Malik Willis

Miami Dolphins
Quarterback #2
FANTASY NEWS STATS INJURY

Malik Willis News RotoBaller

Malik Willis' Passing Progress Raises His Fantasy Ceiling

Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis already had the rushing ability to make himself interesting in fantasy. What happened in August gave managers a little more reason to trust the rest of his game. Miami's own camp reports repeatedly pointed to Willis processing faster and getting the football out on time, with some of his best work coming late in the summer. He produced multiple explosive throws on Aug. 17, looked sharp and in rhythm during practice a week later, then closed camp with a three-play stretch that produced three touchdowns. Willis also handled his only preseason drive well, completing four of five passes for 43 yards while leading Miami 93 yards for a touchdown against Washington. The receiving corps remains a concern, and one strong camp doesn't erase how little starting experience Willis has. His legs provide a useful fallback after he rushed for 123 yards and two scores in limited action last season. RotoBaller now has Willis at QB20. The passing progress makes that late-round gamble a lot easier to see paying off.

Sep 3, 2026 8:24 AM EST

Malik Willis Making Visible Progress

The Miami Dolphins kicked off their final week of training camp practices on Monday, and after a summer of focus on fundamentals and technique, the progress made by quarterback Malik Willis was notable, according to team writer Travis Wingfield. During a short and rainy session, Willis impressed with his ability to get the ball out on time and in rhythm, showing continued development that only adds to his late-round fantasy appeal. On a small sample size of three career starts and some extended relief work with the Packers and Titans, Willis has been among the league's most efficient rushing quarterbacks, and if he can continue to progress as a passer, he possesses one of the highest fantasy ceilings to be found at the end of drafts. Currently coming off the board as the QB21, Willis has the ability to rack up points in a hurry and is a player who should not escape the final rounds of single-quarterback drafts.

Aug 25, 2026 7:02 AM EST

Malik Willis' Elite Rushing Potential Makes Him Top Upside Play at the Position

Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis is a redraft riser after signing a three-year, $67.5 million contract and taking over as the team's starting quarterback. In his two seasons with Green Bay, he completed 78.7% of his passes for 976 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions, while adding 261 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 11 games. The problem is the passing environment. Miami traded Jaylen Waddle and released Tyreek Hill, leaving Willis with an inexperienced group led by Malik Washington and several young receivers. The Dolphins did add Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell and Kevin Coleman Jr. in the draft, so there are more options than Willis had earlier in the offseason. However, his legs remain the biggest reason to draft him. In his two outings for the Packers last season (where he logged more than 40 offensive snaps), he averaged 52.0 rushing yards per game and punched in two rushing scores. Rushing yards and touchdowns can keep his weekly totals competitive even when the passing game struggles. Willis makes more sense as a late QB2 with upside in one-quarterback leagues and has considerably more value in superflex formats.

Aug 23, 2026 2:01 AM EST

A Mixed Bag for Malik Willis in Joint Practice

In what was his first competitive work against another team since taking over as the starting quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, Malik Willis showcased some of the highs and lows that fantasy managers will likely need to endure for the 2026 season. In a joint practice with the Commanders on Wednesday, Willis found success, as he has through much of camp, when targeting rookie Caleb Douglas, who was recently named a starter and praised before practice by head coach Jeff Hafley. Willis also threw an interception to Mike Sanristil that was returned for a touchdown. Those types of ups and downs are to be expected from a first-time starter on one of the more talent-depleted offenses in the league, but an area highlighted by team writer Travis Wingfield, and the reason Willis is worthy of a late-round selection in single-quarterback drafts, is his rushing upside. Wingfield notes that Willis broke contain several times and scrambled for what would have been lengthy gains in a real game scenario. Willis provides one of the highest rushing floors in the league, and if he can simply keep things on track offensively while avoiding costly mistakes, he has a chance to far surpass his current ADP of QB21.

Aug 13, 2026 6:16 AM EST

Dolphins Plan to Play Malik Willis in Preseason Opener

As of now, Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley plans to play quarterback Malik Willis in the team's preseason opener on Friday against the Washington Commanders, according to Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post. All of the Dolphins' starters should be ready to play, but final decisions will be made after evaluation and discussion. If Willis does start on Friday, he's likely to play only one or two offensive series as he looks to get more comfortable with his new team and offense. The 27-year-old has looked more comfortable running the offense of late in training camp as he gets set to head into his first year in South Beach after impressing the last two years with the Green Bay Packers, albeit in just 11 total games (three starts) when filling in for the injured Jordan Love. The former third-rounder by the Tennessee Titans from Liberty has an intriguing dual-threat skill set, but in an offense lacking viable receiving threats, we're expecting plenty of growing pains and inefficiency in 2026. Fantasy managers shouldn't be targeting Willis, outside of deep two-QB superflex leagues.

