The Miami Dolphins have one of the league’s best luxuries at the running back position, going from Raheem Mostert to De’Von Achane. Both seem to put up solid fantasy football numbers every time they’re on the field.
But if fantasy managers have to start one over the other this week, which way should they go? Here’s the fantasy outlook for each player heading into Week 14.
Should You Start De’Von Achane in Fantasy This Week?
Back on the field and seemingly healthy for the first time since early October, Achane reminded everyone just what an explosive talent this rookie is for the Dolphins. He gained 73 yards on 17 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns in a blowout win over the Washington Commanders.
It improved his total touchdown count for the season to nine in just six games (it’s really nine TDs in five games because Achane was only on the field for three snaps vs. the Las Vegas Raiders back in Week 11).
There’s no question that Achane has a ton of potential fantasy value, even as a backup. He has over 500 rushing yards (534) while barely having over 50 carries for the season (56). His 9.5 yards per carry is easily the highest average in the league among players with at least 50 carries on the season.
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The only thing possibly keeping him behind Mostert, in terms of which player to start in a fantasy lineup, is the veteran’s consistent workload and production. But the minute there is any sign of a drop-off from Mostert, Achane is an easy choice to step in and start.
The PFN Start/Sit Optimizer projects Achane to have 54 rushing yards, with two receptions for 19 yards.
Should You Start Raheem Mostert in Fantasy This Week?
The numbers weren’t spectacular for Mostert in Week 13 vs. the Commanders, but then again, they didn’t have to be, since it took Miami half of a quarter to exert its dominance over Washington.
But despite being on the field for a season-low 23 offensive snaps, Mostert still found the end zone, his league-leading 14th rushing touchdown of the season.
If there is one thing you can count on with Mostert, it’s that he will find the end zone. He has scored at least one touchdown in nine of 12 games, including four multi-TD games.
One area of concern, however, is a lack of targets in recent weeks. Over his first seven games, Mostert was targeted 23 times, catching 19 passes. But over his last five games, he’s had just five targets total and only two receptions.
That said, I still would expect to see much more of Mostert in Monday’s matchup with the Tennessee Titans. The Titans may be 13th in rush defense, but they’re coming off a game against the Colts in which they held Indianapolis to 55 yards on the ground, the fewest allowed by Tennessee this season.
In the PFN Start/Sit Optimizer, our Consensus Rankings say that Mostert is the player to start. His projected 12.1 points include 57 rushing yards, three receptions, and 17 receiving yards. His projected stat line outperforms, albeit barely, Achane’s consensus projection of 11.7 points.
My ranking for these Dolphins running backs aligns with the consensus. It’s close, but Mostert is too valuable when it comes to getting in the end zone not to start.
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