Is Gus Edwards The Starting Running Back For The Chargers When He Returns?

Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards (ankle) is currently on injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury after his Week 4 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. He won't be eligible to return to the field until Week 10, when his team will take on the Tennessee Titans. 

Not that that makes much of a difference for fantasy managers this season. Edwards has zero games above 6.0 PPR fantasy points, averages less than three yards per carry on the season, and has caught just one pass. He's not been worth having on rosters except as a speculative handcuff for lead back J.K. Dobbins.

So will he be the starting running back for the Chargers when he returns?

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Will Gus Edwards Start For The Chargers When He Returns?

Absolutely not. There is no chance that happens unless Dobbins goes down with an injury. Even worse, rookie RB Kimani Vidal could easily take over Edwards' job. The Gus Bus has been one of the worst running backs in the league this year to get any significant volume. He looks cooked.

Season trajectory for Gus Edwards:
-Harbaugh states publicly that he had offseason surgery during a camp presser
-He walks that statement back days later
-Gus has 29 carries the first 2 weeks, then 9 in Weeks 3 and 4.
-ankle injury during/after the Chiefs game, now suddenly IR'd

— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) October 12, 2024

The injury situation is a bit strange as well. It's possible that he could already be on his way out of the backup job. Makes sense, Vidal has played reasonably well given his limited opportunity, while the Gus Bus has been ridiculously inefficient.

RB efficiency (per @RyanJ_Heath and @FantasyPtsData)

- Tank Bigsby or Derrick Henry Jr.?
- James Conner has forced 40 missed tackles, nobody else has more than 30
- Can we get Bucky Irving the ball more? pic.twitter.com/g7sbAgFTPH

— Jake Tribbey (@JakeTribbey) October 25, 2024

Among running backs with eight or more touches per game with a minimum of four games, he is dead last by a significant margin in both yards from scrimmage per touch and missed tackles forced per touch. He hasn't done much with his workload other than give Dobbins a break.

Gus Edwards Fantasy Football Outlook

He's not worth starting, rostering, or even thinking about at this point. Los Angeles actually has a pretty solid run-blocking offensive line, featuring excellent players such as Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. That doesn't matter much in this situation -- the former Raven hasn't been able to make an impact at all.

Hoping the Chargers can get RB Gus Edwards going this week.

Among 40 RBs with 15+ carries, Edwards is 35th in YPA and 38th in Yards After Contact per Attempt.

He is one of only two RBs to have not forced a missed tackle yet. His breakaway rate is zero.

Big week ahead for him pic.twitter.com/9Mc1MeBMAg

— Tyler Schoon (@tylerjschoon) September 19, 2024

If you want a handcuff for Dobbins, pick up the rookie Vidal. Edwards' time in the league is drawing to a close. The Gus Bus will soon be out of commission, and it will probably never do anything like this again.

kimani vidal's first nfl touch is a td

📺 | @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/D8GD2ZOroo

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 13, 2024

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