Fantasy Football sit/start advice for championship week: Miami Dolphins edition

The Miami Dolphins end their 2014 season with a showdown against their division rivals, the New York Jets. Neither team can make the playoffs this year, but the rivalry should be enough to make this a good game to finish the year. Miami can reach their first wining record since 2008, something that should not be ignored, even if it is just a consolation prize in a season when the Dolphins could have been playoff contenders. Between the rivalry and the hopes at a winning season, the Dolphins should be playing hard in this game, something that could help your fantasy team.

Are there any Dolphins you have to play this week? Any you need to bench immediately?

Start

Mike Wallace, wide receiver - Wallace should be a consideration as either a WR2 or a flex play this week. He has been hot over the past few weeks, with 10 catches for 162 yards, and three touchdowns in the last two games. Wallace may not be getting the 40-yard bomb each week he was getting in Pittsburgh, but he is getting plenty of opportunities in short to medium routes, and he is making the most of it.

Charles Clay, tight end - It has been a long, long season waiting for Clay to return to form. The Miami starting tight end has been dealing with injuries all season, and his play has suffered because of it. He appears to have broken out of it over the past few weeks, tallying six catches in each of the past two games, with a 59-yard performance against the New England Patriots in Week 15, then a 114-yard game last week against the Minnesota Vikings. Clay is not a sure thing, but there are a lot of tight ends who could give you a lower point total that Clay should this week.

Jarvis Landry, wide receiver - If you are in a PPR league, Landry should absolutely be on your roster, and, unless you have a top end WR2, he should probably be in your lineup. He has had at least five receptions every week since Week 9, with eight each of the last two weeks. He has not yet topped the 100-yard mark, coming one yard shy against the Patriots, but he is going to get you the receptions you need.

Potential starters

Ryan Tannehill, quarterback - The Dolphins' third-year passer needs 214 yards to reach 4,000 on the season, becoming the first Dolphins quarterback to reach that mark since Dan Marino in 1992. Don't think the Dolphins and Tannehill don't know that. Everything is lined up for Tannehill to have a big day against the Jets' 15th ranked pass defense, but that is the problem. Every time things look like Tannehill should have a huge day, he is just slightly off, while he puts up big numbers against teams you would not necessarily think he would. I am starting Tannehill in the championship game I am in this week, but you may have a better option, which is why I am only listing him under potential starters.

Lamar Miller, running back - Miami seems to be finally allowing Miller to carry the ball like a starting running back should, and he is responding. Last week against the Vikings, he had 19 carries for 92 yards with a score. He is just 79 yards shy of 1,000 for the year and he should be able to get there. The problem is, he is going up against a Jets defense that does not allow a lot of rushing yards. Miller is probably a flex consideration, but you may have a better option somewhere else.

Dolphins defense - Playing against an anemic Jets passing offense, the Dolphins pass rush and secondary should have a field day. The problem is, Miami's rush defense has fallen off the planet recently, and the Jets are the third best rushing team in the country. At the end of the day, Miami's defense should get you some points, but it's a risky play.

Bench

Brian Hartline, wide receiver - At this point in the season, the bigger question is why Hartline is still on your roster. Between the new offensive scheme and Jarvis Landry's play this year, Hartline has simply disappeared from the Miami offense. He has not had more than 75 receiving yards in a game this season and has a total of 380 for the year, after back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons the previous two years. He has not had a reception the last two games, the third time that has happened this season, and he has not had over two receptions in a game since Week 11. Do not start him.

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What are your thoughts? Would you start any Dolphins this week? Any you would immediately bench?