This is an offense situated around the running game. Can a fantasy manager conceivably draft both Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins and be fine, or should one RB be prioritized over the other?
Liz: Dobbins was my No. 1 ranked RB heading into this year’s NFL draft. His three-down skill set, authoritative running style, and experience as a pass protector align perfectly with the Ravens’ scheme and style. But Mark Ingram is still it. Sure, he’s 30-years-old, but he’s also a key piece of Baltimore’s team culture, which is something the franchise has historically valued in veteran players. Furthermore, Baltimore doesn’t have a contractual out until 2021.
It makes sense then that as long as he’s healthy, Ingram will work as the team’s RB1. Therefore, I’d prioritize the vet over the rookie, BUT if a manager made a different player or positional choice in the fourth round (which is where Ingram seems to be coming off the board) then I’d certainly target Dobbins in the double-digit rounds. Ultimately, having a piece of this rushing attack should be #goals.
Dalton: Considering the Ravens ran for nearly 1,000 more yards than the No. 2 team last year, both Ingram and Dobbins could finish as viable fantasy RB2s in 2020. But I’m prioritizing Dobbins, who’s younger and seemingly a perfect fit coming from a similar RPO system in college. Baltimore management loves the rookie and graded him as their No. 1 RB and as a first-rounder in the draft, and he’s coming off a final season at Ohio State that was more productive than Ezekiel Elliott’s. The Ravens don’t throw to backs much and Ingram remains (although he’s 30 with an injury history), but given his situation and talent, Dobbins has legit first-round fantasy upside as a rookie.
Andy: There’s little question at the moment that Mark Ingram is the guy at the top of this team’s backfield depth chart. He’s an excellent all-purpose back coming off a terrific season (5.0 YPC, 15 TDs). Of course he’s also 30 years old; Dobbins was drafted as both his understudy and, in all likelihood, next year’s starter. You can certainly draft both Ingram and Dobbins on the same roster, because Baltimore’s rushing offense is exceptional. Plenty of carries to go around, more than any one back can handle. But it should go without saying that you’d never actually start both Dobbins and Ingram in the same week. That feels like a low-probability bet. Ingram enters the season as the team’s No. 1 back, and, again, he feasted a year ago.
