Fantasy Football 2011: Which Miami Dolphins Have the Greatest Fantasy Value?

With the NFL lockout winding down into its concluding stages, we can finally get back to the primary focus of our lives for the next six months: fantasy football.

Yes, it's back, and it has never felt so sweet. 

The only thing that could possibly make fantasy football a more enjoyable venture would be to see some Dolphins emerge as viable fantasy studs. The Miami Dolphins only rarely spew out fantasy stars, however.

Think Ricky Williams in 2002 and 2003, and Ronnie Brown in 2008. However, that might change this year.

Even though the quarterback situation remains muddled, Miami's offense could produce two, three and possibly even four noteworthy fantasy football players.  

Chad Henne or Whichever Quarterback Replaces Him

Because there's so much uncertainty surrounding Miami's quarterback situation, let's breakdown two possible scenarios:

1. The Dolphins sign a veteran quarterback

Obviously, much of this quarterback's fantasy value hinges on who he is. If Miami brings in a Kyle Orton or Matt Hasselbeck, either would make for a low-end No. 1 or high end No. 2 option.

But if they gamble on a Vince Young or Marc Bulger, you might want steer clear.

2. The Dolphins stick with Chad Henne

Despite everybody's anticipation to oust Henne, there is still a small chance that he rebounds in his third season as a starter. There are historical cases of quarterbacks hitting the "sophomore wall," and who knows, maybe Henne just hit a slump.

He is basically a guarantee to go undrafted, and if he retains his starting role, track his progress in camp. Maybe, just maybe Henne has brighter days ahead. 

Daniel Thomas

Unless Miami signs DeAngelo Williams or Ahmad Bradshaw, second-round pick Daniel Thomas will become a scorching hot commodity. He could inherit a bulk of the Dolphins workload, and considering this is a ground 'n' pound team, that makes him a fantasy gold mine. 

Thomas still has to prove himself, and the 'Fins will sign a running back to complement him, but he could easily record upwards of 200 to 225 touches and should have success running behind a bolstered offensive line.  

Like all rookies, Thomas comes with a buyer's beware, so don't reach too high for him. But based on the recent success of rookie running backs, Thomas might be worth a gamble.  

Brandon Marshall

Because Brandon Marshall posted such astronomically high numbers in Denver, his 2010 season was a bit of a letdown.

Marshall had a great year by most standards (86 catches, 1,014 yards, three touchdowns) but not by his own.

Last season, he actually posted career lows (excluding his rookie season) in every aforementioned category. 

Consequently, Marshall's stock will suffer, and that bodes well for your team. Miami has a new offensive coordinator and figures to have a new quarterback at the helm, and that should translate into more production for Marshall.

Remember, he is an elite player. Just two years ago, he was arguably the best in the league. So if you can get Marshall in, say, the third round, don't hesitate.  

Davone Bess

The goal of fantasy football—at least to a very simplified degree—is to predict how each player will perform on any given Sunday. We pour over stat lines, injury reports and match up histories in order to assemble the best lineup possible.

So why isn't Davone Bess already a heralded fantasy option? The guy epitomizes consistency.

Over the past two seasons, Bess has caught a combined 150 passes for 2,078 yards and seven touchdowns. Last season, he caught four or more passes in 12 of Miami's 16 games.

Bess doesn't post flashy numbers, but he might be one of the single most reliable players in fantasy football. Chad Henne relies on Bess as his safety blanket, and there is no reason to believe his fantasy value will go anywhere but up.

Anthony Fasano

Dolphins tight end Anthony Fasano is yet to prove that he can be anything more than a stop-gap fantasy tight end.

In 2008, he caught seven touchdowns but only recorded 34 receptions. In the two seasons following that promising '08 campaign, Fasano has caught a combined 70 passes for 867 yards and six touchdowns.

Hardly spectacular numbers.

To his credit, Fasano did post career highs in receptions and receiving yards in 2010, so perhaps he is starting to hit his stride as a receiver.

A new quarterback would probably boost Fasano's numbers, but regardless of who throws him the ball in 2011, view him as nothing more than a No. 2 tight end.