Tag: J.K. Dobbins fantasy football

These five players are falling in fantasy football drafts

Five players whose fantasy fortunes are heading in the wrong direction.

With training camps in full swing and teams starting to take the field for their preseason openers, it can only mean that we’re drawing ever closer to Week 1, and the start of another NFL season. Along with that, of course, comes the beginning of another year of fantasy football. While some leagues have already held their drafts, many more will do so between now and Sept. 7 when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Detroit Lions in the Kickoff Game.

With that in mind, here’s a look at five players to keep an eye on as they move down draft boards.

Revisiting the Baltimore Ravens’ backfield in fantasy football

A reshaped Ravens’ RB stable requires a fresh look.

While we looked at the Baltimore Ravens’ backfield earlier in the offseason, enough changes have happened to warrant another peek. With that in mind, let’s dive back in and update the Ravens’ backfield situation as we head into the start of the 2022 campaign.

Fantasy Football: 5 breakout running backs for 2022 season

These running backs could become fantasy football stars this season.

Following roster cuts and waiver claims, NFL backfields have been sorted out and fantasy football managers are now ready to draft ahead of the season opener next week.

When drafting your team, keep an eye on these five running backs — they all have potential for big breakout seasons in 2022.

Will J.K. Dobbins be ready for Week 1 fantasy lineups?

What kind of timeline can gamers expect from the rehabbing rusher?

Heading into last season, Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins (knee) was among the most popular breakout candidates in all of fantasy football, and for good reason. As a rookie the Ohio State product carried the ball 134 times for 805 yards (an eye-popping 6.0 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns, and that was with veteran Mark Ingram (now with the New Orleans Saints) soaking up 72 carries. Once atop the depth chart, Dobbins appeared poised for a big sophomore campaign.

That all changed on Aug. 28 during the team’s final preseason game when Dobbins suffered a torn ACL that would cost him the entirety of 2021. Just over a year will have passed when the 2022 regular season kicks off for Baltimore on Sunday, Sept. 11, against the New York Jets, and both the team and player are hopeful that Dobbins will be on the field. There have been no reported setbacks in his recovery, and he’s been vocal about wanting to play in the opener.

Whether he will, however, remains unclear. Dobbins is currently on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, alongside No. 2 back Gus Edwards (knee), who is coming off his own torn ACL, and it’s doubtful the team will push either player after relying on retreads like Devonta Freeman and Latavius Murray last year — both remain unsigned, which tells you how they’re viewed around the league.

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Still, it feels likely that Dobbins will be ready sooner than later; even if he misses a game or two out of the gates, odds are the Ravens will activate him before finalizing their 53-man roster, since keeping him on the PUP would require the third-year pro to miss a minimum of four games. Head coach John Harbaugh recently suggested we could see Dobbins return to practice as soon as Monday, Aug. 8, which would allow for a look at him prior to most owners draft.

Once he’s cleared, Dobbins should serve as the lead back. That shouldn’t be confused with being a workhorse in the vein of the Indianapolis Colts’ Jonathan Taylor, though, as head coach John Harbaugh has long liked to mix and match his backs, and he has a very capable No. 2 in Edwards, whenever he returns. Further down the depth chart is a mix of veterans like Mike Davis and Corey Clement, and unproven players like Justice Hill (Achilles) and rookie Tyler Badie.

While Dobbins figures to get the highest usage, bear in mind he entered the NFL with questions about his ability as a receiver, and he did little to answer those as a rookie when he caught just 18 passes for 220 yards. That could mean a limited role for the former Buckeye on obvious passing downs, though Edwards has done even less as a pass catcher, so perhaps Dobbins will surprise in that regard. Ultimately, this offense just doesn’t incorporate its backs in the aerial game enough to move the need in that regard.

Fantasy football outlook

There’s less buzz around Dobbins this year than last, but that could work in your favor as he’s likely to be available later in drafts. As a high-end RB3 with some upside, he’d be worth pulling the trigger. Be patient with his early-season returns.

Fantasy football players on the rebound for 2022

Which fantasy football weapons are poised to rebound in 2022?

Every season, several proven players regress and even fall off of the fantasy football map due to injury, demotion, a poor system fit, or another unforeseen calamity. Players of the fake game understandably tend to be of the, “What has he done for me lately?” mindset and may underrate some proven options coming off a bad year.

Heading into the 2022 season, we’ll explore which players are most likely to bounce back from a down year in 2021. The players are ordered from least to most important in relation to their potential fantasy returns.

Be sure to sign up for The Huddle to gain the needed edge on your competition. In this space last year, we correctly called bounce-back performances from the likes of Dak Prescott, Austin Ekeler, Deebo Samuel, and Matthew Stafford to help create winning rosters.

Fantasy football players on the rebound for 2022

Fantasy football mock draft series: July takeaways

Recapping a recent fantasy football industry draft to look for trends and more.

Fantasy football drafts are heating up as we enjoy summer weather and cold beverages. A recently hosted industry mock draft is the source for this recap. Out of respect for the hosts of this draft, no reference will be made to its identity so the content remains fresh on their end, nor will the entire draft results be published here.

The draft results will appear in a magazine as part of a larger evaluation of the draft. Before getting into my individual picks, here are a few observations from a 12-team, PPR draft.

  • In last June’s iteration, Round 1 saw seven running backs and five receivers, including Cooper Kupp going at No. 2 and Justin Jefferson as the third selection. This version saw Kupp drafted fourth and Jefferson seventh with nine RBs making up the rest of the round.
  • Six RBs came off the board in Round 2 in 2021’s June draft, followed by one fewer receiver and solo tight end. This year’s June draft was no different. In the July edition, five backs, one tight end, and six wideouts were chosen.
  • The first QB, Josh Allen, was taken with the opening pick of Round 5 in June. Justin Herbert went just two picks later, and only a pair of passers came off the board in the next 31 selections (Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes). This time around, Allen was Pick 5:05, and Mahomes went with the very next spot. Herbert went with the eighth pick in the fifth round. Seven quarterbacks went in the first 75 choices this time. Quarterback remains quite deep with a viable starter often being available into the 13th round.
  • Tight end remains a little top-heavy, just like last year. Following the consensus top-six TEs — all of whom went in the first five rounds — the position gets really dicey. If you’re not comfortable playing the matchups, make sure to secure one of Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce, Kyle Pitts, George Kittle, Darren Waller or Dalton Schultz.
  • In the first 100 picks, nine QBs, 40 RBs, 43 WRs and eight TEs — no significant changes from the June version when eight quarterbacks, 38 RBs, 45 WRs and nine tight ends were chosen.
  • Pick 10 is an interesting spot this year. In the FSGA draft, which was a 14-teamer, it was brutal compared to a 12-squad setup. This draft having a dozen teams made me appreciate the slotting more than expected.

Here’s a snapshot of the first 10 rounds broken down by number of positional picks:

1st: 9 RBs, 3 WRs
2nd: 5 RBs, 6 WRs, 1 TE
3rd: 5 RBs, 5 WRs, 2 TEs
4th: 4 RBs, 6 WRs, 2 TEs
5th: 3 QBs, 3 RBs, 5 WRs, 1 TE
6th: 3 QBs, 3 RB, 6 WRs
7th: 1 QB, 4 RBs, 5 WRs, 2 TEs
8th: 1 QB, 4 RBs, 7 WRs
9th: 2 QBs, 5 RBs, 3 WRs, 2 TEs
10th: 3 QBs, 3 RBs, 6 WRs

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My roster

Pos Player Team Bye
QB Aaron Rodgers GB 14
RB James Conner ARI 13
RB JK Dobbins BAL 10
RB Rashaad Penny SEA 11
RB Miles Sanders PHI 7
RB Hassan Haskins TEN 6
WR Ja’Marr Chase CIN 10
WR Stefon Diggs BUF 7
WR Jerry Jeudy DEN 9
WR Allen Lazard GB 14
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling KC 8
WR Jalen Tolbert DAL 9
TE Dalton Schultz DAL 9
TE Austin Hooper TEN 6
PK Matt Prater ARI 13
DT Los Angeles Chargers LAC 8

