Baltimore Ravens Rushing Attack Season Outlook For Daily Fantasy
Can any Super-Bowl hopeful survive devastating injuries to not one but multiple starters in crucial roles? We’re about to find out with the Baltimore Ravens. In less than two weeks, the Ravens lost their RB1 and RB2 and a starting cornerback to injuries and have been left scrambling to find replacements.
The Ravens aren’t without a history of high-flying performance in rushing attempts per game, yards per carry, and overall volume of work for the QB and RB positions. Over the last three years that OC Greg Roman has led the team, they have led the league or finished as one of the top rushing teams in the league.
This situation means if you’re like most fantasy owners, you’re probably wondering what to make of the dumpster fire that has been the Ravens running backs. Unfortunately, to say that injuries are a part of the game doesn’t do just what the Baltimore Ravens have had to deal with before the start of the season.
Late August, breakout candidate J.K. Dobbins tore his ACL during a preseason game. Not long after, passing down back, Justice Hill ruptured an Achilles and is also done for the season. Week 1 of the regular season didn’t help matters much as newly minted starter Gus Edwards suffered a season-ending knee injury during practice (as did starting cornerback Marcus Peters).
So top-ranked rushing offense Baltimore will be going with second-year, unproven Ty’Son Williams as their starter. The Ravens grabbed some notable free-agent veterans Le’Veon Bell, Devonta Freeman, and recently released ex-Saints backup Latavious Murray to fill the roster holes.
Ravens Running Back Depth Chart
Ty’Son Williams
The previously untested Ty’Son Williams is named the starter. Though little is known about him outside Ravens camp, Coach Harbaugh has said he expects big things from the position. The unproven back took advantage of 24 rushing attempts to tally 130 yards and a touchdown in the preseason.
As fantasy points are based on usage and opportunity, the fantasy projections for Williams are in the RB2 category or Flex option. This makes him a low-risk with considerable upside potential, especially in daily contests.
Latavious Murray
The only recent acquisition to make the game-day roster is the 28-year-old former New Orleans Saint. It will be curious to see how Coach Harbaugh integrates the running back committee he seems to be acquiring. Will he go with a lead back in Williams? Is Murray the most relevant recent acquisition, or will he rotate the veterans on a week-by-week basis?
It’s best to avoid Murray with these and other lingering questions except in the deepest daily leagues, but who knows? He may have a resurgence in the revenge game against his former LV Raiders team where he started his career.
Devonta Freeman
The former Atlanta Falcon is long removed from his stellar performance of 2015 and 2016, where the diminutive rusher had over 1000 yards rushing and double-digit touchdowns. After Murray, Freeman appears to be the veteran acquisition most ready to step in and play in the volume-heavy rushing attack of the Ravens.
Le’Veon Bell
As a Week 1 scratch, it’s hard to see any long-term upside to Bell, especially when the running back thin Kansas City Chiefs couldn’t find any reason to use him in the 2020 season. In fact, Coach Harbaugh was non-committal in his analysis of Bell, claiming that he’s still getting his legs under him and game-ready. So the translation is that Bell is there as insurance but nowhere ready for any kind of game workload.
While the running back situation seems murky at best, the Ravens have MVP Lamar Jackson leading the team with All-Star Tight End Mark Andrews as his primary receiving option to help balance the attack. It’s better to stay away from the murky backfield of the Baltimore Ravens for season-long projections until it’s more clear who the primary back will be and how they may perform.
However, there is plenty of low-risk, high reward for daily streaming options, and to get up to date analysis and help create your daily roster, check out the NFL DFS strategy tool. Placing a priority on one of the running backs for the Baltimore Ravens is a tricky proposition, but utilizing a daily fantasy tool will help you analyze the risks and rewards for selecting your roster — and whether the Ravens running backs are worthy of a roster spot.