The Miami Dolphins backfield duo of Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane both picked up injuries in the season-opening win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, which makes Jeff Wilson Jr. an intriguing waiver wire option at the RB position entering their Week 2 matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
Here are some reasons why you should consider adding Wilson to your fantasy football roster ahead of Thursday Night Football.
Should Jeff Wilson Jr. Be Added From the Fantasy Waiver Wire in Week 2?
The Dolphins putting up 400 yards in the 2024 season opener shouldn’t come as a huge surprise considering just how explosive this offense can be with players like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle on the boundary.
Yet, Wilson finishing Week 1 as the team’s leading rusher on just five carries should be enough to get your attention ahead of Miami’s Week 2 contest against the Bills.
Miami Dolphins RB Rushing Stats From Week 1
- Jeff Wilson Jr.: five carries for 26 yards
- De’Von Achane: 10 carries for 24 yards and a TD
- Raheem Mostert: six carries for nine yards
This stat line could be very concerning for fantasy managers of both Achane and Mostert without some additional context.
Achane picked up an ankle injury in this contest, while Mostert sustained a chest injury against the Jaguars — which has caused both players to miss Tuesday’s practice entirely. Mostert was ruled out for Week 2 on Wednesday, while the second-year back is expected to be a game-time decision.
It doesn’t take a math major to discern that Wilson was the most efficient ball carrier in the Miami backfield in Week 1, but some of the other numbers paint a favorable picture for a potentially expanded role against the Bills.
Despite how dynamic and explosive both Achane and Mostert were last season, Wilson was the only Dolphins running back to produce a rushing attempt of over 10 yards against Jacksonville.
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Additionally, he was the only Miami back to gain positive yards on every single touch he received — with both Achane and Mostert being tackled for either zero or negative rushing yards on over 35% of their carries.
Is Wilson worth a stash and speculative add on your bench given the injuries to both of these backs in a highly explosive offense? Yes.
Is Wilson worth a spot start against a Buffalo defense that just allowed James Conner to produce 19.3 PPR fantasy points if both Achane and Mostert can’t go in this contest? Yes.
Is Wilson entering my starting fantasy lineup if either of these options can play against Buffalo? Probably not, but that decision would be a bit more roster-specific.
In a Dolphins backfield that produced 34 total touchdowns last year, Wilson scored a total of zero over his 55 touches.
Is he a quality back capable of producing a quality stat line if given the opportunity? Sure, we have seen some great fantasy performances from him in the past in situations where he was pressed into a leading role.
Yet, Wilson has never managed to put it all together for a full-blown breakout season — which makes me hesitate to be super aggressive in pursuing him on the waiver wire with both players ahead of him on the depth chart only dealing with minor injuries.
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Lastly, there is no guarantee if both Achane and Mostert were unavailable for Week 2 that we simply wouldn’t see more of dynamic rookie Jaylen Wright, who I would prefer to stash away on my fantasy bench.
Either way, if you are in a pinch at running back and need an option for Week 2, add Wilson to see how the medical updates unfold.
If both Achane and Mostert can’t go against the Bills, then Wilson would be in the low-end RB2 conversation for Week 2.
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.
– Kyle Soppe, Fantasy Football Analyst