By round

Pick Rnd Player Tm Pos
10 1.1 Ja’Marr Chase CIN WR
15 2.3 Stefon Diggs BUF WR
34 3.1 James Conner ARI RB
39 4.3 J.K. Dobbins BAL RB
58 5.1 Dalton Schultz DAL TE
63 6.3 Jerry Jeudy DEN WR
82 7.1 Rashaad Penny SEA RB
87 8.3 Miles Sanders PHI RB
106 9.1 Allen Lazard GB WR
111 10.3 Aaron Rodgers GB QB
130 11.1 Marquez Valdes-Scantling KC WR
135 12.3 Hassan Haskins TEN RB
154 13.1 Austin Hooper TEN TE
159 14.3 Jalen Tolbert DAL WR
178 15.1 Los Angeles Chargers LAC Def/ST
183 16.3 Matt Prater ARI K

Keeping the previous iterations’ format alive, each pick gets a brief explanation of my draft thoughts:

Fantasy football outlook: Baltimore Ravens running backs

What will this backfield offer after a catastrophic 2021 season?

In a span of less than three weeks last preseason, the Baltimore Ravens lost running backs J.K. Dobbins, Justice Hill, and Gus Edwards to leg injuries — Dobbins and Edwards suffered torn ACLs, whereas Hill ruptured his Achilles.

With their depth chart in shambles, the team wound up with veterans Devonta Freeman and Latavius Murray as the top options. Neither player is set to return in 2022, however, leaving the Ravens without a single back who carried the ball for the team last season. With that in mind, it’s a good time to preview what Baltimore’s backfield will look like this year.

J.K. Dobbins

Prior to his injury, Dobbins was a popular breakout candidate after he averaged a whopping 6.0 yards per carry as a rookie to go along with nine TDs on just 134 carries. He’s a compact, powerful runner who can break tackles while still possessing elusiveness in the open field. Dobbins is easily the most talented of Baltimore’s options and should fill the primary role.

There’s a caveat within that designation, though, as the Ravens have long been a proponent of the committee approach. In fact, over the past nine seasons there have been only two Baltimore backs to top 1,000 yards in a season: Mark Ingram (1,018 in 2019) and Justin Forsett (1,266 in 2014). Couple that with Dobbins’ perceived limitations as a pass catcher, and it’d be smart to temper any expectations of the Ohio State alum posting RB1 numbers.

Gus Edwards

Steady as she goes has been the mantra for Edwards, who has gained between 710 and 725 yards rushing in each of his three NFL seasons while averaging at least 5.0 yards per carry. Checking in at 6-foot-1, 238 pounds, Edwards is a big back, but with only 10 career touchdowns in 414 carries. He has never shown a penchant for goal-line work; that could certainly be a byproduct of his height making him too large of a target for consistent short-area usage.

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Edwards has yet to show anything as a receiver, either, managing just 18 career receptions. Take that with the lack of scores, and suddenly the fifth-year pro profiles as a middle-of-the-field, early-down back, which limits his upside. Assuming health, Edwards can safely be penciled in as the complementary option to Dobbins.

Mike Davis

Signed in May, Davis is a true journeyman, having played for five NFL clubs in his seven seasons. While he offers little in the way of explosiveness — something his career average of 3.7 YPC can attest to — the veteran is a capable receiver and typically reliable ball carrier with six career fumbles over his 719 total touches, though four of them came in 2021. He’s cut from the same well-worn cloth as Freeman and Murray from last season.

Justice Hill/Tyler Badie

A fourth-round pick in 2019, Hill saw limited opportunities in his first two seasons and then watched his chance for extended work dashed last year by the Achilles injury. He’s more reliable than explosive, and entering the final year of his rookie deal he’ll need to fend off Tyler Badie, who the Ravens snagged in the sixth round of this year’s draft. Badie runs hard and is a capable receiving threat, which might give him a leg up in the battle for a roster spot.

