MIAMI — Dolphins running back De’Von Achane landed at No. 26 on the NFL’s Top 100 Players list, a peer-voted ranking that affirms what Miami Head Coach Jeff Hafley learned the hard way during a Thanksgiving night matchup at Lambeau Field in 2024.
Hafley, then the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator, lost sleep game-planning against Achane. “I had not been exposed to him,” Hafley said. “And I said, this is a guy that’s not talked enough about in the NFL, and I don’t understand why and he’s making me lose sleep, and I think he’s the most dynamic player on the team.”
The numbers back up the praise. Achane led the NFL with 5.7 yards per carry last season and posted 1,838 yards from scrimmage — the second-most in Dolphins franchise history, trailing only Ricky Williams’ 2,216 in 2002. Across three professional seasons and 44 career games, Achane has rushed for 3,057 yards on 544 carries — a 5.6 yards-per-rush average — added 1,277 receiving yards and scored 35 touchdowns.
“It’s his vision, it’s his acceleration,” Hafley said. “But I think what’s under looked with Achane is how smart of a player he is and I’ve said that before. You can have some really awesome conversations with him about protection, about what he sees, about what the defense is doing.”
Achane announced himself in Week 3 of his 2023 rookie season after playing just two snaps in his debut against the New England Patriots. Against the Denver Broncos, he erupted for 233 yards from scrimmage and 4 touchdowns — 2 rushing and 2 receiving — becoming the second player in NFL history with at least 200 yards rushing, two rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns in a game. The first was Billy Cannon in 1961. Achane finished that rookie campaign averaging 7.8 yards per carry.
Voted to his first Pro Bowl in 2025, Achane signed a contract extension with Miami this offseason. General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan identified Achane alongside inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks and center Aaron Brewer as the roster’s pillars. “When you get paid around here, it’s gonna be based on performance,” Sullivan said. “And it goes without saying, when you turn on the tape, Jordyn Brooks, Aaron Brewer and Achane, they’re making a ton of plays.”
The NFL Top 100 countdown continues weekdays, with new player segments revealed at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Eastern on X and the NFL YouTube Channel.