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The Phinsider fantasy football takes on Malik Willis
Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from The Phinsider about Malik Willis.
33
Insights
12
Positive
4
Negative
Insight ledger
All The Phinsider insights about Malik Willis
NegativeRoleAug 24, 2026
Dolphins QB facing concern about insufficient preseason game-speed reps; if Willis underperforms in Week 1 against the Raiders—a potentially winnable matchup—the lack of preseason snaps will be a primary explanatory factor for his struggles.PositiveDepth ChartAug 22, 2026
Willis is entrenched at the top of the depth chart at quarterback for the Dolphins.NegativeRoleAug 21, 2026
Dolphins QB repeatedly sacked by Giants pass rush during joint practice; learning to deal with pass-rush pressure behind Dolphins O-line, which may have him on the run often this season. Despite the pressure, Willis led the offense to a field goal in the final situational period.NegativeMatchupAug 21, 2026
Willis faced significant pressure from the Giants' defensive front during a joint practice, with the Giants recording at least six sacks. However, Willis provided important context: Miami wasn't game planning specifically for the Giants, and he noted the offense would have "a few better options on some plays where we were just kind of stuck" in a regular-season contest. Willis acknowledged the Giants' defensive success while emphasizing this was a non-game-plan joint practice, not indicative of regular-season performance.PositiveProjectionAug 20, 2026
Second most likely offensive MVP candidate behind Achane. Multiple users (Thorny, Dolfanjoe, USMCFinPhreak, heatforlife, MiamiItaliano) identify Willis as the QB most likely to earn MVP honors if not Achane. Dolfanjoe notes that Willis becoming MVP would be significant because he's working with a supposedly weak WR crew; heatforlife states 'it has to be Willis or we are in trouble,' emphasizing QB importance. cyberflea acknowledges Willis will likely have a solid season but questions whether MVP consideration is realistic given pedestrian and unproven WR options, though notes he's working with an improved offensive line that could help him do 'special things.'PositiveProjectionAug 19, 2026
Signed by Miami Dolphins to replace Tagovailoa; through one preseason contest, his performance has been promising. Willis completed 4 of 5 throws for 43 yards while leading Miami to an opening drive touchdown against the Washington Commanders, added 9 rushing yards on two carries, and finished with a quarterback rating of 102.5.NegativeProjectionAug 18, 2026
Willis is the unproven Dolphins QB for 2026-27; while his athleticism is noted as interesting and entertaining, the source believes he has matured since his Titans days and will be above average, though QB remains a question mark until proven in actual games.NegativeRoleAug 17, 2026
Malik Willis is the starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins in their first year of a rebuild under new head coach Jeff Hafley. The Dolphins are positioning Willis as their potential franchise quarterback. The source emphasizes that the 2026 season is built to evaluate Willis—if he plays well, the team has their answer; if he is injured or underperforms, Miami will look to draft a franchise quarterback in 2027. Willis' health and performance directly determine Ewers' playing time and the team's long-term direction.NegativeProjectionAug 17, 2026
Willis looked reasonably sharp in the first preseason drive against Washington; the O line moved people when the starters were in, and the first drive represented what Miami will start with in week 1, which looked positive. However, injury risk is a concern—if Willis gets hurt, it could be a brutal time given the weak backup QB situation.PositiveDepth ChartAug 16, 2026
Confirmed as the Dolphins' starting quarterback moving forward; led the offense to an opening drive touchdown in the preseason game against Washington. Miami will move forward with Willis at the top of the depth chart as the primary option.PositiveProjectionAug 16, 2026
Quarterback showed promise in his Miami Dolphins debut, with the offensive line looking solid. While it is too early to name him the quarterback of the future, his performance looked even better when compared to Tua Tagovailoa's first game as an Atlanta Falcon. Washington did not play its top defensive players, so context matters.PositiveRoleAug 16, 2026
Willis led the Dolphins' standout opening drive in preseason game 1, delivering impressive play early and suggesting competent quarterback execution in the first unit.PositiveProjectionAug 15, 2026
Dolphins starting quarterback led 93-yard touchdown drive in preseason debut against Washington before being pulled by coach Jeff Hafley; described as 'lights out' with strong arm, good pocket presence, and stellar athleticism and mobility; source places him in 'not a problem' pile despite youth and inexperience, suggesting optimism for the season.PositiveRoleAug 15, 2026
Starting quarterback for Miami in preseason opener; used arm and legs effectively on opening 14-play, 93-yard touchdown drive against Washington's second-team defense, demonstrating dual-threat capability.NegativeRoleAug 14, 2026
The source confirms Willis is the Dolphins' new starting quarterback and will see playing time in the opening series of the preseason opener against Washington.NegativeRoleAug 14, 2026
Head coach Jeff Hafley has indicated Malik Willis will play in the opening preseason contest against Washington, with the coaching staff choosing to get the first team developmental reps rather than sitting them out for the week.PositiveRoleAug 14, 2026
Malik Willis is expected to start for the Dolphins in preseason Week 1 against the Commanders. The source notes that when a top passer is put on the field, the team surrounds him with top receiving threats and the offensive line tasked to protect him, indicating Willis will have premium supporting cast in the game.NegativeRoleAug 14, 2026
