The Miami Dolphins (0-1) and San Francisco 49ers (1-0) face off in NFL Week 2 action this afternoon. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET from Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. The game will broadcast live on FOX.
The 49ers are 13.5-point favorites over the Dolphins on the spread (49ers -13.5), with the over/under set at 45.5. San Francisco is priced as a -950 moneyline favorite, while Miami is +640 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Dolphins vs 49ers predictions and NFL picks for Sunday, September 20.
Dolphins vs 49ers Predictions
- Christian McCaffrey 60+ Rushing Yards (-114)
- De'Von Achane 60+ Rushing Yards (-110)
- Deebo Samuel Anytime Touchdown (+220)
Parlay Odds: +1088 (odds subject to change)
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Dolphins vs 49ers Odds
| Dolphins Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+13.5 -115 | 45.5 -102o / -120u | +640 |
| 49ers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-13.5 -105 | 45.5 -102o / -120u | -950 |
Dolphins vs 49ers Week 2 Preview
Brock Purdy and the 49ers will have a depleted receiving corps on Sunday as they look to keep the momentum going after a dominant Week 1 win over the Rams.
While Mike Evans caught his first touchdown and Deebo Samuel looked fresh, San Francisco lost rookie receiver De'Zhaun Stribling and backup tight end Jake Tonges to long-term injuries.
Meanwhile, Malik Willis and the Dolphins look to bounce back from a double-digit loss to the Raiders.
Christian McCaffrey 60+ Rushing Yards (-114)
We’ll start with one of the biggest overreactions from Week 1: San Francisco’s usage of Christian McCaffrey.
Kaelon Black had four more carries than the superstar running back, and you’d have thought the world was on fire across X.
There are a couple of things to note from that game. First, McCaffrey reportedly dealt with cramping throughout, which led to a heavier reliance on Black early. Second, it was the first game of the season, and the 49ers built a healthy lead in the second half and never looked back.
Using your backup running back to keep an oft-injured McCaffrey fresh? That makes sense.
Could we see more of the same Sunday? Absolutely. But McCaffrey should be past the cramping, and this is a great matchup for San Francisco to dominate on the ground.
Miami allowed Ashton Jeanty to rush for 100 yards a week ago, while backup Mike Washington Jr. added 41 yards on 5.9 yards per carry.
While the Dolphins may be able to keep this game closer than the spread suggests, McCaffrey should be in line for another double-digit carry day. Given the overreaction to his lack of carries in Week 1, this number has trickled down too low for me to pass up.
Let���s add CMC as leg one of the parlay.
De’Von Achane 60+ Rushing Yards (-108)
The Dolphins are a completely different offense with De’Von Achane, and he struggled to get going against a Raiders team that stacked the box and dared Malik Willis to beat them through the air.
We could see more of the same from San Francisco, but this line is still too low for me not to bite.
Not only is San Francisco traveling back home after its trip to Australia, which could lead to some sluggish play, but we also saw Los Angeles run for 4.2 yards per carry a week ago. Blake Corum and Kyren Williams combined for 95 rushing yards despite playing in a trailing game script.
Achane has the luxury of not splitting the backfield with anyone. Even in a double-digit loss, he played 86% of the Dolphins’ offensive snaps.
Last season, Achane rushed for 60-plus yards in 13 of 16 games. He is one of the most explosive running backs in football, and even if Miami falls behind again, the Dolphins won’t be able to completely abandon the run. I expect Miami to emphasize the ground game early here and look to get Achane going.
As he goes, Miami goes.
I’m happy to bet on Achane bouncing back in this one.
Deebo Samuel Anytime Touchdown (+210)
Let’s end the parlay with an anytime touchdown pick.
One of the biggest takeaways from San Francisco’s dominant Week 1 win was the usage of Deebo Samuel. I wasn’t sure how the 30-year-old would look after rejoining the 49ers, but his familiarity with the Shanahan offense made him immediately valuable.
Samuel saw seven targets from Brock Purdy and a 12-yard rush. He added a 15-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to put the nail in the coffin against Los Angeles. He finished with a team-high three red-zone targets, too.
Being a gadget player makes Samuel especially dangerous in the red zone. In a game where San Francisco should be able to move the ball against a vulnerable Miami defense, there should be plenty of touchdown opportunities for this offense.
The 49ers also need a player like Samuel who has extensive experience in the Shanahan offense. George Kittle is still working his way back from injury, while De’Zhaun Stribling is set to miss 10 weeks. Jake Tonges went down with a season-ending injury last week, too.
In a depleted receiving group, Samuel remains undervalued in the touchdown market. At +210, he also gives us a nice boost to the parlay.
Dolphins vs 49ers Prediction, Same-Game Parlay
- Christian McCaffrey 60+ Rushing Yards
- De'Von Achane 60+ Rushing Yards
- Deebo Samuel Anytime Touchdown
Parlay Odds: +1088
