Miami Dolphins Running Back Depth Chart — 2026

A handcuff is the backup who inherits the starter's workload if the starter gets hurt — so the Dolphins handcuff is whoever sits directly behind De'Von Achane on the depth chart above. Rostering him is how you protect a starting back you have already spent a pick on. More on what a handcuff is.

De'Von Achane drew 85 targets, 5.31 a game, and played 73.5% of Miami's pass snaps, so the receiving work is not available. What is open is the complementary job, where Ollie Gordon out-snapped Jaylen Wright 22.3% to 12.1%.

Achane has played 44 of 51 team games across 3 seasons, 86.3%, with 7 missed — and the reporting below describes an offseason procedure that has already cost him spring work.

The role is a large one: 71.5% of the offensive snaps, 6th among running backs, with 85 targets on top.

There is a precedent for who takes it. Wright played 12.1% of the snaps, 78th among running backs, and the reporting below has him filling in as the lead back when Achane went down last season. Miami added depth behind him this offseason: Jarquez Hunter arrived in a trade from the Rams, and Donovan Edwards and Carlos Washington are also on the roster. Neither Edwards nor Washington has a 2025 statistical record.

A real share, and the two candidates for it did different jobs.

Gordon took 22.3% of the snaps, 60th among running backs — the larger share, and the reporting below describes it as short-yardage work. Wright took 12.1%, 78th, in relief.

Neither drew targets worth ranking: Gordon 9 in 17 games, Wright 9 in 9 — both under the 25 needed for a receiving rate to mean anything.

So the question camp is settling is which of them gets the carries near the goal line, not which of them catches passes. Neither does.

Yes, and it is Achane — emphatically.

Achane drew 85 targets, 5.31 a game, catching 67 for 488 yards at 1.23 receiving yards per pass snap. He played 392 pass snaps, 73.5% of Miami's — 4th among running backs — against 71.5% of snaps overall, a tilt of +2.0 toward throwing downs.

Gordon played 114 pass snaps, 21.4%, and drew 9 targets. Wright played 40.

That is the whole shape of it: one back does the receiving, and if he is not available nobody else in the room has done it. No source has identified a second passing-down option.

Reporting from a previous season, kept because a role a player has already held is the best evidence available about the one he might hold next. It describes 2025, not now.

An injury held Achane out of the 2025 season finale, and Jaylen Wright filled in as the lead back after Achane was hurt in the Week 14 win over the Jets. (MiamiDolphins.com, 2026-07-16)

Ollie Gordon was used primarily in short-yardage situations in 2025 and appeared in all 17 games. (MiamiDolphins.com, 2026-07-16)

What the beat is reporting, last refreshed 2026-08-28. Nothing here is measured — it is reporting, attributed and dated.

Head coach Jeff Hafley announced that De'Von Achane had undergone a clean-up procedure on his shoulder and would not participate fully in OTAs (Miami Herald, via RotoWire, 2026-05-28).

Hafley said Achane was limited to individual drills at mandatory minicamp and would continue handling only individual work through the final day (South Florida Sun Sentinel, via RotoWire, 2026-06-03).

Jaylen Wright was in line to take expanded first-team reps at OTAs while Achane recovered from the shoulder procedure (Miami Herald, via RotoWire, 2026-05-28).

Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said Jaylen Wright has some speed and looked comfortable during offseason workouts (South Florida Sun Sentinel, via RotoWire, 2026-06-04).

Slowik on the backups: Ollie is out there working his tail off, and J. Wright is out there working his tail off (MiamiDolphins.com, 2026-07-16).

Athlon reported that the Dolphins want either Wright or Ollie Gordon to emerge as their short-yardage back who can consistently get downhill (Athlon Sports, 2026-07-16).

Dolphins training camp opens July 28, and Hafley said the physicality emphasis cannot really come until the pads are on (Athlon Sports, 2026-07-20).

A camp position preview projected Ollie Gordon second and Jaylen Wright third on the depth chart, writing that Wright has not yet done enough to inspire confidence (Sports Illustrated (All Dolphins), 2026-07-14).