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The Dolphins' backfield is already banged up one week into the NFL season.
Miami pulled off a comeback win over the Jaguars to get out to a 1-0 start, but it has a quick turnaround with a "Thursday Night Football" matchup against the Bills in Week 2.
The Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane running back tandem is a key part of what makes the Dolphins' offense so dynamic, but both running backs were listed on the injury report for the AFC East showdown.
Head coach Mike McDaniel already ruled out Mostert with a chest injury and Achane (ankle) is still a "game-time decision."
If either or both of Miami's starting running backs can't go, who will step up in their absence?
WEEK 2 FANTASY RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Dolphins RB depth chart
Starter | Backup |
Raheem Mostert (Injured) | Jeff Wilson Jr. |
De'Von Achane | Jaylen Wright |
The Dolphins' depth chart is lined up in a unique way where both Mostert and Achane are listed as starters with Wilson and Wright as their respective backups.
With Mostert out due to a chest injury, expect Wilson to handle the in-between-the-tackles work. If Achane can't go due to an ankle injury, Wright will be his interim replacement.
Starter: Raheem Mostert (injured)
Mostert will be out for Week 2 with a chest injury — and possibly beyond that. He only had six carries for nine yards in Week 1, clearly limited by his ailment.
Mostert has plenty of speed but is utilized as more of a power back in Miami's system. Last season, he finished with an NFL-leading 18 rushing touchdowns as the thunder to Achane's lightning.
MORE: How fast are Dolphins players?
Starter: De'Von Achane
Achane's status is still up in the air for Thursday due to an ankle injury, but he'll be in line for another massive workload if available.
Achane handled the bulk of Miami's backfield touches in Week 1. He had 10 carries for 24 yards and a touchdown while adding seven receptions for 76 receiving yards.
Coach McDaniel loves using the speedster as a change-of-pace back, but he could see more early-down carries with Mostert out.
Backup: Jeff Wilson Jr.
Wilson should be the hot priority on the waiver wire with Mostert out.
The 28-year-old veteran stepped in for Mostert with five carries and a team-high 26 rushing yards once the starter was too hurt to play Sunday. Coach McDaniel uses Wilson as more of a power back, allowing him to mimic Mostert's role as a spell to Achane.
Backup: Jaylen Wright
Rookie running back Wright was a healthy scratch for Week 1 but he could make his debut against the Bills because of Miami's ailing backfield.
The Dolphins selected Wright in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Tennessee. His 4.38 40-yard dash speed mimics what Achane brings to Miami's running back room. While he'll be popular in fantasy circles, Wright should only be expected to really pop if Achane is also ruled out for Thursday's game.
MORE: NFL Week 2 Power Rankings | NFL Week 2 picks | NFL Week 2 picks against the spread
Raheem Mostert injury update
Mostert has already been ruled out for "Thursday Night Football" with a chest injury.
Head coach McDaniel suggested that Mostert played through some serious pain in Week 1.
"He gave his teammates another example of how he's built differently," McDaniel said Wednesday while suggesting the 32-year-old could be out a week or longer.
Mostert only registered six carries for nine yards in the season-opener.
De'Von Achane injury update
Achane was listed as a non-participant on Monday and Tuesday's practice reports but was spotted by the media at Wednesday's walkthrough .
Ahead of Wednesday's practice, head coach McDaniel called Achane a game-time decision. "We'll see," he said .
Check back for updates on Achane's availability.
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