Let’s dive into the fantasy football impact of the Dolphins signing free agent quarterback Malik Willis.
- Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- 2026 NFL Mock Drafts
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
- NFL Team Needs: 2026 NFL Draft & Free Agency Targets
Fantasy Football Impact | Dolphins Sign Malik Willis
The Miami Dolphins are landing the top quarterback in free agency, agreeing to a three-year, $67.5 million deal with Malik Willis, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
The Willis signing marks a changing of the guard at QB for the Dolphins, who announced the release of Tua Tagovailoa hours before reaching an agreement with Willis.
A third-round draft pick of the Titans in 2022, Willis struggled early in his career. He made three starts for Tennessee as a rookie, completing 50.8% of his throws, averaging a meager 4.5 yards per attempt, and throwing no TD passes and three interceptions.
Willis didn’t make any starts for 2023. In August 2024, the Titans traded Willis to the Packers for a seventh-round pick in 2025.
The change of scenery did wonders for Willis, who thrived as the backup to Jordan Love.
When Love injured his knee in the Packers’ 2024 season opener against the Eagles in Brazil, Willis started for the Packers in Weeks 2 and 3, completing 25-of-33 throws in those two games for 324 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran for 114 yards and a touchdown in those two contests, both of which the Packers won.
When Jordan Love sustained a concussion midway through the second quarter of the Packers’ Week 16 game against the Bears, Willis came in and completed 9-of-11 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown in two and a half quarters. The next week against the Ravens, Willis started, played the whole game and completed 18-of-21 passes for 288 yards and one touchdown. In those two games, he completed 84.4% of his passes and averaged 12.8 yards per attempt.
We know that running quarterbacks are a cheat code in fantasy football. In six career starts, Willis has averaged 44.8 rushing yards per game and has run for four touchdowns. He’s averaged about 8.5 fantasy points per game just with his legs.
And in his stint with the Packers, Willis showed some passing ability, too.
Miami would appear to be a less-than-ideal landing spot for Willis. The Cardinals were reportedly interested in Willis, and it would have been nice to see Willis go to a team with TE Trey McBride and WRs Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson.
The Dolphins don’t have quite as much pass-catching firepower, although WR Jaylen Waddle has had three 1,000-yard receiving seasons, and RB De’Von Achane is one of the NFL’s best pass-catching backs.
The Willis signing might not be beneficial for Waddle and Achane, however. The ultra-mobile Willis isn’t likely to be a high-volume passer, and mobile quarterbacks tend to throw to their RBs less often than pocket passers.
Fantasy Football Rankings Updates for Malik Willis
- With the vast rushing upside that Willis offers, I’m ranking him QB18 in redraft, just behind Jared Goff, and just ahead of Tyler Shough. Willis will be a favorite 2026 midround QB draft target of mine, although I might invest in a second quarterback if I draft Willis.
- In dynasty, I have Willis ranked QB23. Willis is only 26, and while I’m optimistic about Willis in the short term, I want to be more cautious with my appraisal of him for dynasty, since he has yet to prove that he can be an effective long-term starter.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn