Tag: Mike Davis

Ravens reportedly reach deal with RB Corey Clement

The Ravens have reportedly reached a deal with running back Corey Clement

Last season, the Baltimore Ravens were dealt a plethora of injuries to multiple key positions. One of those that was hit the hardest was at running back, where the team lost JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill prior to the first snap of the regular season. The move prompted the team to sign multiple veteran backs to help fill the void.

On Friday, the team announced six players would begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list. Two of those players were Dobbins and Edwards. With uncertainty of when they will be ready looming, Baltimore signed veteran running back Mike Davis to a one-year deal in May. On Monday, the Ravens reportedly have agreed to terms with another veteran running back.

ESPN’s Jamison Hensley confirmed that former Philadelphia Eagles running back Corey Clement has reached a deal with Baltimore.

Clement should compete for a roster spot with Davis as a veteran running back, assuming the Ravens keep four at the position including Dobbins and Edwards. Baltimore has made sure to bring in plenty of talented depth, and Clement can be effective both as a runner and as a pass catcher.

Through five seasons, Clement has also spent time with the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys. He’s put up 795 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 196 carries. He also has 369 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 43 receptions.

2022 Fantasy Strength of Schedule: Running Backs

2022 fantasy strength of schedule for running backs

Schedule strength for running backs considers both rushing and receiving yards as today’s players rarely rely on just running production anymore. The analysis also considers the venue. There is a difference between how defenses respond either home or away, which creates 64 “different defensive matchups” depending on where the game is played.

See also:
2022 fantasy football schedule strength – Quarterbacks
2022 fantasy football schedule strength – Running Backs
2022 fantasy football schedule strength – Receivers

The scoring was a point for every ten yards rushing or receiving, six-point touchdowns, and a point per reception. The average fantasy points allowed to running backs are at the bottom of this page for reference.

Total Points

Below are the total points for each backfield according to their schedule, using the averages allowed in 2021 by those defenses.

BUF DET CHI SEA MIA NE BAL CAR LAC WAS IND
422 412 412 411 411 410 410 409 407 406 406
KC DEN NYJ SF DAL NO JAC CLE TEN ARI
405 403 402 401 401 400 398 397 396 395
CIN PHI LAR GB MIN PIT ATL NYG HOU TB LV
394 393 393 393 392 392 389 388 385 381 381

The differences do not appear dramatic. And the Bills and Lions are primarily passing teams with committee backfields. David Montgomery is nicely situated but will be in a new offense.  The Seahawks, Dolphins, Patriots, and Ravens are the next best, but all also rely on a combination of several running backs.

Weekly Play

Three different views are below. Week 1 to 17 is the full-season fantasy strength of schedule. “The Dorey Rule” says to draft by considering the first six weeks for a hot start. Finally, Weeks 15 to 17 represent the most common fantasy playoff weeks. “Good” games against a Top-22 venue from last year; “Bad” was when they played in one of the Bottom-22. Bye weeks were also considered as “bad”.

Notable schedules

Antonio Gibson / J.D. McKissic (WAS) – The Commanders’ schedule is very advantageous for their running backs. As it works out, they battle three bad matchups by Week 6 but then the only remaining negative is a Week 14 bye. Better yet, six of their final nine weeks contain weaker defenses and Weeks 15 and 17 are at home versus the Giants and Browns. The workload looks to be more distributed this year, and there is the specter of Brian Robinson Jr. cutting into the workload. By midseason, the schedule looks profitable for the backfield.

Ravens Backfield (BAL) – One of the murkier backfields gets a lighter slate of games. Both J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards return from injury, Mike Davis was added and Tyler Baddie was drafted. The best part of this schedule is Weeks 1 to 8 which contain five soft matchups and no bad ones. The second half of the season is much less favorable, but at least they end up with home games against the Falcons and Steelers during fantasy playoffs.

D’Andre Swift / Jamaal Williams (DET) –  The Lions face one of the better schedules for running backs with a nice opening to the season with three of five matchups favorable and ending with only one tough venue in the final seven games of the fantasy season. D’Andre Swift already enters 2022 with promise, and his schedule will work with him if he can stay healthy.

Rashaad Penny / Kenneth Walker (SEA) – The respective roles are up for grabs in the Seattle backfield, but an intention to run more and a kind schedule should help. After Week 6, the only negatives are the bye and Week 14 versus the 49ers. Overall, this could let the rookie Kenneth Walker shine if Rashaad Penny continues to have injury issues. Fantasy championships at home versus the Jets sound like a winner.

Devin Singletary / James Cook (BUF) – Another backfield with less clarity after the Bills made James Cook as the third running back taken in the NFL draft. Devin Singletary likely remains the primary back but faces a tough opening with three bad matchups over the initial four games. It clears up the rest of the way with only a bye and Week 16 at the Bears, but otherwise, they enjoy seven favorable matchups between Weeks 5 to 14.

Dalvin Cook (MIN) – The Vikings’ stud running back has already fallen in fantasy drafts this year and that’s likely compounded with a glance at his schedule.  Cook battles a brutal stretch between Weeks 4 and 12, with every matchup in a tough venue other than hosting the Bears in Week 5 as a neutral pairing. It lightens over the final five games but still plays the Colts and at the Packers during fantasy playoffs.

Najee Harris (PIT) – The top rookie rusher last year, Najee Harris was a fantasy goldmine but he’ll have a tougher time repeating with a new quarterback and a schedule that contains just three favorable venues against eight top defenses plus a bye week. Even his fantasy playoffs holds road trips to the Panthers and Ravens.

Josh Jacobs / Kenyan Drake (LV) – There’s a chance that even the rookie Zamir White could also limit what Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake accomplish this year. Jacobs star isn’t as bright, and Drake returns from a broken ankle. Worse yet, after opening at the Chargers, the Raiders don’t have a favorable matchup until Week 12. And when you need them the most, this backfield faces the 49ers, Patriots and Steelers during fantasy playoffs.

2022 weekly grid

Week ARI ATL BAL BUF CAR CHI CIN CLE
1 KC NO @NYJ @LAR CLE SF PIT @CAR
2 @LV @LAR MIA TEN @NYG @GB @DAL NYJ
3 LAR @SEA @NE @MIA NO HOU @NYJ PIT
4 @CAR CLE BUF @BAL ARI @NYG MIA @ATL
5 PHI @TB CIN PIT SF @MIN @BAL LAC
6 @SEA SF @NYG @KC @LAR WAS @NO NE
7 NO @CIN CLE bye TB @NE ATL @BAL
8 @MIN CAR @TB GB @ATL @DAL @CLE CIN
9 SEA LAC @NO @NYJ @CIN MIA CAR bye
10 @LAR @CAR bye MIN ATL DET bye @MIA
11 SF CHI CAR CLE @BAL @ATL @PIT @BUF
12 LAC @WAS @JAC @DET DEN @NYJ @TEN TB
13 bye PIT DEN @NE bye GB KC @HOU
14 NE bye @PIT NYJ @SEA bye CLE @CIN
15 @DEN @NO @CLE MIA PIT PHI @TB BAL
16 TB @BAL ATL @CHI DET BUF @NE NO
17 @ATL ARI PIT @CIN @TB @DET BUF @WAS
18 @SF TB @CIN NE @NO MIN BAL @PIT
DAL DEN DET GB HOU IND JAC KC
1 TB @SEA PHI @MIN IND @HOU @WAS @ARI
2 CIN HOU WAS CHI @DEN @JAC IND LAC
3 @NYG SF @MIN @TB @CHI KC @LAC @IND
4 WAS @LV SEA NE LAC TEN @PHI @TB
5 @LAR IND @NE NYG @JAC @DEN HOU LV
6 @PHI @LAC bye NYJ bye JAC @IND BUF
7 DET NYJ @DAL @WAS @LV @TEN NYG @SF
8 CHI @JAC MIA @BUF TEN WAS DEN bye
9 bye bye GB @DET PHI @NE LV TEN
10 @GB @TEN @CHI DAL @NYG @LV @KC JAC
11 @MIN LV @NYG TEN WAS PHI bye @LAC
12 NYG @CAR BUF @PHI @MIA PIT BAL LAR
13 IND @BAL JAC @CHI CLE @DAL @DET @CIN
14 HOU KC MIN bye @DAL bye @TEN @DEN
15 @JAC ARI @NYJ LAR KC @MIN DAL @HOU
16 PHI @LAR @CAR @MIA @TEN LAC @NYJ SEA
17 @TEN @KC CHI MIN JAC @NYG @HOU DEN
18 @WAS LAC @GB DET @IND HOU TEN @LV
LAC LAR LV MIA MIN NE NO NYG
1 LV BUF @LAC NE GB @MIA @ATL @TEN
2 @KC ATL ARI @BAL @PHI @PIT TB CAR
3 JAC @ARI @TEN BUF DET BAL @CAR DAL
4 @HOU @SF DEN @CIN @NO @GB MIN CHI
5 @CLE DAL @KC @NYJ CHI DET SEA @GB
6 DEN CAR bye MIN @MIA @CLE CIN BAL
7 SEA bye HOU PIT bye CHI @ARI @JAC
8 bye SF @NO @DET ARI @NYJ LV @SEA
9 @ATL @TB @JAC @CHI @WAS IND BAL bye
10 @SF ARI IND CLE @BUF bye @PIT HOU
11 KC @NO @DEN bye DAL NYJ LAR DET
12 @ARI @KC @SEA HOU NE @MIN @SF @DAL
13 @LV SEA LAC @SF NYJ BUF @TB WAS
14 MIA LV @LAR @LAC @DET @ARI bye PHI
15 TEN @GB NE @BUF IND @LV ATL @WAS
16 @IND DEN @PIT GB NYG CIN @CLE @MIN
17 LAR @LAC SF @NE @GB MIA @PHI IND
18 @DEN @SEA KC NYJ @CHI @BUF CAR @PHI
NYJ PHI PIT SEA SF TB TEN WAS
1 BAL @DET @CIN DEN @CHI @DAL NYG JAC
2 @CLE MIN NE @SF SEA @NO @BUF @DET
3 CIN @WAS @CLE ATL @DEN GB LV PHI
4 @PIT JAC NYJ @DET LAR KC @IND @DAL
5 MIA @ARI @BUF @NO @CAR ATL @WAS TEN
6 @GB DAL TB ARI @ATL @PIT bye @CHI
7 @DEN bye @MIA @LAC KC @CAR IND GB
8 NE PIT @PHI NYG @LAR BAL @HOU @IND
9 BUF @HOU bye @ARI bye LAR @KC MIN
10 bye WAS NO @TB LAC SEA DEN @PHI
11 @NE @IND CIN bye @ARI bye @GB @HOU
12 CHI GB @IND LV NO @CLE CIN ATL
13 @MIN TEN @ATL @LAR MIA NO @PHI @NYG
14 @BUF @NYG BAL CAR TB @SF JAC bye
15 DET @CHI @CAR SF @SEA CIN @LAC NYG
16 JAC @DAL LV @KC WAS @ARI HOU @SF
17 @SEA NO @BAL NYJ @LV CAR DAL CLE
18 @MIA NYG CLE LAR ARI @ATL @JAC DAL

 

Fantasy points allowed per game to running backs

These are the values applied to this year’s schedule to determine strength of schedule for running backs.

NYJ 36.1 @SF 24.7 @BUF 21.5
DET 31.1 @PHI 24.7 @DEN 21.5
@SEA 30.8 @ATL 24.6 TB 21.3
SEA 30.7 @KC 24.6 NE 21.2
PIT 29.7 HOU 24.6 @NO 20.9
@NYJ 29.6 MIA 24.5 @CHI 20.8
@NYG 27.1 @CIN 24.3 @CLE 20.6
@LVR 26.9 @MIN 24.2 @PIT 20.6
LVR 26.4 @TB 24.1 TEN 20.5
CIN 26.1 KC 23.6 DAL 20.5
@LAC 26.0 @IND 23.5 @DAL 20.3
@NE 25.9 GB 23.4 @CAR 20.3
WAS 25.8 PHI 23.3 @BAL 20.2
@HOU 25.6 CHI 23.0 @MIA 20.2
CLE 25.5 @ARI 22.9 @GB 20.1
ATL 25.3 BAL 22.5 @WAS 20.1
NYG 25.2 DEN 22.2 ARI 19.6
@LAR 25.2 @JAC 22.2 SF 19.3
LAC 25.1 CAR 21.9 LAR 18.9
MIN 25.0 BUF 21.9 IND 18.0
JAC 24.9 @TEN 17.4
@DET 24.9 NO 16.8

 

Grading the Ravens’ signing of RB Mike Davis

We grade the Baltimore Ravens’ signing of running back Mike Davis

The Baltimore Ravens made an addition to their running back room in the signing of former Atlanta Falcon Mike Davis. The veteran has seen his fair share of experiences across his seven-year NFL career, and now will compete for a roster spot with plenty of other talented players at his position.

