10. Mark Ingram, Baltimore Ravens
The former Saints star signed a three-year, $15 million free-agent deal with the Ravens before the 2019 season, just in time to become a major part of the best rushing attack in the league. Baltimore ranked first in rushing DVOA, rushing attempts (596), rushing yards (3,296), yards per attempt (5.5), rushing first downs (188), and only the 49ers scored more rushing touchdowns than the Ravens’ 21. Lamar Jackson was the pointman as he set the single-season record for quarterback rushing yards, but Ingram was also a major piece of that puzzle with 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns on 202 carries. Ingram also caught 26 passes for 247 yards and five touchdowns, and he ranked third overall in Football Outsiders’ cumulative efficiency metrics for running backs, and second in per-play efficiency behind Raheem Mostert of the 49ers.
Like Mostert, Ingram was a product of the running game he was in to a degree, but he was more than an innocent bystander. He had already put up thousand-yard seasons with the Saints in 2016 and 2017, and as log as he can stay healthy, he’ll continue to be a key cog in a run game few defenses are able to stop. Injuries limited Ingram to just 22 yards on six carries in Baltimore’s upset loss to the Titans in the divisional round, and the loss of Ingram at his best put too much pressure on Jackson both as a runner and as a passer. Ingram’s presence is important to the balance of the Ravens’ offensive recipe.
Kyle Shanahan is rightly regarded as the master of defensive displacement through motion and formation, but Ravens OC Greg Roman isn't far behind. Much more pre- and post-snap than in previous years, and Mark Ingram reaps the benefits here. pic.twitter.com/nB8Ek6CrM4
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 27, 2020