J.K. Dobbins Week 13 Outlook - Patriots at Chargers
By Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros), Thu, Dec 3rd 2020, 10:24am EST
Ravens running backs are averaging 1.68 yards before contact, which is the second-highest number in the league, behind only the Cardinals. It would appear having a mobile quarterback helps. When you combined this with the fact that the Cowboys have allowed the most yards before contact, you have the recipe for major success. The only team who's allowed more yards on the ground than the Cowboys are the Texans. No other team is within 150 yards of those two teams. It surely helps that running backs have been able to accumulate 27.1 rushing attempts per game against them, which is enough to feel comfortable with a timeshare, which is something that may be a thing of the past if Dobbins returns to the role he had in Week 10. If you look at production on the ground alone, the Cowboys have allowed 215.8 fantasy points, or 19.6 points per game. They are one of just three teams who've allowed more than 16.5 points per game on the ground. Most of this stems from the fact that their opponents have chosen to run the ball 48.4 percent of the time (2nd-most), though efficiency has been there, too. We know the Ravens running backs aren't targeted much in the passing game, but it's even less likely they are against the Cowboys, who've seen a running back target on just 15.5 percent of pass attempts, tied for the third-lowest mark in the league. Even when they get targeted, it hasn't amounted to much, as the Cowboys have allowed a league-low 5.5 PPR points per game through the air to running backs. When you look at explosive performances against teams, I require 20-plus PPR points for running backs and wide receviers and 15-plus PPR points for tight ends. The Cowboys have allowed a league-high 15 explosive performances this year, so when you think about the Ravens, you want to find that gem for this game. I'm comfortable playing Dobbins as an RB2 this week who comes with top-five upside if he returns to his workhorse role. Edwards can fill an RB4 role, as it appeared like he passed Mark Ingram on the depth chart a few weeks ago.
