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The Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills revisit their division rivalry today, a series that stretches back to September 18, 1966, and covers 98 previous meetings. As the two teams get ready to take the field today, we come back to one of our newest weekly segments here on the Phinsider, answering the question, if the Dolphins could steal one Buffalo player, who should they take.
We've done this piece three times now, stealing Tony Gonzalez from the Atlanta Falcons, Jimmy Graham from the New Orleans Saints, and Torrey Smith from the Baltimore Ravens. The interesting thing here is, the Dolphins will actually get a chance to steal two players from the Bills in our fantasy theft series, thanks to the AFC East division series. But, who should they take first?
For the first time this season, I am looking to the defensive side of the ball for Miami's "new player." That's not to say there aren't any offensive players worth grabbing from Buffalo, but this week, my decision was to go after a player who could help Miami stop opposing offenses. And, there are a lot of options for the Dolphins.
Defensive tackle Kyle Williams has been a beast up the middle of opposing offensive lines this year, playing well against both the run and the pass, including 2.5 sacks and 28 tackles. Linebacker Kiko Alonso could make a lot of sense for Miami this week if their starting middle linebacker Dannell Ellerbe is unable to play. Alonso leads Buffalo with 66 tackles. He also has a team high four interceptions. That could be a great pickup for Miami.
Safety Jarius Byrd is next up on the list, and actually could be someone the Dolphins could consider next season, when he hits the free agent market in March. Byrd has only played one game this season, rejoining his teammates last week against the Cincinnati Bengals, but he is still a defensive weapon that Miami could team up with Reshad Jones and have a dynamic last line of defense.
But, I am going to look at one player when it comes to stealing someone from Buffalo. I am lifting defensive end Mario Williams. Yes, he is expensive, thanks to how six years, $96 million contract, with his cap number this year of $12.4 million only getting higher the next four years, and he is coming off a disappointing first season with the Bills, but that seems to be behind him now. Buffalo entered this week third in team sacks, with 21, and Williams had nearly 40% of those, with eight already.
Miami's Cameron Wake has been slowed this season with a knee sprain, but does appear ready to play against the Bills today. However, as insurance against that injury, Williams makes sense here. And, while the team is starting to see Olivier Vernon bounce back from a slow start this season, and Derrick Shelby and rookie Dion Jordan both are making cases for more playing time, having Wake on one side of the line and Williams on the other would simply create a mismatch no offensive line would be able to withstand.
Would you steal Williams? Would you take someone else? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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