Fantasy football takeaway

If everyone can stay healthy, Dobbins and Edwards should carry the load. Their lone season together in 2020 saw Edwards (144) get more carries than the then-rookie Dobbins (134) while Ingram (72) was also involved.

This season look for the latter’s touches to be redistributed among the top two backs with whoever emerges among Davis, Hill and Badie getting spot duty. Dobbins has borderline top-20 appeal, and Edwards is a solid RB5 depth type. The rest can be bypassed entirely.

Fantasy football team previews: AFC North

A team-by-team fantasy football outlook from the AFC North.

The 2022 fantasy football draft season is starting to heat up now that we’ve gone through the height of free agency and all of the chosen rookies have been assigned to their professional home cities.

The landscape has changed a great deal for many franchises after a whirlwind offseason, and our divisional preview series will help you stay on top of all of the changes to date.

AFC divisional previews

East | North | South | West

NFC divisional previews

East | North | South | West

Here’s how you try to replace Gus Edwards in fantasy football

A Baltimore bloodbath at RB has fantasy footballers scrambling for help.

Just as fantasy football owners were starting to come to grips with the loss of J.K. Dobbins, his replacement, Gus Edwards, also appears to have torn an ACL, an injury which would end his 2021 NFL season before it begins.

In that event, the snakebitten Baltimore Ravens will have lost both of their top-two running backs in the past 10 days. A third running back, Justice Hill, joins them, but he had lost his job prior to an Achilles injury.

Veteran Le’Veon Bell was signed to the practice squad, it’s unclear how much of the offense he possibly could have digested in such a short period of time, even if he gets activated for Week 1’s Monday Night Football tilt at the Las Vegas Raiders.

Running back Ty’Son Williams, a 2020 rookie practice squader, is the safer bet for the bulk of the action this week, and likely the rest of the way. The Ravens may attempt to pair Williams with Bell, given the latter’s immense talent as a receiving outlet.

While we don’t know for sure yet if Edwards will be done for the season, the initial reports sound anything but encouraging. He’s almost guaranteed to miss Week 1, and if we don’t hear the dreaded confirmation of an ACL tear in the next 48 hours, he may not be an automatic drop just yet.

Be patient, but if you have roster room and open waivers right now, check for Williams and Bell, although he looked fairly close to washed up in 2020. Williams is fresh and, at 6-foot, 220 pounds, has the size to withstand an NFL beating. The BYU product is no stranger to injury that granted him this opportunity, tearing an ACL of his own in 2019. He probably was drafted or added already on the wire in competitive leagues that chose late, but it’s worth a look.

This situation is fluid and developing, so be ready to pounce on the wire as soon as possible. The Ravens may not even be done yet adding running backs. There’s a chance someone like Todd Gurley, who has been in contact with the team this offseason, could be in the cards, given his receiving prowess. That is, if Bell doesn’t show enough to be elevated to the active roster, because he, too, is obviously a talented pass-catching back.

Which Ravens players are worth drafting in fantasy football?

Expectations of fantasy-relevant Ravens for 2021.

After averaging an NFL-best 33.2 points per game in 2019, along with 407.6 yards, the Baltimore Ravens saw those numbers slip to 29.3 points (seventh) and 363.1 yards (19th).

In response to that regression, the Ravens added free-agent wideout Sammy Watkins (37-421-2 w/ KC) and first-round receiver Rashod Bateman, which they hope will elevate dual-threat Lamar Jackson as a passer. Still, there are a lot of unknowns entering the 2021 fantasy football season, so let’s look at Baltimore’s offense.

Lamar Jackson fantasy football outlook

From a purely statistical standpoint, Jackson’s second full year as a starter wasn’t that different from his first. In 2019, he averaged 208.5 yards passing, 80.4 yards rushing and 2.9 combined TDs per game. Last year, Jackson posted 183.8 yards passing, 67 yards rushing and 2.2 combined scores per contest. Those shortfalls add up over a full season, though, and it was the difference between elite fantasy production and fringe QB1 status.

