De'Von Achane burst onto the NFL scene with a bang, showing explosive speed and a knack for finding open space almost immediately after his debut.

In Week 3 of the 2023 season alone, Achane rushed for 203 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries (11.28 yards/carry average) and caught four passes for 30 yards and two receiving touchdowns. This supernatural performance early in his career showed how rare a talent Achane truly is.

However, when Achane lost starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for four games starting in Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season, his fantasy stock saw a significant decline.

Tagovailoa suffered his third concussion since Week 4 of the 2022 NFL season and many feared he could be out for 2024 or worse, he could even be forced to retire. Over the four games Tagovailoa missed, Achane averaged 3.94 yards per touch on 39 carries, totaling 140 rushing yards and 49 receiving yards on nine catches.

Achane's struggles proved to be a byproduct of poor quarterback play, as Miami's offense struggled mightily behind the combination of Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley, putting up just 39 points over that four-week span.

In Week 8, Tagovailoa made a triumphant return to the concerned cheers of Dolphins fans, seemingly unleashing all of Achane's abilities against the Arizona Cardinals. Achane saw plenty of open space against a defensive front that was forced to respect the arm of Tagovailoa rather than stacking the box against Miami's running game.

The second-year running back had an explosive performance, totaling 97 rushing yards on 10 carries as well as six receptions on eight targets for 50 yards and a touchdown.

Eight weeks into the NFL season, it's clear that Miami's season, as well as Achane's fantasy viability, depends on Tagovailoa's health and availability going forward. In three games with the former Alabama star at quarterback, Achane has accumulated 217 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown on 42 carries and 195 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 20 receptions.

Overall, these numbers add up to an average of 6.65 yards per touch for Achane, compared to the 3.94 yards per touch average in the games Tagovailoa missed.

As long as Tagovailoa can stay healthy, look for Miami's offensive weapons, particularly Achane, to thrive in fantasy football as the season progresses.