Evan Silva’s Matchups: Dolphins at Patriots

Miami @ New England

Team Totals: Dolphins 24.5, Patriots 22.5

Coming off Week 1’s overall QB1 score, Tua Tagovailoa faces a Patriots defense that held Jalen Hurts to Opening Day’s QB19 result. In his lone 2022 date with New England, Tua managed a 22-of-33 (69.7%) completion rate for 270 yards and one score in Miami’s 20-7 victory. Tagovailoa is the delivery man in HC Mike McDaniel’s masterclass scheme, which optimizes for success. This game’s 47-point total is fourth highest of Week 2. … With Jeff Wilson (abdomen) on I.R. and De’Von Achane healthy scratched, Raheem Mostert owned Miami’s Week 1 backfield, out-snapping Salvon Ahmed 73% to 28%, out-carrying him 10 to three, and running 32 routes to Ahmed’s 13. Mostert was far from dominant against the Chargers but converted a goal-line carry for a TD and remains the lead back in a high-scoring offense.

Tua’s Week 1 target distribution: Tyreek Hill 15; Durham Smythe 7; Jaylen Waddle, River Cracraft, and Braxton Berrios 5; Ahmed 3; Mostert and Alec Ingold 2. … Week 1’s top FF scorer with an 11/215/2 stat line, Hill paced the NFL in Opening Day Air Yards (227). McDaniel game-planned to create for Hill free releases off the line of scrimmage by motioning Tyreek into an H-back/wingback position that defeated all aspects of the Chargers’ coverage. … Hill was the focal point of McDaniel’s Week 1 approach, but Waddle’s time will come. Waddle ran just two fewer Opening Day routes than Hill and produced a robust 2.36 yards per route run. Waddle banked 2022 receiving lines of 4/69/1 and 3/52/0 against the Patriots.