.

The story of his tenure in Philly, short as it was, is mostly one of misfortune. Howard got off to a slow start, averaging 49.6 rushing yards per game in Weeks 1-7. Then, he came alive. Howard ran for 96 yards and a touchdown, chipping in another 15 through the air in Week 8 on the road in Buffalo against the second-ranked team defense. He then ran for 82 yards and a touchdown against his former team, Chicago, in Week 9 - another top-10 run defense. A shoulder injury would then knock him out until the final week of the season and allowed rookie Miles Sanders to emerge as the team's RB1 of the present and future.

Now, Howard joins his third team and looks for a fresh start. At the age of 25, he is far from old, even for a running back, so if healthy he could return to his hard-running ways. He managed 4.4 yards per carry last season and was among the most efficient backs in the league, according to NFL NextGenStats. With a good offensive line in front of him, Howard could still be effective.

 

Can the Dolphins Offense Be Trusted?

That's a tricky question since the NFL Draft will alter the trajectory of this franchise, potentially for the next decade. That assumes, of course, that they will select a quarterback such as Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert with the fifth overall pick.

The Fins are coming off a season where they were dead last in team rushing yards with 1,156. Their leading ground-gainer was 37-year-old quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick with 243 yards on scrambles. The puzzling trade of Kenyan Drake for a meager return of a failed rotation of Kalen Ballage, Mark Walton, Patrick Laird, and Myles Gaskin (don't forget Samaje Perine!) This is why they were in desperate need to upgrade at RB, among other things. While the lack of a solid rusher was partly to blame, the entire team was a disaster from the beginning, other than Fitzmagic of course.

The earlier-mentioned signings on the defensive side of the ball could lead the team to keep scores closer rather than constantly playing from behind. That means less passing and more chances to establish the running game. It's unlikely the team will be in the upper half of the offensive standings, particularly in the running game, but we shouldn't assume they will dwell at the bottom again either.

 

Still Fantasy Relevant... For Now

Technically, Howard will serve as the Dolphins' top running back until they sign another veteran to compete with him or, more likely, select one in the upcoming NFL Draft. Our draft guru Brandon Murchison projects the Fins to take D'Andre Swift at the end of the first round. While Swift, or any other rookie, would have to show well in training camp and earn snaps, there is a good chance the exact same situation could play out as last year in Philadelphia.

While there's a very good chance the team spends one of its numerous draft picks on a running back early on, I don't personally believe they'll grab one in the first round. Instead, they are likely to opt for a pass-catching back like Clyde Edwards-Helaire on day two to complement Howard. This would make for an ideal 1-2 punch where Howard runs on early downs and their new pass-catching back plays on third down and obvious passing situations. This wouldn't be too different from Howard's second and third seasons in Chicago when Tarik Cohen caught a total of 124 passes and served as a change-of-pace back with 186 rush attempts. Although Howard declined in fantasy value from his rookie year under this new timeshare, his numbers were still solid.

If Miami does take a running back in the first round, then Howard is effectively stuck in a timeshare at best. The worst-case scenario is that he serves as a backup to a budding young star runner or simply can't stay healthy, both of which are real risks.

Howard is unlikely to return to his former glory or RB1 status in fantasy. Nobody is expected that, naturally, even with him landing in an ideal spot with an RB-starved team. His current ADP in best-ball drafts doesn't reflect a ton of confidence in him at RB44 (130 overall), although it has risen by 40 spots since before the free agency period began. He will be more valuable in standard leagues than PPR, but he does make for a smart pick in best-ball drafts as your fourth running back. His stock will be affected greatly by the upcoming NFL Draft, so monitor the team's moves closely.

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Anthony Santander

Hoping to Hit Soon
Luis Robert Jr.

Returning in Short Order
Alex Bregman

Could Return Later This Week
Ketel Marte

Day-to-Day with Groin Tightness
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Hunter Greene

Suffers Setback on Monday
Philadelphia 76ers

Kyle Lowry Staying With 76ers
Kyle Anderson

Lands in Utah
Kevin Love

Traded to Jazz in 3-Team Swap
Norman Powell

Traded to Miami
John Collins

Dealt to Clippers
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Tied For 14 at Travelers Championship
Xander Schauffele

Finishes Tied For 61 at Travelers Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Robert MacIntyre

Finishes Tied For 17 at Travelers Championship
Si Woo Kim

Finishes Tied For 11 at John Deere Classic
Viktor Hovland

Withdraws From Travelers Championship
Tommy Fleetwood

Finishes Tied For Second at Travelers Championship
Brian Campbell

Wins John Deere Classic
Bronny James Jr.

Scores 10 Points
Harrison Ingram

Limited on Sunday
Golden State Warriors

Isaiah Mobley Drops 16 Points
Ryan Rollins

Staying with Bucks
T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Still Not Close on New Contract
Terry McLaurin

Still Not Pleased with Contract Situation
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Yu Darvish

to Make Season Debut on Monday
MLB

Nationals Fire Dave Martinez, Mike Rizzo
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
KaVontae Turpin

Arrested on Two Charges
Cole Ragans

to Begin Throwing on Monday
Theo Johnson

Prioritizing his Health this Offseason
Andrés Giménez

Andres Gimenez Hits 10-Day Injured List
Jermaine Burton

Continues to Show Growth
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
Austin Cindric

Remains an Overrated Road Racer
Cam Ward

"Not Expecting" to be handed Starting Job
Chase Claypool

Eager to Get Back on the Field
Wyatt Langford

Activated, Playing on Saturday
Jay Huff

on the Move to Indiana
Cam Whitmore

Wizards Acquire Cam Whitmore from the Rockets
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Jock Landale

Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Moritz Wagner

Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Jaxson Hayes

Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF