The Baltimore Ravens received a gigantic blow on Monday when it was announced that running back J.K. Dobbins of Houston, Texas tore his anterior cruciate ligament and is out for the season. Dobbins suffered the injury in Baltimore’s 37-3 win over the Washington Football Team on Saturday.
Even though the Ravens won by 34 points, this result would have seemed more like a loss for the Ravens than a win, because they finished the game by losing their number one running back in a very meaningless contest. The injury to Dobbins strengthens the argument that starters or players of any value should not see any time whatsoever on the football field in preseason play.
Last season Dobbins had 134 carries for 805 yards and nine touchdowns. Yes, Dobbins loses some carries because Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson runs the football frequently, but due to the Ravens are definitely a run-first team, Dobbins did have fantasy value, as was ranked 16th among National Football League running backs.
Now you can take Dobbins out of the fantasy rankings, and put Gus Edwards in Dobbins’s spot. Edwards is entering his fourth season with the Ravens, and could now be in for a breakout season as the Ravens do not have much behind him.
In 2020, Edwards had 144 rushes for 723 yards and six touchdowns. This was the third straight season that Edwards reached a minimum of 700 yards. He had 718 yards in 2018 and 711 yards in 2019.
If you are looking to draft Edwards, only take him on a one-year flier. Dobbins should be the Ravens number one running back again in 2022.