Aug 12, 2026 10:51 AM EST

Malik Willis Looking Good in Dolphins' New Offense

Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis has been impressive during early glimpses of the team's new-look offense, according to Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Specifically, he wrote that Willis "keeps stacking good days ... doesn't repeat mistakes, shows good leadership and strikes the right chords on and off the field." That's an encouraging sign for fantasy managers, especially after plenty of offseason dialogue about the state of the Dolphins with Willis at quarterback and Jeff Hafley as head coach. We're not saying the Dolphins are a playoff lock, nor is Willis a projected Pro Bowler, but there's at least something here for fantasy managers to get excited about. The former Liberty product put his mobility on display last year in Green Bay, and he could crack the top 24 fantasy quarterbacks if he continues to run well while limiting turnovers in Miami. As it stands, he ranks as the QB21 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football draft rankings for 2026.

Aug 11, 2026 6:34 PM EST

Malik Willis Makes More Sense in Superflex Leagues

Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis is finally getting a real shot to start after two years behind Jordan Love. He completed 30 of 35 passes for 422 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in four appearances last season, then added 123 yards and two scores on the ground. The useful part for fantasy is not the 85.7% completion rate. It is the rushing. In his final two appearances, Willis ran 19 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns while also throwing for 409 yards and two scores. That gives him a way to survive weeks when Miami's passing game stalls, and there could be a few of those. Tyreek Hill is gone, Jaylen Waddle was traded, and the receiver room is now built around Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, Tutu Atwell, and three rookies. That is a lot to ask of a quarterback with six career starts. RotoBaller has Willis at QB21, which is a fair place for the gamble. His legs make him a useful QB2 in Superflex leagues. In ordinary one-quarterback formats, he is better viewed as a matchup option than a draft-day plan.

Aug 6, 2026 10:40 AM EST

Malik Willis a Low-Risk, High-Reward Swing at the End of 2026 Drafts

Over his six career starts, Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis has scored 8.5 fantasy points per game with his legs alone. While that sample size is almost unusably small, it's easy to get excited about what a full season might look like, particularly when considering his draft cost against some of the league's elite mobile quarterbacks. Willis is being drafted as a low-end second quarterback, all but eliminating the risk of banking on an unproven starter in what projects to be one of the league's least exciting offenses. With the Dolphins most dynamic playmaker, De'Von Achane, sharing the backfield with Willis, it could be easier for defenses to keep both players bottled up without a true downfield threat, but Willis faced a similar situation as a rookie in Tennessee, where he was able to top 40 rushing yards in two of his three starts with a receiving room consisting of Robert Woods, Treylon Burks, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. If Willis can continue to make strides in the passing game while leaning on his legs to keep the chains moving, he could provide week-winning upside from the closing rounds of 2026 drafts as RotoBaller's QB21.

Jul 21, 2026 6:13 AM EST

Malik Willis Could See His Dynasty Value Rise

As part of a full offensive rebuild that saw them say goodbye to their head coach and playcaller, starting quarterback, and top two wide receivers, the Miami Dolphins signed former Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million contract and have since done a reasonable job of restocking what was at the time a fully barren pass-catching group. Miami spent five of its 13 2026 draft picks on receiver and tight end, and if Willis can keep the offense afloat in his first season at the helm, 2027 promises what looks to be a deep draft class and an outstanding group of potential free agents. Sharing a backfield with De'Von Achane, Willis could provide a usable fantasy floor in 2026 through checkdowns and his own rushing ability, having added an unreal 11.8 fantasy points per game with his legs in his last three starts. If Willis can make it to 2027 with a hold on the starting job, Miami could retool quickly, and his dynasty value could soar, making him a worthwhile investment at his current ranking of RotoBaller's QB25.

Jul 2, 2026 5:14 AM EST

Dolphins Seeing Progress From Malik Willis

Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley said that he's seeing progress, command, and confidence from quarterbacks Malik Willis and Quinn Ewers as the offseason program continues, according to Marcel-Louis-Jacques of ESPN. "He's more comfortable. I think he's looked as good as he's looked since I met him," Hafley said about Willis, adding that he's excited to ramp things up come training camp. A recent report from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's David Furones quoted Hafley as saying that the 27-year-old Willis' chemistry with his new receivers was "a work in progress." The former third-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 out of the University of Liberty looked good with a 78.7% completion percentage in his last two years with the Green Bay Packers, albeit in a small sample size of 11 games played and only three starts, but the Dolphins felt it was enough to hand him a three-year, $67.5 million deal in free agency to be their starter in 2026 and beyond. Willis will probably be up and down in a rebuilding offense in his first year in South Beach, but you can't deny that the opportunity is there for him to make noise. But with playmakers lacking in the passing game in Miami, fantasy managers should consider Willis a low-end QB2 option in superflex formats in 2026.

