Chris Bell — Week 2: One Target, in the Fourth Quarter
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Sep 21
Bell was thrown to once, an incompletion short right on second and 14 with 7:43 left and Miami down 35–6, and his name is on no other play. Malik Willis threw 23 times; among wide receivers the targets went Malik Washington 5, Caleb Douglas 3, Bell 1 and Ryan Miller 1, in a 35–13 loss to the 49ers.
When Chris Bell's week moves the numbers, you'll know — every episode, in one weekly email.
The full episode, in writing
35 to six, 49ers, seven 43 left in the fourth quarter, second and 14 at the Miami 28. Malik Willis threw short right for Chris Bell, 12 yards in the air, incomplete. −1.0 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position. It came one snap after Caleb Douglas was injured on a Greg Dulcich catch. On the next play Willis was sacked for a loss of six, and Miami punted. That is the whole of Bell's day in the play-by-play: one target, no catch, no carry, no return.
Where the ball went: Willis threw 23 times, six to De'Von Achane, five to Malik Washington, three each to DJ Herman, Dulcich and Douglas, and one each to Will Kacmarek, Bell and Ryan Miller. Among wide receivers that is Washington five, Douglas three, Bell one, Miller one, and Miller's one was the 77-yard touchdown with two 41 left. 13 of the throws came before halftime, and none of those was Bell's.
Back in June the preview's case for Bell was the price against the knee — a third-round rookie whose last college season ended with a torn knee ligament, and a depth chart the preview said was open if the knee was ready. Week 1 answered the availability half: active, two targets, one catch for 25 yards on the drive that produced Miami's only touchdown. Sunday he was active again, and the role half went the other way, from two targets to one, and that one with the game long decided. Two games, three targets, one catch, 25 yards. That is too little to call a trend in either direction. Miami is home to the Chiefs on Sunday the 20-seventh.
_Data via nflverse._
When Chris Bell's week moves the numbers, you'll know — every episode, in one weekly email.
Keep going