Evan Silva’s Matchups: Dolphins at Chargers

Miami @ L.A. Chargers

Team Totals: Chargers 27, Dolphins 24

Fins-Bolts is Sunday’s highest-totaled game, rendering it a contest to lean toward in lineup decisions. … Tua Tagovailoa’s biggest Opening Day concern is the probable absence of LT Terron Armstead (knee, leg) — Miami’s top offensive lineman — versus EDGE dominators Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. The Dolphins’ elite weaponry plus this game’s lofty scoring projection keep Tua on the fringe QB1/2 map. … Dynamic rookie De’Von Achane’s (shoulder) Monday return to practice suggests he’ll be ready for Week 1, perhaps sharing change-up duties with Salvon Ahmed behind Raheem Mostert. Achane’s usage and progression are worth closely monitoring — he drew pre-draft comparisons to ex-Lions game-breaker Jahvid Best — but this looks like Mostert’s backfield after Jeff Wilson (fingers, midsection) landed on I.R. Brandon Staley’s Chargers have served up the NFL’s fifth-most fantasy points to running backs in back-to-back seasons.

Departing Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid was widely seen as a negative for Tyreek Hill entering last season. “Cheetah” responded with career highs in targets (170), catches, and yards with a mammoth 119/1,710/7 stat line. Hill might have flirted with 2,000 yards had Tua stayed healthy all year. Especially with Armstead probably sitting, I expect Tyreek to be the focal point of Mike McDaniel’s Week 1 game plan as Miami’s superior run-after-catch weapon over Jaylen Waddle. … Waddle remains an elite WR2 bet after leading the NFL in yards per reception (18.1) in his first year with McDaniel. I’m on record as saying I wouldn’t be surprised if Waddle outscored Tyreek over the course of 2023.