Chris Bell cleared to play in Week 5

The Dolphins have been managing Bell’s practice reps for a few weeks, but it hasn’t been an issue on Sundays. He ran 85 percent of the routes in Week 4 and his route share has gone up in every game. He is in the WR5 range headed into Week 5 versus the Bengals.

Bell’s Week 4 outing was heartbreaking. His near-68-yard touchdown on the Dolphins’ third drive will live with him, and fantasy managers alike, for a while. Malik Willis rolled right out of the pocket, facing pressure and lobbed a wobbly pass to Bell downfield. The rookie wide receiver caught it, took off downfield, stumbled through a leg grab and ran into the end zone. Unfortunately, the officials determined Bell had stepped out of bounds, along the right sideline, during the scramble drill. Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley did not challenge it. Upon replay, one can make the case that his pinky toe’s shadow grazed the white line, but it was an awfully close call. Aside from that, Willis sent him a wobbly, incomplete overthrow beyond the sticks on the Dolphins’ first drive and later tried to force a fadeaway jumper to him 25 yards downfield. The pass was contested and fell incomplete. The talent is there. Despite the rough outing, Bell warrants FLEX consideration against the Saints in Week 5.

Bell posted a 4/67 receiving line last week, though the Dolphins are still managing his reps. The Vikings’ blitz-based defense poses problems for Miami, limiting Bell to WR4 status this week. The rookie wide receiver should be rostered in 12-team formats.

Douglas will miss his second straight game with an ankle injury, paving the way for fellow rookie Chris Bell to build on his Week 3 performance in which he went for 4-67-0 on eight targets. Bell and all Dolphins pass-catchers will be tough for fantasy managers to trust as anything more than WR4s on the road against a Vikings defense that could give them fits all afternoon.

The Dolphins’ ascending rookie wide receiver is on track to face the Vikings this week, although he continues to be limited by his surgically repaired knee. Bell should be viewed as a FLEX starter with an admittedly tough matchup against the Vikings.

We expect to see Douglas listed with a second DNP next to his name today, putting him on the wrong side of questionable for Week 4 against the Vikings. Were he indeed to miss this week’s game, WRs Chris Bell (knee) and Malik Washington would benefit. Washington’s target volume is somewhat intriguing, but Bell looks like the far more talented player.

Bell is coming off a career-best 4/67 stat line after having his practice reps managed last week. The Dolphins’ rookie wide receiver is on track to face the Vikings this week. He profiles as a WR4/FLEX in what is admittedly a tough matchup on paper.

With Caleb Douglas sidelined with an ankle issue, talented third-rounder Bell finally broke out after totaling just one catch for 25 yards through the Dolphins’ first two contests. The No. 94 overall pick looked big and explosive with the ball in his hands, and could have had a much bigger day had Malik Willis been able to find him on what might have been a pair of long touchdowns. Bell’s box scores figure to remain inconsistent going forward — Willis is a dual-threat quarterback with a bevy of young, unproven wideouts — but he is certainly worth taking a flier on if currently un-rostered in your 12- team league. Bell’s pre-draft profile as a size/speed menace who only fell because of his torn ACL looked 100 percent accurate against the Chiefs.

Bell upgraded to full participation on Friday after two limited sessions. The rookie wide receiver has been bothered by fluid and soreness in his surgically repaired knee since Week 1, so the Dolphins have limited his snaps in-game. With fellow rookie WR Caleb Douglas (ankle) sidelined for Week 3, the coaching staff could draw up a couple of extra plays with Bell in mind, though he can only be viewed as a WR4.

Bell said Thursday that he expects to play, but Hafley added to that expectation when speaking with the media Friday. The rookie third-rounder has drawn just three targets this season while running 31 routes, but he could see an uptick in targets with Caleb Douglas (ankle) officially ruled out. Bell will be hard to trust as anything more than a WR4 in an offense that currently ranks 30th in total pass attempts and 24th in passing yards.