Daniel Thomas to the Dolphins: Fantasy Impact

The Miami Dolphins needed a makeover in their backfield.

They have done just that by trading up for Daniel Thomas.

Daniel Thomas is a power back with tremendous balance and agility who is projected as someone who can carry the load week in and week out.

He has also displayed trustworthy hands which will help him become an every-down player for the Dolphins when/if needed.

Watching highlights of Thomas leaves once incredibly impressed and leads one to believe that new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has indeed got his Peyton Hillis type of bruiser in Daniel Thomas.

Thomas is line to be the most productive rookie running back and should be in the mix for offensive rookie of the year honors as long as the Dolphins don’t add DeAngelo Williams or Ahmad Bradshaw.

Fantasy Impact:

Daniel Thomas projects to have a tremendous rookie campaign if he can nail down the starting job from week one, which by all accounts he will.

With both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams being free agents, Thomas’ path to the featured role is unusually uncluttered.

Reports have it that the Dolphins are looking to add a scat back in free agency but that does not alter the teams plans to anoint Thomas their feature back.

Thomas has experience running the wildcat and was actually a QB at Northwest Mississippi State before transferring to Kansas State.

Thomas figures to get at least 250 carries as the teams feature back in 2011 and at a 4.8 yards per carry clip that would leave him with 1,200 yards rushing and 8-10 total TD’s.

Thomas projects as a RB3 with RB2 upside in his rookie campaign.

Daniel Thomas should be the first rookie runner off the board in redraft leagues and depending on free agency may be a candidate for the first running back off the board in dynasty league drafts.

For dynasty purposes we are worried about future additions to this backfield but the tape on him is impressive enough to take a leap on him as the first running back in dynasty settings.

Now time to watch some tape…wow!