Daniel Thomas anticipates receiving "pretty much the same amount of reps" as starter Lamar Miller despite coming off the bench. Coach Joe Philbin did call the starting job a "very, very close" call between Miller and Thomas, despite the fact Miller averaged 4.24 yards per carry in the preseason to Thomas' 2.74 YPC. Pro Football Focus charted Thomas with zero broken tackles in 19 exhibition game rushing attempts, and PFF also gave Miller higher marks in pass protection. The Dolphins may open the season using a drive-by-drive running back rotation, but our expectation is Miller will ultimately separate himself because he's clearly the superior talent.

The Miami Herald's Armando Salguero suspects the Dolphins have talked up Daniel Thomas as a serious competitor for the starting tailback job in an effort to "motivate" Lamar Miller and "keep him from feeling comfortable." Thomas is clearly the inferior player -- and Miller has started each of Miami's four preseason games -- so Salguero guesses they've talked up a running battle for "psychological reason(s)." Salguero does conced this isn't like Joe Philbin. Still, there's nary a doubt left Thomas will be the No. 2 to Miller's No. 1, and forward-thinking fantasy owners who forecasted this early will benefit in their leagues. Miller is a big-time breakout candidate.

Daniel Thomas managed three yards on seven carries and caught two passes for 12 yards in the Dolphins' fourth preseason game Saturday night. Although the Dolphins' coaching staff fancies Thomas an assignment-sound player, his talent deficiencies are glaring when the offensive line doesn't open gaping holes. Thomas has run harder than we've seen him in the past, but he lacks speed to get the corner and any hint of elusiveness. It's obvious Lamar Miller is Miami's superior running back. Through four exhibition tilts, Thomas has 19 carries for 52 yards (2.74 YPC). Miller has received more goal line-type carries and also played ahead of Thomas in Saturday night's two-minute offense.

Daniel Thomas rushed four times for 25 yards in Saturday's preseason game against the Texans, adding one catch for 27 yards. Thomas watched from the sideline for Miami's first two possessions before alternating series with Lamar Miller for the rest of the first half. Thomas out-gained Miller 52-13, but it was Miller who got the first-team offense's lone goal-line tote. GM Jeff Ireland has been fueling talk that Thomas could make himself part of a committee backfield, but he's not beating down the door this preseason. That's not surprising considering his career 3.5 yards per carry.

The Palm Beach Post projects Daniel Thomas as the Dolphins' "goal-line and third-down back." Beat writer Andrew Abramson projects Lamar Miller as Miami's starter, but says Thomas is better in pass protection and has shown improved ball security after fumbling five times among his first 256 NFL carries. Thomas is a tentative, soft runner despite his 6-foot-1, 228-pound frame, and has always struggled in short yardage. We'd hold off on markering him in as a goal-line vulture.

Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland expects Daniel Thomas to have a "breakout season." That's true love. Coach Joe Philbin has been pleased with Thomas' camp, but the stench of his first two seasons remains pungent. A breakout year from Thomas would qualify as the "out of nowhere" variety. It's not going to happen for Lamar Miller's backup.

Dolphins coach Joe Philbin says he's been pleased with Daniel Thomas' running and pass blocking through two-plus weeks of camp. Thomas has been mixed in with the first-team offense behind Lamar Miller, and the Fins say the camp battle is ongoing. "I like what he's doing this camp," Philbin said. "I'm very happy with the way he's practicing. He's running the ball hard. He's been doing a good job in pass protection." In 2012, only four NFL backs with as many carries as Thomas averaged a lower YPC: Alex Green, La'Rod Stephens-Howling, Darren McFadden, and Rashad Jennings.

The Miami Herald reports the Dolphins are "much higher" on Daniel Thomas and believe he can handle short-yardage duties. Why the Dolphins remain so high on Thomas is the real question. He has shown absolutely nothing in two seasons since being the No. 62 overall pick in the 2011 draft, and he's averaged just 3.0 YPC on eight preseason totes. The Dolphins would be wise to consider keeping Jonas Gray as the short-yardage pounder, but they seem intent on keeping the plodding Thomas as their No. 2.

Daniel Thomas rushed four times for 19 yards in the Dolphins' second preseason game Friday night. On the preseason, Thomas has 24 rushing yards on eight carries (3.0 YPC) and one reception for a gain of one. He's obviously no threat to Lamar Miller and the Dolphins would be smart to consider cutting Thomas, keeping Jonas Gray and rookie Mike Gillislee behind Miller, instead.

Daniel Thomas rushed four times for five yards and caught a one-yard pass in the Dolphins' preseason opener against Dallas. The yardage results of Thomas' five Hall of Fame Game touches: 3, 1, 5, 3, -6. Thomas played two snaps with Miami's first-team offense after Lamar Miller was rested, and spent the rest of the night on the twos. Mike Gillislee and Jonas Gray were the backs to play behind Thomas. Thomas is not a serious competitor with Miller for the starting job. He's more likely to be challenged by fifth-round rookie Gillislee to back up Miller.