The news for the Miami Dolphins‘ offense is not great heading into their huge game Thursday at home vs. the Buffalo Bills. And the biggest problem is at the running back position, where injuries are leaving the Dolphins’ backfield potentially thin for this game.
Raheem Mostert has already been ruled out against the Bills, and De’Von Achane is questionable after returning to practice as a limited participant on Wednesday.
If Achane is also unable to play against the Bills, how should fantasy football managers react towards Dolphins’ rookie running back Jaylen Wright?
Should Jaylen Wright Be Added on the Fantasy Waiver Wire in Week 2?
With Mostert out for Thursday Night Football and Achane possibly as well, what does this mean for Miami’s running back position and fantasy managers?
Both Achane and Mostert were extremely productive last season for the Dolphins, and they both finished in the top five among running backs in fantasy points per game.
On the Dolphins’ depth chart, Jeff Wilson Jr. is the RB3, and while he did get some chances in Week 1 vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars and has shouldered a solid workload while working with head coach Mike McDaniel in the past, he has been relatively unproven in a Miami uniform.
Last season, Wilson only played in 10 games, and only once did he reach double digits in rush attempts in a game — Week 12 at the New York Jets.
If the Dolphins’ injury situation at running back persists, they will no doubt need depth at that position for this early but all-important divisional clash.
So, adding Wright off the waiver wire isn’t too much of a reach for fantasy managers. Though just a rookie and inactive for Week 1, Wright seems to fit the mold of a Dolphins’ skill-position player. In other words, he has speed.
Wright came to the Dolphins from the University of Tennessee, where he averaged 6.7 yards per carry in his last two seasons, including 7.4 yards per carry as a junior in 2023 on 137 rush attempts.
And at the NFL Combine, Wright showed off his speed by running the 40-yard-dash in 4.38 seconds.
Although it was only preseason, Wright did get an opportunity to prove he belonged on the Dolphins’ roster. He responded by averaging 5.4 yards a carry (91 yards on 17 carries) and scoring Miami’s lone rushing touchdown in three preseason games.
While it’s doubtful he would step right in and be Miami’s featured back, if Achane also cannot play Thursday, Wright will no doubt get plenty of opportunities to show off his speed out of the backfield.
Should You Start Jaylen Wright or Jeff Wilson Jr.?
The absence of Mostert alone puts both of these running backs on the Flex radar, and should Achane even be limited, the push for a top-30 ranking will begin.
My lean is to favor the rookie in this situation, as he is the more explosive player who gives this offense the versatility it thrives on. Wilson is a steadying force and would likely split the available work with Wright, but I’m confident that the per-touch production will slant in Wright’s favor.
The Bills have allowed the third most yards per carry after contact to opposing running backs since the beginning of last season — if they can’t wrap up Wright, we could see glimpses of rookie Achane in a different jersey number.