The undefeated Miami Dolphins and 1-2 Cincinnati Bengals meet on Thursday Night Football in a battle of AFC contenders. Fantasy football managers will have to make difficult choices for their starting lineup. So let’s dive into whether you should start Dolphins running back Chase Edmonds against the Bengals.
Should you start Chase Edmonds vs. the Bengals?
Opportunity is often the name of the fantasy game for fringe starters. You want the player most likely to earn the most valuable snaps of the game or the one capable of doing the most with their limited touches. The question for Edmonds’ fantasy managers is whether he’ll be getting a worthwhile volume of quality snaps.
Edmonds has continued to lose playing time to Raheem Mostert after playing 63% of snaps in Week 1. Though he scored two rushing touchdowns in Week 3, his dwindling playing time and touches are of massive concern. He’s totaled 11 carries and two receptions for 68 yards over the last two games.
Luckily for Edmonds and his fantasy managers, Mostert has hardly been better. The fact is Miami has played some of the finest run defenses in the league and their offensive line is more geared towards pass blockers than run graders. But Cincinnati offers little reprieve even without massive nose tackle D.J. Reader.
Cincinnati ranks eighth in rushing yards allowed per game and seventh in yards per attempt. Miami is unlikely to suddenly deviate from their strategy of devaluing the run game. Head coach Mike McDaniel knows he can’t run the ball effectively, so he doesn’t. Miami ranks 29th in rush attempts, 31st in yards and yards per carry.
Entering Week 4, Edmonds is ranked at RB28 and No. 104 overall in our expert PPR fantasy football rankings. He’s a fringe starting candidate for most fantasy managers. His two touchdowns last week likely saved his roster spot for deeper rosters since his production has been such a disappointment.
Edmonds only has four red zone carries. We expected Edmonds to offer value as a receiver as well, as he is Miami’s most reliable back. But he’s been targeted less than three times a game.
Regardless of whether Edmonds plays more than usual snap count, expectations are low for this running game.
The Bengals’ defense has been average against running backs through three games, allowing 204 yards on 56 carries and one touchdown. Backs have been more successful as receivers despite Cincinnati having a strong linebacker in Logan Wilson and safeties in Jessie Bates and Von Bell. With 14 receptions for 114 yards and one touchdown already allowed, Miami could look to exploit this defensive weakness.
I can’t recommend starting Edmonds if you can at all help it. Mostert has looked slightly better behind Miami’s porous line but doesn’t quite have the receiving or goal line upside Edmonds brings. Barring a goal line touchdown for Edmonds or a sudden breakout as a receiver that has been in no way predictable, Edmonds is a below-average starting option against the Bengals.
This offense is completely geared towards utilizing their deep receiving corps instead of highlighting Edmonds’ ability to win one-on-one in space. That’s bad news for his fantasy managers but understandable given the makeup of this roster and Tua Tagovailoa’s ability to get rid of the ball quickly.