Jun 9, 2026 10:03 AM EST

Malik Willis' Chemistry With New WRs is a "Work in Progress"

New Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis' chemistry with his receivers in Miami is a "work in progress," according to head coach Jeff Hafley. Willis, who spent the past two years as a backup for the Green Bay Packers, needs to build chemistry with all of the Dolphins' wideouts, whom he has never worked with before in his career. "I just think it's going to take time. I think it's improved. It's going to be a work in progress, and it's going to take a lot of reps, just like it would with any new quarterback and new wide receiver group. It's just going to take time with the rhythm," Hafley said. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said it's an "ongoing process" that will go all the way up until the start of the 2026 regular season in September. Willis hasn't exactly been great during OTAs, but he also hasn't had star running back De'Von Achane (shoulder) working out of the backfield. The 27-year-old Willis will be Miami's starter after signing a three-year, $67.5 million deal in March, but at best, he'll be a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues in what could again be a frustrating and inefficient Dolphins offense with a lack of established wideouts at Willis' disposal. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 21 signal-caller for the upcoming campaign.

Jun 5, 2026 9:32 AM EST

Malik Willis a Low-Cost Dynasty Target in Miami?

Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis isn't the flashiest name in fantasy football, but his new three-year contract suggests that he could be a steady dynasty option going forward. The Dolphins made a substantial financial investment that indicates Willis should be the starter for at least two seasons in Miami. That type of stability puts him on the fantasy radar, even though he isn't a very talented passer. He makes up for some accuracy concerns with a dynamic rushing ability that allowed him to rack up fantasy points during limited action in 2025. Between Weeks 16 and 17 with the Packers last year, he totaled four touchdowns, 104 rushing yards, and one turnover. The Dolphins appear to be heading in a run-heavy direction with Willis and De'Von Achane, as well as the release of Tyreek Hill and the trade of Jaylen Waddle. Allowing Willis to run the ball is good for his fantasy managers, as long as he can stay healthy. The guaranteed starting role puts Willis on the fantasy radar as a low-end QB2, making him an intriguing low-cost trade target in dynasty fantasy football leagues this summer. He ranks as the overall QB24 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings.

Jun 3, 2026 8:57 AM EST

Malik Willis Gets Three New Receivers in the Draft

Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis entered this week with a relatively weak supporting cast, but the wide receiver room improved during the NFL Draft. The Dolphins selected Texas Tech wide receiver Caleb Douglas and Louisville wide receiver Chris Bell in the third round, and then they went out and drafted Missouri wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. in the fifth round. None of these players has the draft capital to be an immediate superstar, but they're still intriguing names who offer youth and upside. Plus, most importantly, all three of them -- and especially Douglas and Bell -- have the potential to get on the field as starters in Week 1. The non-rookies in Miami's wide receiver room are Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, and Tutu Atwell. None of those are flashy names, and we wouldn't be surprised to see any of the rookies establish themselves as immediate contributors throughout training camp and the preseason. Adding capable pass-catchers bodes well for Willis, who is a run-first quarterback but will still need to throw the ball to have success in 2026. He ranks as the QB25 in RotoBaller's early redraft rankings.

Apr 25, 2026 6:54 PM EST

Dolphins Looking to Build Around Malik Willis

Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said on ESPN in an interview with Kevin Clark on This Is Football that the team is planning to build around new quarterback Malik Willis. "I'm very comfortable with Malik and his ability to play with what's around him," Sullivan said. The Dolphins gave the 26-year-old Willis a three-year, $67.5 million contract after they released Tua Tagovailoa this offseason. In his two years with the Green Bay Packers, Willis completed 78.7% of his passes for 972 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions in 11 games (just three starts). In his four years in the NFL, Willis has only made six starts, and he'll be leading an offense in 2026 that will have do-it-all running back De'Von Achane and not much else after Tyreek Hill (knee) was cut and Jaylen Waddle was traded to the Denver Broncos. Willis is very athletic and can be a dual threat under center with his arms and his legs, but he could be fighting an uphill battle for fantasy production in his first year in South Beach as Miami begins building around him through the draft.

Apr 7, 2026 8:28 AM EST

Dolphins Want to Build Around Malik Willis

Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis agreed to a three-year, $67.5 million contract with Miami on the first day of free agency, and one week later, the team traded away its number one wide receiver in Jaylen Waddle. In speaking at the annual owners meeting, Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan told reporters that the trade materialized after Willis' signing, but that he had a conversation with his new quarterback to ensure that he didn't feel "tricked". Sullivan stressed the need for Miami to get younger and cheaper, with a clear goal of surrounding Willis with a young core of players on rookie contracts. The Dolphins now hold the 11th and 30th picks in the first round of the NFL Draft, and with Malik Washington, Tutu Atwell, and Jalen Tolbert currently topping the wide receiver depth chart, the team is expected to take multiple swings at the position in what is considered to be a deep draft class.