Davis has spent time with five NFL teams, and has accumulated 550 carries for 2,034 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. He is also a good receiving threat out of the backfield, catching 169 passes for 1,062 yards and four touchdowns.

The veteran now enters a running back room that also includes J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Tyler Badie, Justice Hill, Nate McCreary and Ricky Person. It’s not a guarantee that Davis will make Baltimore’s final 53-man roster, but in the event that Dobbins or Edwards needs extra time to recover from their torn ACL injuries, Davis could step in and contribute.

Davis is a hard runner that can stay up after first contact and continue to gain yardage while also having good hands to catch passes. While he admittedly struggled a bit in Atlanta during the 2021 season to the tune of 3.6 yards per carry, he still has shown that he can be a productive player at the professional level.

All in all, Davis is a low-risk, high-reward signing for a Ravens team that clearly doesn’t want to get burned by a lack of running back depth in 2022 after what happened to them in 2021. Regardless of if he makes the team or not, the move to sign the veteran was one that won’t impact the team much if it doesn’t work out, but could pay big dividends if he is extremely productive

Grade: B 

Reported contract details of Ravens RB Mike Davis released

The reported details surrounding the contract of Ravens running back Mike Davis were released

The Baltimore Ravens signed veteran running back Mike Davis to a one-year deal, adding depth to their backfield that saw three running backs go down with season-ending injuries before the 2021 season began. The move was a solid one for Baltimore, as Davis can still be productive even in a backup role.

The details of Davis’ contract were reportedly released on Wednesday, and it seems as if the Ravens got a pretty good deal for a player such as Davis. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, Davis’ one-year deal is worth $1.2025 million. Yates added the contract was a veteran salary benefit deal with a $152.5k signing bonus.

Not only did the Ravens get Davis at a good price, the team was also able to  bring in a running back who can still produce even if he plays a limited role in the Baltimore offense. If running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards need to miss any time in 2022 as they continue recovering from their injuries, Davis could be expected to get a heavy workload early.

3 reasons why signing RB Mike Davis was a smart move by Ravens

We analyze three reasons why the signing of running back Mike Davis was a smart move by the Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday announced that they signed former Atlanta Falcons running back Mike Davis to a one-year deal. The addition of a veteran in the backfield is a smart move by the team who saw three key players at the position go down with season-ending injuries right before 2021 began.

Davis, 29, has played on five different teams during his first seven years in the NFL, including stops with the San Fransisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers as well as Atlanta. He can be an asset in multiple different areas for the Baltimore offense, both as a runner and as a receiver.

Below we look at three reasons why Davis joining the Ravens was a great move.

Ravens RB Mike Davis reacts to signing with Baltimore by tweeting single emoji

New Ravens running back Mike Davis tweeted out an emoji in response to signing with the team

The Baltimore Ravens continue adding to their running back room and building up quality depth. The team selected running back Tyler Badie out of the University of Missouri in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft, and have now added veteran running back Mike Davis.

Davis last played for the Atlanta Falcons, and has a multitude of experiences across his seven-year career. After the news of him signing with Baltimore came to light, the running back reacted by tweeting out a single emoji, seemingly portraying his excitement for his new journey and becoming a member of the Ravens.

Throughout his seven NFL seasons, Davis has carried the football 550 times for 2,034 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is also a good pass catcher out of the backfield, hauling in 169 passes for 1,062 yards and four touchdowns through the air.

Ravens sign RB Mike Davis

The Ravens have signed running back Mike Davis

The Baltimore Ravens saw a lot of their initial running back depth take a hit before the 2021 season even began, as both J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards suffered torn ACLs and missed the entirety of the year. Even though both have the potential to return at full strength in 2022, Baltimore is leaving no stone unturned as they continue to add depth at the position.

