In 2019 the Baltimore Ravens offense has shattered the team record for most rushing yards in a season and is on pace to finish as one of only three teams in NFL history to rush for more than 3,000 yards in a single campaign. The offense led more-than-ably by quarterback Lamar Jackson (who won yet another AFC Offensive Player of the Week award in Week 15) and veteran running back Mark Ingram, has done very well indeed this season. But imagine how much better they could have been if the Ravens had Nick Chubb on their roster.
The Ravens take on the Cleveland Browns this week and the two teams could hardly have gone in more wildly directions since their first meeting this season. Back in Week 4, the Browns put Baltimore to the sword as they ran out 40-25 winners, thanks in no small part to 165 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Chubb. The Ravens have won all ten of their games since they lost to the Browns, while Cleveland has gone 4-6.
The drama surrounding the Browns in recent weeks, from players like Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry pleading with other teams to “come and get them” to star defensive end Myles Garrett being suspended for an ugly incident at the end of their game with the Steelers, has taken a great deal of shine off Chubb. This is completely unfair to the former Georgia Bulldog who has enjoyed a terrific second season in the NFL despite the dysfunction of his franchise.
Truth be told, Chubb has been incredible ever since the Browns finally decided to fully unleash him partway through his rookie season. Over the last two seasons, he ranks No. 3 among all running backs with 2,401 rushing yards. He has more rushing touchdowns (17) than all but six players at his position and these deeds have made him a must-start in fantasy football circles. Chubb has the 11th-most PPR points among all running backs since the beginning of the 2018 campaign.
As well as he played as a rookie, Chubb has been simply fantastic in 2019. He leads the NFL with 1,408 rushing yards at a league-high pace of 100.6 yards per game. Chubb has demonstrated remarkable slickness of movement, with no player breaking more tackles this past season than the 32 Chubb has evaded. Chubb has done a wonderful job both before and after contact, fighting to gain additional yards despite having defenders hanging off him at times. He is No. 2 among all running backs with 834 rushing yards before contact and No.4 with 574 yards after. Chubb leads all running backs with 17 runs of 15 yards or more in 2019.
As the Ravens found out earlier this season Chubb can be a formidable foe once he gets going. He has rushed for at least 62 yards in all but one game this season with his best outing coming in that Week 4 pummeling in M&T Bank Stadium. Chubb is genuinely a player that could offer something special to an already special offensive unit, but instead, he is simply a player that the Ravens will hope they can slow down in Week 16.
[vertical-gallery id=39350]