Apr 5, 2026 11:47 AM EST

Malik Willis Facing Uphill Battle With Limited Pass-Catchers

New Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis signed a three-year, $67.5 million contract in free agency last week to become the team's new starting signal-caller. The former third-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 out of Liberty is getting another chance at a starting role as the Dolphins rebuild from the ground up. The 26-year-old went 2-1 as a starter for the Green Bay Packers the last two seasons and threw for 976 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions while completing 78.7% of his passes in 11 total games. Willis' dynasty/keeper stock is up now that he's in a starting role, but his upside in South Beach is another thing entirely. The Dolphins cut All-Pro wideout Tyreek Hill (knee) and traded receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos, leaving Jalen Tolbert, Malik Washington, and Tutu Atwell as the current top-three wideouts in Miami. Willis will have one of the most dynamic running backs behind him in De'Von Achane, but with limited pass-catching options to throw to, Willis is unlikely to be much more than a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues in 2026.

Mar 17, 2026 6:20 PM EST

Dolphins Signing Malik Willis to a Three-Year Deal

The Miami Dolphins are signing former Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million deal with $45 million fully guaranteed on Monday, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Miami was always the obvious landing spot for Willis, who will reunite with head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan from their time in Green Bay. The Dolphins are releasing Tua Tagovailoa, paving the way for Willis to take over starting QB duties for the Dolphins in 2026. The 26-year-old former third-rounder of the Tennessee Titans in 2022 out of Liberty appeared in 11 games (three starts) for Green Bay the last two years and was impressive, completing 78.7% of his pass attempts for 976 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions. He added 262 rushing yards and three rushing TDs. Willis' dual-threat abilities will make him an intriguing QB2 dart throw with plenty of upside, although the Dolphins will need to add some playmakers at receiver to help him out.

Mar 9, 2026 9:10 AM EST

Jets Could Pursue Malik Willis

The Miami Dolphins are the most obvious connection to Green Bay Packers impending free-agent quarterback Malik Willis after they hired head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan from the Packers. But The Athletic's Jeff Howe says not to overlook the New York Jets, whose $89 million in salary cap space is the third-most in the NFL, with $50 million more than any other team that would be in the free-agent QB market. Willis has the most upside of any free agent, but it remains to be seen if the Jets want to spend at the position after swinging and missing last year on Justin Fields. Demand could push Willis' projected market to two years and around $60 million. The Vikings and Falcons probably won't offer the most money, but they "could present better situations" that could lead Willis to a bigger contract down the road. Although Willis would be the guaranteed starter if he signs with the Jets, it won't exactly be an environment that will give him a ton of intrigue as a QB2 in superflex leagues.

Mar 3, 2026 6:13 AM EST

Malik Willis on the Browns Radar

Green Bay Packers impending free-agent quarterback Malik Willis and Alabama QB Ty Simpson are among the "external quarterbacks" on the Cleveland Browns' radar with the NFL scouting combine kicking off this week, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Meanwhile, the Browns are still trying to decide if they think one of Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson (Achilles) can be their starter in 2026. Watson has more experience in the NFL, but he didn't play at all last year due to a torn Achilles he suffered in 2024, and he's rarely been available for Cleveland since signing a massive five-year, $230 million contract with the team in March of 2022. Sanders, a fifth-rounder, predictably in his first eight games (seven starts) last year, completing 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. The Browns bringing in Willis or Simpson would signal their lack of faith in both Watson and Sanders going into the 2026 season.

Feb 23, 2026 1:59 PM EST

Malik Willis a Perfect Fit for Dolphins?

The Miami Dolphins have already been rumored to be a destination for Green Bay Packers impending free-agent quarterback Malik Willis, and ESPN's Matt Bowen believes they are a perfect fit for Willis in free agency. The Dolphins have a new general manager in Jon-Eric Sullivan and a new head coach in Jeff Hafley, who both came from Green Bay, so the connection is obvious. Miami is also looking to trade QB Tua Tagovailoa. Bowen envisions a scheme "built around motion/movement, with play-action elements woven in" by new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. Willis only made three starts for the Packers in his two seasons with the team, but he proved to be an adequate backup as both a passer and runner, completing 78.7% of his passes for 976 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions while also running for three TDs in 11 total games played. The 26-year-old third-rounder will generate plenty of interest from QB-needy teams this offseason, and he could be a nice QB2 option for fantasy managers in superflex leagues in 2026 if he wins a starting job somewhere.

Feb 17, 2026 8:00 AM EST