Ryan Fitzpatrick continues to make the most of a “nothing to lose” situation in Miami. Fitzpatrick logged a career high in passing yards in Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals, torching the NFL’s worst team to the tune of 419 passing yards. Fitzpatrick’s big day put him over 3,000 passing yards for the year and has Miami scoring points at a blistering pace (relative to the first month of the season, of course).

And folks have taken notice. Each week, NFL.com releases a weekly quarterback power ranking of all 32 starters in the NFL and Fitzpatrick has not only climbed out of the cellar, he’s on the cusp of being ranked in the top half of the league — Fitzpatrick has made it all the way to the 17th ranked quarterback in the NFL, one spot behind Buffalo’s Josh Allen.

Here’s what NFL.com’s Genarro Felice had to say about Fitzpatrick’s play:

“Quite apropos for this particular signal-caller to reach his highest QB Index ranking of the season in a week that’s headlined by a bearded geezer who spreads joy. In 2019, Fitzpatrick has indeed become Football Santa: a lovable figure whose production completely defies logic. But don’t you dare say Fitzmagic isn’t real! The guy’s operating behind the worst offensive line in football. He is flanked by a ground game that ranks dead last in rushing yards, throwing to a receiving corps that leads the AFC in drops. Fitzpatrick’s a 37-year-old journeyman on one of the youngest, cheapest rosters in the league, a team many thought could make a run at 0-16. And yet, he’s led the Dolphins to four wins in their past eight games. He ranks top 10 in ESPN’s QBR metric. And he can torch an opponent for 419 yards and four touchdowns, as he did in this past Sunday’s victory over the Bengals. I believe in Santa Fitz!” – Genarro Felice, NFL.com

There’s no question that Fitzpatrick is playing his best ball of the season here at the end of the line. For our money, he’s playing the best ball of his career here in Miami — a development that should have Miami willing to bringing back “Fitzmagic” again in 2020 to serve whatever role the Dolphins’ plans at quarterback allow for him to play.

As Fitzpatrick has established more and more rapport with Miami’s pass catchers, this seems like a no brainer decision that will only be further amplified if Fitzpatrick can find ways to move the ball against New England in Week 17.

[vertical-gallery id=420193]

The play of Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has definitely been a surprise to everyone — despite playing behind a makeshift offensive line, the grizzled veteran has transitioned himself from a careless, free wielding gunslinger into the caretaker of Miami’s fragile passing attack — he’s protecting the football at one of the most impressive rates in his long-tenured NFL career and doing so despite little to no rushing offense to lean on and keep defense off balance.

Is Fitzpatrick a long-term answer for Miami? No, of course not. But he’s been better than advertised for Miami and is playing a lot of fun football while simultaneously energizing the Dolphins’ offense.

And folks have taken notice. Each week, NFL.com releases a weekly quarterback power ranking of all 32 starters in the NFL and Fitzpatrick has continued to steadily climb out of the cellar. At the beginning of the season, Fitzpatrick was regarded as the worst of the worst. But now? Miami’s quarterback situation is rated as better than 10 teams across the league — Fitzpatrick has climbed to a tie for 22nd on the power rankings list.

Here’s what NFL.com’s Ali Bhanpuri had to say about Fitzpatrick’s play:

“Fitzpatrick continues to impress despite starting alongside as many undrafted players on offense (4) as he does first-, second- and third-rounders. The 15th-year vet doesn’t care, though. He’s a tried-and-true gamer. Line up whoever you want next to him, he’s still going to aggressively take shots downfield and fearlessly barge through creases in the defense. His 65 rushing yards last Sunday were the most by any QB in Week 14 and increased his three-week total to 112, which ranks second among passers…other than a tight-window interception on an overly ambitious throw, Fitzpatrick put a number of quality plays on tape to warrant a rise up these rankings.” – Ali Bhanpuri, NFL.com

Indeed, Fitzpatrick’s sustained and stabilized play isn’t something that should be overlooked and his inspired play gives the Dolphins a blueprint for what they need to look for in their next franchise quarterback.

[vertical-gallery id=420193]

The Dolphins’ quarterback situation has been a roller coaster of emotions going all the way back to last March when the team first signed QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. There was joy that the Ryan Tannehill era was over, followed by the doubt of signing Fitzpatrick if the goal was to “tank”. And then there was the cautious optimism of trading for QB Josh Rosen, followed by the frustration of Miami’s handling of Rosen and the decision to start Fitzpatrick over him to open the season.

Fast forward a month from there and it was Rosen’s show and while things weren’t all that much better on the scoreboard, Rosen had some promising flashes and was declared the starter for the rest of the season. That declaration lasted less than three quarters and Fitzpatrick hasn’t looked back, since leading the Dolphins to two consecutive wins.

The most impressive twist to this story? Fitzpatrick has played pretty good — staying within himself, using his legs to extend plays and doing a great job of working around a balky offensive line to pick up third downs and extend drives. There isn’t the same reckless abandon to his game that NFL fans have been so accustomed to seeing. And it is getting noticed.

No one is going to confuse Ryan Fitzpatrick as a long-term answer for the Dolphins, Father Time will see to that. But getting quarterback play that’s not among the five or six worst situations in the NFL is great progress from where this team started the season in September. And that’s exactly where Fitzpatrick ranks among NFL starters according to an NFL.com panel: 26th in the league.

The “Fitzmagic” hasn’t had the peaks of recent years, but the outbursts and flurries of first downs have positioned the Dolphins to notch two straight wins — and the ranking is well deserved. Heck, Fitzpatrick probably deserves to be even higher on the list! You can make the case that he’s playing better than Daniel Jones and Jared Goff at this point in time, especially considering the supporting casts.

But for now, Dolphins fans can enjoy QB play that’s on the rise — and hope that trend continues next year with another fresh face in the room.

[vertical-gallery id=419827]