It was a bit odd on Tuesday when the Miami Dolphins announced that six running backs (including FB Alec Ingold) were on their initial 53.
Two days later, the move made a lot more sense when the team announced that Jeff Wilson Jr. was heading to injured reserve.
Wilson has been dealing with midsection and finger injuries, and the Dolphins ultimately decided he is unable to protect himself until he heals.
Wilson’s post-cutdown day designation means he’s eligible to return at some point in the season. He was one of three Dolphins players to go on IR-return. The others: cornerback Jalen Ramsey (who’s out several months with a meniscus injury) and guard Robert Jones (four to six weeks, MCL).
ROSTER MOVES | We have placed OL Robert Jones, CB Jalen Ramsey & RB Jeff Wilson Jr. on injured reserve, and signed CB Justin Bethel, TE Tyler Kroft & CB Parry Nickerson. pic.twitter.com/6WO94I8zPG
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) August 31, 2023
The Dolphins now have five backs on their active roster: Ingold, Raheem Mostert, Salvon Ahmed, De’Von Achane, and Chris Brooks. They cut Myles Gaskin earlier this week.
Ahmed and Achane are both dealing with minor injuries, but both could be back for the opener. McDaniel said Thursday he expects both to practice by the beginning of next week, at the latest.
Fantasy Impact of Jeff Wilson Jr. Injury
Wilson landing on IR gives Mostert and Achane a golden opportunity to take the lead role in this high-powered offense and … well, run with it.
Miami’s offense averaged a league-best 6.5 yards per play when Tua Tagovailoa was healthy last season, and just ask Miles Sanders managers — an offense that produces at an elite level can result in fantasy glory.
MORE: Fantasy Football Preseason Takeaways — Breaking Down Garrett Wilson, James Cook, and Raheem Mostert
Mostert isn’t a beeken of health himself, but he is coming off a season in which he handled a career-high 212 touches. He averages 5.4 yards per carry over his career, and while he’s 31 years old in human years, Mostert’s not quite as old as that may sound in running back years with under 600 career touches.
Mostert immediately moves into the top-30 conversation at the position, while Achane remains a viable late-round flier to stash. As for Wilson?
If your league has an IR slot, why not hold onto him? He’s never carried the rock more than 130 times in a season as it is, so you were never expecting a full season. At the very least, slot Wilson into your IR spot until someone more valuable gets hurt. If you’ve yet to draft and your league doesn’t have an IR spot, feel free to pass on him.
PFN fantasy and betting analyst Kyle Soppe contributed to this report.