Kadyn Proctor Ruled Out vs. Patriots: Dolphins O-Line and Fantasy Impact
Factual cutoff: October 31, 2026 at 3:43:57 AM CDT. Football Nation checked Miami's official final Week 8 injury report and the team's October 28 coach transcript at that time. Kadyn Proctor remained out after three missed practices in concussion protocol. The next checkpoint is Miami's Week 9 practice report.
Miami will face New England without its starting left guard. Rookie Kadyn Proctor did not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday because of a concussion and was ruled out on the Dolphins’ final Week 8 injury report.
The absence creates a concrete protection question for quarterback Malik Willis and a more subtle efficiency concern for running back Ollie Gordon II. It also makes the Patriots defense a stronger fantasy streaming option in a game New England enters at 4-3 against a 1-5 Miami team.
Why Kadyn Proctor’s absence matters
Miami selected Proctor with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the rookie has started all six of the Dolphins’ games this season. The official depth chart lists him at left guard between left tackle Patrick Paul and center Aaron Brewer. Losing one starter does not automatically collapse an offensive line, but changing the left-side combination affects protection communication, double teams and how Miami distributes help.
Coach Jeff Hafley said Wednesday that Proctor was symptomatic and in the concussion protocol. The team’s three straight did-not-practice listings and final out designation remove the usual game-time uncertainty: fantasy managers can plan for a replacement rather than wait through Sunday.
Dolphins replacement plan: Jarrett Kingston is next up
Miami’s official depth chart lists Jarrett Kingston directly behind Proctor at left guard. The rest of the first unit is Paul at left tackle, Brewer at center, Jonah Savaiinaea at right guard and Austin Jackson at right tackle. Kingston is therefore the cleanest one-for-one projection, although Miami could adjust its active offensive-line mix on game day.
The schematic tradeoff is worth watching. Extra help inside can steady the pocket, but it may also keep a back or tight end in protection and reduce the number of eligible receivers released into routes. If the Dolphins trust Kingston without major help, the matchup becomes a direct test against New England’s interior rush.
Patriots pressure test for Malik Willis
Miami has allowed 16 sacks in six games. Willis has completed 87 of 151 passes for 1,057 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions, while adding 223 rushing yards and three scores. His mobility gives Miami an escape valve, but pressure can still create drive-killing sacks or hurried throws.
New England has 17 sacks through seven games. Elijah Ponder leads the Patriots with 5.5, Christian Barmore has 3.0 and Leonard Taylor III has 2.0. The Patriots are also allowing 95.3 rushing yards per game, eighth-best in the league, which raises the difficulty of simply hiding the lineup change with a run-heavy plan.
Fantasy football impact
Ollie Gordon II: Keep the expected volume, but apply a modest efficiency downgrade. Gordon has 72 carries for 339 yards and four touchdowns, an average of 4.7 yards per attempt. Miami ranks seventh in rushing yards per game at 131.5, so the ground game remains the offense’s best avenue. Proctor’s absence lowers the floor on inside runs without turning Gordon into an automatic sit.
Malik Willis: Downgrade him as a fantasy streamer. His rushing production preserves upside, but a changed interior line against a defense with 17 sacks increases volatility. Managers using Willis should value his legs more than a clean-pocket passing projection.
Miami pass catchers: Malik Washington leads the team with 26 receptions and 289 yards; tight end Greg Dulcich has 18 catches for 213 yards, and Caleb Douglas has two receiving touchdowns. Quicker throws could support short-area targets, but additional protection responsibilities may reduce route volume on some snaps.
Patriots D/ST: New England moves up the streaming board. The combination of a rookie replacement at left guard, Miami’s 16 sacks allowed, Willis’ four interceptions and the Dolphins’ 16.3 points per game creates turnover and sack paths. It is an upgrade, not a guarantee: Willis’ mobility and Miami’s seventh-ranked rushing attack can still limit obvious passing downs.
The counterargument: Miami can still protect the replacement
There is a reasonable case that the fantasy effect stays small. Miami’s rushing efficiency, Willis’ scrambling ability and Brewer’s experience at center give the Dolphins ways to simplify the assignment. The absence is one lineup change, not a reason to project every Miami player for failure. The first two third-down possessions should reveal whether the Patriots can isolate and exploit the new left guard.
Game context and what to watch
The Patriots visit the Dolphins on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS at Hard Rock Stadium. New England is 4-3; Miami is 1-5.
Watch Miami’s inactive list for its final backup-line configuration, then track where New England aligns Barmore and its other interior rushers. If Miami repeatedly keeps a tight end or back in protection, that will matter for route participation and target expectations as much as the pressure totals themselves.
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