Dolphins Stay at the Bottom of Week 2 Power Rankings – What the Numbers Really Mean

It’s a strange feeling when a team’s national perception improves a little, yet it’s still sitting at the very bottom of the pile. That’s exactly where the Miami Dolphins find themselves after Week 1 – still the lowest‑ranked club in the league, but four of the ten major outlets that we track have nudged them up one or two spots.

Going into the season, the Dolphins were universally pegged at No. 32. By the time the first games were over, two of those sources kept the Dolphins dead‑last, while the other four lifted them to No. 30 or No. 31. No outlet, however, has placed Miami higher than 30th, and the overall average ranking stayed stubbornly at 31.4 for a second straight week.

It’s worth noting that Miami’s next opponent, the San Francisco 49ers, sit at an average ranking of 5.4 – a stark contrast that makes the Dolphins’ schedule look even more daunting. The 49ers even cracked the top spot in The Athletic after they trounced the Los Angeles Rams 27‑7 in Australia.

How the national power‑ranking outlets placed the Dolphins:

The Sporting News (Vinnie Iyer) – Rank: 30 (unchanged). Iyer wrote that Jeff Hafley’s first game was a “dud in the desert,” and with a thin defensive roster, the upcoming match‑ups against the 49ers and Chiefs don’t inspire much optimism.

CBS Sports (Pete Prisco) – Rank: 32 (unchanged). Prisco bluntly warned that the Raiders‑era performance might become the new normal for Miami fans.

USA Today (Nate Davis) – Rank: 32. Davis highlighted rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez’s 14 tackles – the second‑most in the league that week – as a bright spot, even if it doesn’t translate to an elite defender just yet.

FOX Sports (Ralph Vacchiano) – Rank: 32 (unchanged). Vacchiano pointed out that the team’s expectations were already low, and unfortunately, they managed to miss them entirely.

NFL.com (Nick Shook) – Rank: 30 (up from 32). Shook was a little more forgiving, noting that the loss could have been worse and stressing the need for more production from De’Von Achane.

The Athletic (Chad Graff & Josh Kendall) – Rank: 32 (unchanged). They called Miami possibly the “worst top‑to‑bottom team” in the league and said the Week 1 game was probably the only realistic chance they had to win.

ESPN – Rank: 31 (up from 32). ESPN praised rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas, who caught five passes for 94 yards, while also acknowledging the growing pains on offense.

Pro Football Talk (Mike Florio) – Rank: 31 (down from 28). Florio summed it up in one line: “They aren’t tanking; they’re just not good.”

Sports Illustrated (Conor Orr) – Rank: 32 (unchanged). Orr joked about a conspiracy involving jersey swaps and a future No. 1 draft pick.

Yahoo Sports (Frank Schwab) – Rank: 32 (unchanged). Schwab pointed out that 13 % of Miami’s roster consists of waiver‑claim players, a statistic that doesn’t bode well for the season ahead.

Below is the full SI Week 2 power‑ranking list, showing where Miami sits among the 32 clubs:

1. Seattle – 2. Buffalo – 3. Baltimore – 4. San Francisco – 5. Kansas City – 6. L.A. Rams – 7. Chicago – 8. Jacksonville – 9. Houston – 10. Cincinnati – 11. Philadelphia – 12. Denver – 13. Minnesota – 14. New England – 15. Detroit – 16. N.Y. Giants – 17. Tampa Bay – 18. Arizona – 19. Green Bay – 20. Dallas – 21. Pittsburgh – 22. Las Vegas – 23. N.Y. Jets – 24. Washington – 25. Indianapolis – 26. Carolina – 27. New Orleans – 28. L.A. Chargers – 29. Atlanta – 30. Miami – 31. Tennessee – 32. Cleveland.

So, while the Dolphins have inched up a spot or two on a few charts, the consensus remains clear: this is a rebuilding effort that will likely be a long, tough road. Fans can hope for better weather, at least.