With three running backs (Mark Ingram, J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards) and a quarterback in Lamar Jackson who is like an extra running back, the Baltimore Ravens backfield is hard for fantasy football managers to lock down.
In Week 11 it looked like Dobbins, the rookie out of Ohio State, finally took the reigns of the Ravens running back rotation. He had 15 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown, with two catches for 15 yards. Ingram and Edwards combined for five carries.
When Ingram missed time early in the season and then returned in Week 10, Edwards had a three-game touchdown streak. Then in Week 10, he had 73 total yards. From Week 6-Week 10, Edwards was RB22 in standard fantasy scoring.
Ahead of a Thanksgiving night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens have had multiple COVID-19 positives. Two of them were Ingram and Dobbins, so they will miss Week 12. Their status for Week 13 is worth wondering about too.
The Steelers enter Week 12 allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs (Yahoo! 0.5-point PPR). But Edwards had 16 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown against them in Week 8. Dobbins also had 113 yards of his own, on 15 carries.
Left behind Edwards on the depth chart for Thursday night, assuming the game is played then, is second-year man Justice Hill. Hill does not have a carry yet this season, with one catch on 17 offensive snaps.
Go Get Gus Edwards Off The Waiver Wire
From Week 13-Week 16, here’s now Baltimore’s opponents rank in fantasy points allowed to running backs heading into Week 12 (Yahoo! 0.5-point PPR).
Dallas Cowboys-14th-most
Cleveland Browns-8th-fewest
Jacksonville Jaguars-6th-most
New York Giants-8th most
If Ingram and/or Dobbins wind up not playing in Week 13, Edwards would get a decent matchup against the Cowboys. Aside from Dobbins pushing for a big role if he’s able to play, Edwards should be ahead of Ingram in the pecking order. This should be a two-man running back rotation. Ingram’s usage over the last two games (23 total snaps) suggests that’s what it’ll be.
Edwards is a legit low-end RB2 or flex against the Steelers in Week 12, as he should easily get 15-20 carries with maybe a catch or two. Beyond that the schedule is favorable enough to keep him on the radar as a flex option in 12 and 14-team leagues.
Edwards has been a late add-on to a chunk of fantasy waiver wire columns this week. He’s a plug-and-play option for Week 12, with the potential to sustain viability right through the fantasy playoffs.
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