Dolphins QB Malik Willis, signed as a free agent in the offseason, is expected to start Friday's preseason game vs. Washington. This is his fifth NFL season, but he has made only six career starts; coach Jeff Hafley notes 'It's like his rookie year,' indicating Willis needs preseason reps to prove himself despite his tenure in the league.NegativeRoleAug 14, 2026
Willis' preseason performance will be evaluated on chemistry with receivers, offensive line execution against Washington's defensive line, and early-drive execution; the source hopes to see Willis lead the team down the field for at least a field goal on his first drive.NegativeRoleAug 13, 2026
Willis is expected to start the Dolphins' preseason game Friday against the Washington Commanders, according to head coach Jeff Hafley. The source notes Hafley confirmed he plans to get Willis action early in the preseason, though he acknowledged things could change. Willis signed a three-year, $67.5 million deal with Miami after filling in for injured starter Jordan Love during the 2025 NFL season, accumulating 422 yards passing on 30 completions, 123 yards rushing, and 5 total touchdowns. Miami's new leadership is banking on Willis as a young, mobile playmaker to accelerate the organization's rebuild.NegativeRoleAug 13, 2026
Dolphins starting QB Malik Willis showed scrambling ability under pressure during the joint practice vs. Washington. Willis was forced to consistently evade pressure from Commanders defenders, showcasing his mobility. Coach Jeff Hafley confirmed Willis will play in the upcoming preseason game vs. the Commanders.NegativeRoleAug 13, 2026
The source is monitoring whether QB Malik Willis will continue to justify his role as the starter in the preseason matchup against Washington; his performance in a live game scenario is a key evaluation point for the Dolphins' quarterback situation.NegativeDepth ChartAug 11, 2026
Malik Willis is listed as the first-team quarterback on the Dolphins' first unofficial depth chart of 2026, ahead of Quinn Ewers and Cam Miller.NegativeRoleAug 10, 2026
Malik Willis has taken over at quarterback for the Miami Dolphins in 2026, and reports suggest he is building chemistry with returning receivers Malik Washington and Theo Wease during training camp.PositiveRoleAug 6, 2026
Malik Willis is identified as a running quarterback whose mobility can support a run-heavy offensive scheme; the source notes that a running game with a mobile QB can wear down defenses if the offense manages first downs consistently and controls the clock, positioning Willis as a key component of Miami's offensive strategy for 2026.NegativeRoleJul 27, 2026
Willis is positioned as the Dolphins' 2026 starting quarterback in a rebuild context. Brad Gagnon notes that while Willis and a new coaching staff could energize the franchise, the support structure around him doesn't inspire confidence as Miami enters the post-Tyreek Hill/Jaylen Waddle era with a revamped roster featuring 13 new rookies and several under-the-radar free agent signings. The Dolphins face the second-toughest schedule in the league and are projected to win 4.5 games or fewer.NegativeRoleJul 27, 2026
Willis is the new Dolphins starter with a run-first offensive approach; he is known for his ability to pick up yardage and first downs with his legs. The source notes Willis is built like an RB and should be durable, though there is concern about overuse in RPO schemes. Willis has already improved his completion percentage year over year through additional training on his passing game.PositiveSleeperJul 26, 2026
Quarterback sleeper candidate viewed as potentially underrated; rushing ability and legs can extend plays and time of possession, providing relief for young defense; contrasted favorably with Tua Tagovailoa's lack of run game; could surprise the league as a game-changer in an offense built around a big pounding offensive line and run-first concept with Ollie Gordon and De'Von Achane.NegativeRoleJul 25, 2026
Presumed starter at QB for the Miami Dolphins heading into 2026 training camp; competing for the starting role with Quinn Ewers, Cam Miller, and rookie Mark Gronowski on the roster, with free agent Jack Plummer also being worked out. GM Jon-Eric Sullivan has stated his ideal is to 'invest' in the quarterback position every year, with the team looking to draft a quarterback every year or two.NegativeRoleJul 24, 2026
The Dolphins signed new quarterback Malik Willis to lead the offense in 2026 under offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik; Willis replaces Tua Tagovailoa and will operate in a drastically different offensive scheme with new personnel including the departures of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.NegativeRoleJul 23, 2026
Willis is the newly signed primary quarterback for the 2026 Dolphins following Tua Tagovailoa's trade to Atlanta. His athleticism is unquestioned, but consistency as a passer will determine whether Miami commits to him beyond 2026 or enters the 2027 draft looking for their next franchise quarterback. The Dolphins plan to tailor the offense to his strengths, emphasizing play-action passing, designed quarterback runs, rollouts and moving pockets, deep shots off run action, and quick defined reads that allow him to play fast. The goal is to create an offense that stresses defenses with both Willis's arm and his legs while limiting situations that expose his current weaknesses.NegativeRoleJul 23, 2026
Signed as the 2026 starter for the Miami Dolphins; described as having a physical, mobile playing style that will likely feature more scrambling and rushing than the previous starter, which impacts roster construction decisions around backup quarterback depth.PositiveBreakoutJul 22, 2026
Willis is identified as the must-breakout QB candidate for the 2026 season; the source emphasizes he is 'the most important position in football' and notes that despite a guaranteed $45 million contract over two years, his limited action as a starter (only 6 games) qualifies him as a breakout candidate. The source trusts in coaching staff (JES and Hafley) who have been evaluating him for two seasons and believes he will 'prove all those naysayers wrong becoming the next franchise quarterback in Miami.'