Jeff Hafley expects De’Von Achane to play even bigger workloads for Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins are planning for a larger role for running back De’Von Achane, and Jeff Hafley’s message is direct. Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, Hafley suggested the 24-year-old could see 40-plus touches in some games during the 2026 season, a workload that would turn Achane into a centerpiece rather than a situational spark.

The context for that expectation is Achane’s production in 2025. According to the report, Achane earned Pro Bowl recognition that season after piling up a career-high 1,838 scrimmage yards and logging 12 total touchdowns. That combination matters because it reflects both volume and efficiency across rushing and receiving, an ideal fit for offenses that want to stress defenses in multiple ways.

Hafley’s comments also point to how Miami views Achane’s game-by-game usage. The report notes that during Achane’s Pro Bowl campaign he posted a season-high 28 touches in a Week 10 win over the Buffalo Bills. If that 28-touch ceiling becomes the baseline in more favorable matchup scripts, the path to 40-plus touches is clear, at least in principle.

The key football question is not whether Achane can carry heavy responsibility, but what kind of offensive design would support it. Achane’s value has generally been tied to explosiveness and efficiency on limited space, so a 40-plus touch projection implies Miami would need to keep him fresh enough to make those touches count. That usually comes down to how the Dolphins manage the full backfield rotation, how they pace drives, and whether they build in more receiving opportunities and play-action sequences that slow defensive run fits.

Hafley’s arrival as head coach adds another layer. Hafley, a defensive-minded coordinator by background, has not been defined publicly by an offense built around one extreme usage profile. Still, his decision to publicly address Achane’s touch potential suggests the Dolphins want their offensive identity to include a clear, repeatable way to attack. In practical terms, a coach saying 40-plus touches is another way of indicating that Miami intends to create more touches for its most explosive threat when the flow of a game allows it.

For fans, the next thing to watch is whether Miami’s early regular-season game plans treat the Bills matchup as a template. Buffalo’s defense has often forced teams to be intentional with play-calling, and if Hafley’s comment is grounded in how the Dolphins can find favorable windows, Achane could become a weekly focal point rather than a strict weekly limit situation. The Dolphins’ ability to hit that balance without sacrificing overall offensive cohesion will likely decide whether the higher-touch approach is sustained or reserved for specific contests.