Should I Start Chase Edmonds in Week 9? Fantasy Football Trade Outlook

The Denver Broncos did not shock the football world when they traded premier pass rusher Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins before the NFL trade deadline. What was shocking was the player they received in return.

Along with the San Francisco 49ers’ first-round pick in 2023 and Miami’s fourth-round pick in 2024, the Broncos also acquired versatile running back Chase Edmonds, who had just signed a multimillion-dollar deal this past offseason to play a pivotal role in Miami’s high-powered offense. But that role never materialized with the Dolphins peppering All-World wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle with passes and utilizing Raheem Mostert as the top tailback as the season progressed.

Getting Edmonds out of Miami can only bolster his fantasy value. He only had 16 touches over his last four games with the Dolphins and had been virtually ignored by the coaching staff since September. But does that mean fantasy managers should start Edmonds this week now that he is with Denver? Here is my take:

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Should I Start Chase Edmonds in Week 9 Fantasy Football?

No way in heck. First of all, Edmonds will not be suiting up this week because his new team, the Broncos, are on bye. Hard to rack up any fantasy points when you are not playing.

Secondly, while running backs do not need as much time to get acquainted with a new offense’s playbook as quarterbacks and receivers, they cannot be asked to play full-time in their first game when there is no way they can know all the plays and formations in that short amount of time, even with an extra week due to the bye. Edmonds might be a part of certain packages he learns as soon as he touches down in Denver, but there is no reason to think he is getting 10-15 touches in his first game as a Bronco.

Another reason Edmonds’ touches and time will be limited is that Denver’s backfield is more crowded than a Target on Black Friday. Veterans Melvin Gordon III and Latavius Murray are there plodding between the tackles like they have for several seasons. Edmonds will be more of a change-of-pace back who catches balls out of the backfield on pass plays, but the chances he will be the No. 1 RB right out of the gate are small.

Moving on from Miami will likely be a positive for Edmonds’ fantasy value. His worth could not have plummeted further south the way things were going in South Beach. This does not mean he will be the second coming of Terrell Davis in Denver, but he could end up being an RB3 or RB4 in PPR leagues if Denver has plans of using him more often than Miami did this year.

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