Ryan Fitzpatrick 'clear' favorite for Dolphins' Week 1 start

Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is expected to start Week 1 against the New England Patriots, writes Josh Tolentino of The Athletic.

What It Means:

Tolentino says "it's clear" that Fitzpatrick is expected to get the nod as the Dolphins "take the patient approach" with Tua Tagovailoa. The No. 5 overall pick may have had a chance to start Week 1 if the coronavirus pandemic didn't cause him to miss out on so many in-person reps. Tagovailoa should take over under center for Fitzpatrick at some point during his rookie season.

Fitzpatrick threw 20.9 percent of his passes into an area where there was a defender within a yard or less of the receiver at the time of completion or incompletion last season, fourth-most aggressive in the league. Of his eight seasons with 300-plus drop backs, Fitzpatrick had his second-highest Passing Success Rate last year.