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NFL ’26 Camp: Sunday’s ‘Back Together’ Winners, Losers & Surprises
De’Von Achane Wants to Be the NFL’s Top Rusher in 2026: A Simple Guide
Who Is De’Von Achane?
Imagine a really fast kid on the playground who everyone wants on their team for tag. That’s De’Von Achane (pronounced uh-SHAWN) for the Miami Dolphins. He’s a running back — the player who gets the football handed to him and tries to run as far as he can before getting tackled.
In the 2025 season, Achane ran for 1,350 yards. That’s like running the length of a football field 13.5 times! It was the fifth-best total in the entire NFL.
What’s His Big Goal for 2026?
The Rushing Title
Achane told NFL Network reporters Cameron Wolfe and Steve Smith Sr. that his number one goal for the 2026 season is to lead the league in rushing yards. This is called winning the "rushing title."
Why Does He Want This So Badly?
Achane explained it simply:
- Personal success = Team success — "If I got the rushing title, every game we’re doing something good."
- Productivity helps everyone — When he gains lots of yards, the Dolphins win more games.
- Leadership duty — With many new teammates, he feels he must "lead and show by example."
Important Point
Achane isn’t just chasing stats for himself. He believes his production directly leads to team victories. In his mind, the rushing title and a winning record go hand-in-hand.
The Tricky History: Rushing Champs Don’t Always Win
Here’s a surprising fact from the 2025 season:
| Rank | Player | Team | Made Playoffs? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Cook | Bills | Yes |
| 2 | Derrick Henry | Ravens | No |
| 3 | Jonathan Taylor | Colts | No |
| 4 | Bijan Robinson | Falcons | No |
| 5 | De’Von Achane | Dolphins | No |
Four of the top five rushers missed the playoffs! Only James Cook’s Bills made it. Achane knows this and wants to break the pattern — be the rushing leader and make the postseason.
What Makes 2026 Different for Achane?
The Dolphins’ offense is changing in ways that could help Achane chase history:
1. Fewer Pass-Catching Options
The team is "short on pass-catching weapons" — meaning they don’t have many reliable receivers to throw to.
2. New Quarterback: Malik Willis
Malik Willis is expected to start at quarterback. He’s known for his legs, not just his arm.
3. Achane Will Be the "Go-To" Guy
Because of the above, the Dolphins will lean heavily on Achane in two ways:
- Running the ball (his specialty)
- Catching passes out of the backfield (he’s really good at this too!)
4. Double-Threat Potential
If Achane is near the top in rushing yards, he’ll almost certainly lead the league in "scrimmage yards" — that’s rushing yards + receiving yards combined.
How Can He Actually Do It? (Step-by-Step)
- Stay healthy — Play all 17 games
- Get more carries — Coach must trust him with 20+ touches per game
- Catch more passes — 50+ receptions adds huge yardage
- Break big plays — His speed turns 5-yard gains into 50-yard touchdowns
- Help the team win — Winning teams run the ball more in 4th quarter to burn clock
Summary
- De’Von Achane ran for 1,350 yards in 2025 (5th in NFL)
- His 2026 goal: Win the rushing title (most yards in league)
- His philosophy: Personal production = team wins
- Challenge: Recent rushing champs often miss playoffs
- Opportunity: Dolphins’ new offense (QB Malik Willis, few receivers) means more touches for Achane
- Bonus: Could also lead league in total scrimmage yards
FAQ
What is a "rushing title"?
It’s an award for the player who gains the most yards running with the football during the regular season. Think of it like being the "fastest runner" in a race that lasts 17 games.
What are "scrimmage yards"?
Scrimmage yards = Rushing yards + Receiving yards. It measures all the yards a player gains on offense, whether running or catching. It’s the best way to measure a running back’s total impact.
Who is Malik Willis?
He’s the Dolphins’ new starting quarterback (the player who throws the ball). He’s athletic and can run, which means defenses can’t just focus on stopping Achane — they have to worry about Willis too!
Why did 4 of the top 5 rushers miss the playoffs?
Great question! Sometimes teams run a lot because they’re behind and need to catch up, or they have a great back but a bad defense. Achane wants to prove you can rush for the most yards on a winning team.
How many yards does he need to win the title?
In 2025, James Cook led with 1,782 yards. Achane had 1,350. He needs about 432 more yards — roughly 25 extra yards per game. Totally doable with more touches!
