Reggie Bush: Dolphins RB Is Better Fantasy Start Than You Think

I'm no Miss Cleo, but I know what you're thinking. For me to suggest starting Reggie Bush, who is clearly less than 100 percent following last week's knee injury, against the suddenly stout Arizona Cardinals on the road would mean I was on bath salts. 

But not so fast. 

Yes, the injury concern is a problem, but according to the Palm Beach Post's Ben Volin, Bush has secretly looked very mobile this week at practice:

"

Reggie Bush will be listed as Limited today, but I have little doubt that he will play Sunday vs #Cardinals

— Ben Volin (@BenVolinPBP) September 27, 2012"

"

Reggie worked with the team in non-contact drills. The way he's running, you'd have no idea he hurt himself Sunday

— Ben Volin (@BenVolinPBP) September 27, 2012"

Believe me, a knee injury to a guy who relies on cuts more than a pair of scissors is incredibly terrifying, and the fact that he has yet to go through any contact is possibly even more frightening.

But here's the way I see it:

If Bush isn't healthy enough to be effective, the Dolphins won't suit him up—hopefully. In that case, you obviously keep him out of your lineup. If Miami does insert their star into the backfield, however, then it makes sense that he's probably well enough to be making cuts—again, hopefully.

Essentially, you have to trust the Dolphins here. If he's stable enough to start in the NFL, he's stable enough to start for my fantasy team.

Yet, that's only half the battle. In addition to the injury bug, Bush's matchup against the Cardinals, who are suddenly the new Baltimore Ravens, appears to be far less than ideal.

But don't be so fast to crown the Cardinals as the toughest thing to run on since jelly. Have you ever tried to run on jelly? That's what I thought. 

Are the Cards suddenly one of the top defensive teams in the league? Absolutely, but can you be effective against them on the ground?

Um, kind of. 

Arizona is just 12th in the league in yards per rush allowed and 17th in rushing yards per game allowed. When it comes down to, the 3-0 Cards may seem elite, but they have only been average against the run.

They've given up 70 yards (on just 13 carries) to LeSean McCoy, 71 yards to Stevan Ridley and 85 yards to Marshawn Lynch.

It's safe to say that Reggie Bush, who is averaging 6.0 yards per carry on this young season, can have at least a productive fantasy day. Yet, he's being treated like he's the second-coming of Shonn Greene.

Get him in your lineups, folks. 

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