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Expect a bit of a bounce back from Jackson this year as Baltimore’s investments in the passing game (four high-round picks in three years) and offensive line (signing Kevin Zeitler and Alejandro Villanueva) should help diversify their attack. Don’t expect much of a philosophical shift, however, as what makes the Ravens dangerous is the threat of Jackson making things happen with his legs.

Could we see a little more throwing and a little less running? Sure, but at age 24 there’s little reason to rein in Jackson, who has never missed a game due to injury. Even with two documented cases of COVID-19, one of which cost him a game in 2020, Jackson is draftable as a midrange QB1.

J.K. Dobbins fantasy football outlook

One of the great mysteries of last season was why it took roughly two months to give Dobbins steady work — he averaged 4.2 carries per game in his first six and 12.1 over his final nine. The Ohio State product showed great burst, averaging 6.0 yards per carry as a rookie and scoring in each of his final half-dozen games. While he continued to share snaps with Gus Edwards, Dobbins’ numbers over that stretch project out to 1,403 yards and 20 TDs over a 17-game campaign.

Those numbers are still based off modest usage, and if Dobbins can carve out a larger slice they could improve quickly. It’s a dubious proposition to rely on the Ravens to change up a model that has led the NFL in rushing the past two years, so Dobbins is best drafted as a lower-end RB2, but there’s top-10 upside.

Gus Edwards fantasy football outlook

Edwards has quietly carved out three solid seasons as part of Baltimore’s running back committee, averaging 717 yards and 3.3 rushing scores on a 5.2 YPC clip. He’s been a nonfactor as a receiver, though, with just 18 career receptions, which figures to limit his usage to running situations.

While the departure of Mark Ingram leaves 72 carries to be redistributed, the smart money suggests most of those will go to Dobbins. Consider Edwards a decent fourth/fifth fantasy RB and possible handcuff.

Sammy Watkins fantasy football outlook

After seven NFL campaigns, Watkins’ status as talented but oft-injured is well earned. The former fourth overall pick missed a combined 23 games over the last five seasons, which is a big reason Watkins has topped 1,000 yards just once as a pro.

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His yards-per-catch have declined each of those five seasons, though some of that can be chalked up to his role in a Chiefs offense that featured the NFL’s top field stretcher in Tyreek Hill. Still, the bloom is off the rose. Between the injuries and middling production, Watkins isn’t worth more than final-round flier consideration.

Marquise Brown fantasy football outlook

Brown returns as the nominal WR1 in Baltimore after leading the team in catches (58), yards (769) and TDs (8) last year. The diminutive wideout has shown he can get deep — only nine WRs had more receptions of 40-plus yards last year — but the consistency has yet to develop with Brown topping 100 yards in a game just twice. The question is whether adding talent around him will create more opportunities by opening things up or fewer looks in the NFL’s least-active passing attack; Baltimore threw 406 passes last season, 79 fewer than Tennessee, which ranked 30th.

To date, Hollywood has been more straight-to-DVD than summer blockbuster, but he’s arguably the only Ravens receiver worth drafting, albeit no more than a WR4.

Rashod Bateman fantasy football outlook

When Baltimore used the 27th pick in the ’21 draft on Bateman there were thoughts that he could be an immediate starter given his advanced route running and toughness after the catch. Unfortunately, Bateman went down early in camp and ended up undergoing core-muscle surgery that could keep him sidelined into October or later.

Even if there are no hiccups in his recovery, he might have trouble carving out a significant role as a rookie. He’s purely dynasty-league material.

Mark Andrews fantasy football outlook

Andrews led the Ravens with a 64-852-10 line in 2019 and was just slightly off Brown’s pace last season when he posted a 58-701-7 mark. His size has been a boon down in the red zone, and he has generally operated as Jackson’s go-to receiver.

Even with an influx of new and developing options there’s no reason to think that Andrews won’t continue to be a volume target. He deserves serious consideration once Travis Kelce and Darren Waller are off the board.