On Tuesday, it was first reported and later confirmed by the team itself that the Ravens signed veteran running back Mike Davis, who most recently played with the Atlanta Falcons. Davis was released by Atlanta shortly after the 2022 NFL draft had concluded.

Davis runs hard and can catch passes out of the backfield, adding another weapon for quarterback Lamar Jackson.  The signing of the veteran gives the team another solid depth piece at the running back position, and ensures that Dobbins and Edwards don’t have to rush back from their respective injuries.

The 29-year-old has played for five teams in his career, rushing for 2,034 yards on 550 carries while having 14 touchdowns on the ground. He’s also caught 169 passes for 1,062 yards and four receiving scores.

Falcons release three players, announce 13 UDFA signings

The Falcons released three players, announced 13 undrafted free agent signings and picked up Chris Lindstrom’s 5th-year option Monday.

The Atlanta Falcons made a handful of moves on Monday, signing 13 undrafted free agents, releasing three players and announcing their decision on the team’s two fifth-year option candidates.

Here’s a quick rundown of the day’s transactions.

Falcons to release RB Mike Davis, per report

According to multiple reports, the Falcons will release veteran Mike Davis one season after signing him to a two-year deal.

After re-signing Cordarrelle Patterson, Qadree Ollison, signing Damien Williams and drafting Tyler Allgeier, the Atlanta Falcons created a bit of a logjam at the running back position.

According to Jordan Schultz and ESPN’s Michael Rothstein, the Falcons will release veteran Mike Davis one season after signing him to a two-year deal.

It’s not the most surprising release, and once the team drafted Allgeier, the writing appeared to be on the wall for the veteran running back. Last season, Davis rushed for 503 yards and three touchdowns on 3.6 yards per carry.

According to Schultz, the Falcons will save $2.5 million against the salary cap.

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Mike Davis isn’t facing Jai Herbert at UFC London because ‘it just doesn’t make sense to take the fight’

It appears that Mike Davis won’t be fighting Jai Herbert at UFC London after all.

It appears that [autotag]Mike Davis[/autotag] won’t be fighting [autotag]Jai Herbert[/autotag] at UFC London.

Promotion officials announced that Davis (9-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) would be heading into enemy territory to meet Herbert (11-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) March 19 at the O2 Arena, but according to Davis, the fight is no longer happening.

Speaking to Fight Bananas, Davis said while he’s still game to face Herbert, he’s not keen on competing in the U.K. for various reasons.

“First thing’s first, I want to apologize for that,” Davis said. “There are a couple of things at play, some variables that don’t make sense to take this fight. Herbert, amazing opponent, good fight, good card, good promotion, good arena. I was excited to go, but there are some things that people don’t know about in the athlete world, going forth as a professional athlete. Traveling overseas, they do income tax where it is obnoxiously – the amount is obnoxious. So take it this way: If I was to fight in London once and in the United States once, they’re gonna tax me 50 percent of my purse.

“My entire global income will be taxed by U.K. and by the U.S. Then I gotta pay management, and I gotta pay camp then I gotta pay gym, so I’m going home with like 5 percent of my purse, 7 percent of my purse, so it just doesn’t make sense to take the fight. However, I like the matchup. Jai Herbert, if you want to take the fight in the States sometime in the future, I’m all for it. An amazing matchup, good fighter, I love your skillset, it’ll be a fun fight to watch, fans would love it if we could set that up in the future here in the States.”

Davis also added that traveling halfway across the world for his past fight had him not performing his best, despite outlasting Mason Jones in a “Fight of the Night” effort at UFC on ESPN 20.

“Last time I performed in Abu Dhabi, I didn’t feel great,” Davis said. “I couldn’t sleep, it was a very disruptive performance for me, and I don’t wanna go down that path again. I want to figure out how I can travel and still sleep and perform the way I do here in the States. I do look forward to getting another opponent soon. I mean, the fight is off, but I’m ready to go April, May, June. Let’s go.”

Herbert took to social media to confirm the news, but alluded to the fact that he intends to stay on the London card.

“Opponent is out, but my focus remains the same #ufclondon.”