Fantasy Football Impact of Tyreek Hill's Injury: Jaylen Waddle, Darren Waller, and More

Tyreek Hill suffered a nasty leg injury on Monday night, which was later reported to be a dislocated knee. (Note: That video is gruesome; be warned.) Hill will miss the remainder of the season, changing the outlook for the Dolphins and maybe the direction of the franchise.

Let's look at some of the immediate questions that come up with Hill's injury, including Miami's outlook, the fantasy implications, and where the Dolphins might go if this turns into a lost season.

Check out FantasySP's injury report to keep up with every player at risk of missing a game each week.

Is Miami still in the playoff hunt?

Probably not. A win is better than a loss in Week 4, but the Dolphins are still 1-3, short on talent, and now without their best offensive player. They haven't looked good overall, starting with a complete throttling at the hands of Indianapolis in Week 1 and continuing through more competitive losses to the Patriots and Bills.

It took the Jets losing three fumbles to help beat New York 27-21, and that included a fumble at the goal line. Every team gets fortunate to win an NFL game, but that's not something that will happen every week, and Miami doesn't have the talent to consistently beat better teams than the Jets.

Next week against the Panthers is an easier game, then there's more tough than soft, with the Chargers, Browns, Falcons, Ravens, Bills, and Commanders before the bye in Week 12. I'm expecting to see the Dolphins lose much more than they win; that also would have been true with Hill in the lineup, but now it seems like a certainty.

What happens if the season continues the downswing?

There have been questions about head coach Mike McDaniel's standing since last season, and a poor start to the season only amplified things. If the Dolphins keep losing, as I predicted above, it might mean the end of McDaniel's reign in Miami. Hill's injury could indirectly lead to his earlier departure if things turn south fast.

I've also seen people on social media asking something along the lines of, “How soon can we get out of Tua's contract?” Whether it's a joke or not, there will be rumblings about Tua Tagovailoa's status if the offense falls apart. (For those who are curious, it looks like they could get out after 2026 with minimal pain.)

Veterans who aren't part of the future might start being sold off, including Jaelan Phillips, Benito Jones, and anyone in the secondary. Miami is at the precipice of a rebuild. They surely don't want to admit it, but it's looking more like that's the case every week, and Hill's injury pushes them further in that direction. Even Hill might not be back in 2026.

What are the fantasy football implications?

Tagovailoa was already only a streaming fantasy player at best, and the loss of Hill takes away the high ceiling that still existed from Miami's best days. This team is now perilously short on weapons in the passing game (which we'll talk about more in a minute), and Tua might be the biggest loser from a fantasy perspective.

Jaylen Waddle steps into the top role and is likely to see expanded usage. He's already owned in pretty much every league, so it's more about his owners getting a boost in Waddle's status.

The other wide receivers who will get more snaps are Malik Washington and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Neither player is a strong fantasy play, holding low floors, especially as Miami's passing game hasn't found real success. Washington could be a pickup in deep leagues just in case he finds his footing, but it's unlikely that he really pops.

The pass catcher who really might benefit is tight end Darren Waller. Waller missed the first three weeks with a hip injury, but he showed up and made a statement on Monday night, catching two touchdown passes among his three receptions and 27 yards. It wasn't big volume, but it had a big fantasy impact, so owners will take note.

Waller is worthy of a spot on a roster, especially in deeper leagues. He isn't a weekly starter yet and should be handled with care, but there's upside here with a player who has been a stud in the past when healthy and could play at a high level, even in short spurts.

The running backs don't see much change in their usage. De'Von Achane might get a few more looks on screens and pet plays now with Hill out, but fantasy owners were starting Achane anyway, so there's not a lot of change to his outlook. Backup Ollie Gordon II is nothing more than a deep bench option and handcuff.

Conclusion

Miami probably wasn't going anywhere before Hill's injury, and they are even less likely to do so now. They picked up a win in Week 4, but walking away without their most dynamic offensive weapon is a huge blow. A team already in a 1-3 hole probably isn't making a comeback and playoff run.

In fantasy land, Tagovailoa drops even further in value; I don't trust him in any matchup until we see what this offense will look like. With a lack of playmakers around him, the quarterback might struggle to put up numbers.

Waddle moves to the top spot and sees a boost. He might not be a must-start player, but Waddle has a lot of fantasy value right now. Waller is the other guy who is likely to see the most fantasy impact, as he should get more involved each week back and could turn into a near-weekly fantasy player.

Those who are desperate at receiver or in a super-deep league can think about adding Washington, but he's unlikely to bring real fantasy value. Even if he does have a few big performances, they are likely to be inconsistent, leaving him as a tough player to trust.