Three Miami Dolphins Players to Watch Against the 49ers

Originally posted on Dolphins Talk | By Jeremy Grace | Last updated Sep 18, 2026 1:13 PM ET

Three Miami Dolphins Players to Watch Against the 49ers

Despite a Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Miami Dolphins have plenty of positives to build on. Both sides of the ball featured standout performances from players who will be fun to watch all season long. Heading into Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers, here are three Dolphins players to watch this Sunday.

Jacob Rodriguez, Middle Linebacker

Heading into Sunday’s matchup, rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is a must-watch. Rodriguez racked up 14 total tackles in his debut against Las Vegas, becoming the first Dolphins rookie to hit that mark in a single game since Hall of Famer Zach Thomas did it in 1996. Serving as the defense’s “green-dot” play-caller, Rodriguez played exceptionally well despite the 27-13 final score. He is primed to be a vital piece of this defense all year—and especially against San Francisco.

Caleb Douglas, Wide Receiver

Rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas made an immediate splash in his pro debut, catching five passes for 94 yards against the Raiders. In doing so, he set the franchise record for the most receiving yards ever by a wide receiver in a Miami Dolphins debut. Averaging an impressive 18.8 yards per catch, Douglas was a bright spot in an otherwise tough loss. For the rest of the season, he projects to be a favorite target for quarterback Malik Willis, making him a prime candidate to exploit the 49ers’ defense in Week 2.

Michael Taaffe, Safety

Rounding out the list is rookie safety Michael Taffe, who made a major impact in the secondary during his NFL regular-season debut. Taffe recorded four total tackles, one pass defended, and a crucial interception off Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins, which set up a 14-yard touchdown run by Malik Willis. With that pick, Taffe became only the ninth player in Dolphins history to intercept a pass in his debut. Even with a few rookie mistakes to clean up, he will be a fascinating player to watch as Miami looks to bounce back against San Francisco.

This article first appeared on Dolphins Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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