MIAMI GARDENS — De’Von Achane had just put himself in the company of the most renowned ballcarriers in Miami Dolphins history.
As for the present, De’Von Achane is in the company of no one else.
He’s the Miami Dolphins’ MVP for 2025, and nothing that happens in these final five games is going to change that.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat was clear after Achane carried 22 times for 134 yards in Miami’s 21-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints. It pushed him over the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career, giving him 1,034 for the season. Before we get into the historical significance of what Achane is doing, let’s consider the present.
Where, exactly, would these Dolphins be without him?
Sorry to crash all the positive vibes you may have over the Dolphins going 4-1 over the past five games, but the one constant has been their ability to depend on Achane as a ballcarrier, a receiver or, as coach Mike McDaniel revealed in more ways than meet the eye.
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AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMore specifically, where would this offense be without Achane? Tua Tagovailoa, their $50 million franchise quarterback, completed only 12 passes against New Orleans and had a passer rating of 55.9. He hasn’t topped 250 passing yards in any of the past seven games, , during which he has seven touchdown passes and 10 interceptions.
That put the onus on McDaniel to find other ways to win.
And McDaniel put the onus on Achane.
“I can't say enough great things about ‘Von,’ ” McDaniel said.
De'Von Achane joins club with Larry Csonka, Delvin Williams, Ricky Williams
Nov 30, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (28) scores a touchdown as New Orleans Saints safety Jordan Howden (31) defends during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn ImagesMcDaniel was a history major, but it probably escaped him that Achane joined Larry Csonka, Delvin Williams and Ricky Williams as the only Dolphins backs to top 1,000 yards in the first 12 games of a season. So no, this 1,000-yard achievement was not some gift from the gods who brought us the ever-expanding 17-game regular season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“It means a lot,” Achane said. “It just shows the hard work that I put in, that me and my team put in. It’s just a stepping stone of mine.”
Achane recalled how he was on the cusp of 1,000 as a rookie but missed a handful of games because of injury.
“That’s kind of still with me,” he said, referring to the mental ache, not any physical pain.
The Saints know. Six plays into this game, Tagovailoa handed Achane the ball. In front of him was a convoy led by Austin Jackson, Alec Ingold and Julian Hill … but hardly any Saints. The play went for 29 yards and a touchdown. Achane said between his blockers and the cornerback overrunning the play, “It kind of made my job easy.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementExcept Achane’s job isn’t easy. If anything, McDaniel has made it harder.
“We were relying upon him to not just be a good player, but to take a step in being a leader, and I think it's not just his play, he's much more vocal,” McDaniel said. “We align him everywhere and ask him to do a ton of jobs, and he takes pride in being very, very on top of all his assignments, and that allows you to do a lot of different things and keep people off of the scent of how you're using him. He also does a lot of work without the ball. We send him on fake jet sweeps a ton to get other people involved and understanding he receives a lot of attention.”
As if Achane’s average yards per carry (5.6) wasn’t going to do the trick. The Dolphins rushed for 164 yards against New Orleans, marking the first three-game stretch since the 2022 season in which they surpassed 160 rushing yards each outing.
“It's something that we've always wanted to be able to execute,” McDaniel said. “But there's a difference in want and being able to execute it.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThere’s also a difference between doing it when everybody knows it’s your intent.
“We come to the line and everyone knows we are going to run the ball and I feel like we’ve been running the ball great these past 3-4 weeks,” Achane said.
Achane on pace to rush for 1,465 yards
Nov 30, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (28) carries the ball against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn ImagesAchane is on pace to finish the season with 1,465 yards, meaning there’s no reason that when the names of the league’s best backs get mentioned, his name shouldn’t be included.
Achane also is second on the Dolphins with 370 receiving yards, but before you wonder if there’s anything he can’t do, what happened after his jaunt into the end zone may have given you a tipoff. Achane was asked what was that thing he did after scoring. He said it was borrowed off TikTok.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I’m not really into dancing,” he said. “So I asked my teammates what’s the celebration this week.”
There almost wasn’t one. The Dolphins managed just five points in the second half, including a bizarre fourth quarter in which a game that seemed to be in the bag suddenly came down to a two-point conversion pass that Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted and returned for two points in Miami’s favor. That was followed by an onside kick that New Orleans pulled off (not quite on the level of their successful onside kick in the Super Bowl vs. Indianapolis also at Hard Rock Stadium, but still). Adding to the madness was that communication issues had Dolphins defenders flying by the seat of their pants on the two-point conversion.
Whew.
There are two things the Dolphins have counted on lately. One is a steady diet of two-win opponents that will soon end.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe other? A running back who’s having to set his sights higher now.
“If I can get 2,000, that’s the thing,” Achane said.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: De'Von Achane joins 3 Dolphins RB legends in topping 1,000 in 12 games
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