J.K. Dobbins

Dobbins is extremely talented, there's no doubting that. However, if you think he's a breakout candidate to finish as a top-five running back, you're betting against the odds. Among the running backs who finished top-10 last year, just two of them finished there while seeing fewer than 39 targets. Those two running backs were Derrick Henry and Nick Chubb, who averaged 5.4 and 5.6 yards per carry, numbers no one can actually project to hit. They also scored 17 and 12 touchdowns on the ground, propping their numbers up. Dobbins saw just 24 targets last year, a number that's unlikely to move much considering he's in the same offense with the same quarterback, only with more weapons around him. If Dobbins can rush for over 5.0 yards per carry (he did last year) and score double-digit rushing touchdowns (again, hard to project), he's going to finish as a top-10 running back, but not top-five due to the lack of work in the passing game. He's best-suited as your RB2 who has RB1 in his range of outcomes.

J.K. Dobbins to have expanded role in passing attack per OC

Per Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman, the team is working this off-season to expand 2nd year RB J.K. Dobbins’ role in the passing attack.

Fantasy Impact

“I think he has got the skill set and the talent to really include him as a viable weapon in the passing game. That’s a big focus of what we’re doing right now,” said Roman. With Lamar Jackson at the helm, the Ravens haven’t targeted their running backs very much the past three seasons. In fact, it’s been an average of just 49 times per season in that time period. From an optics perspective, it looks like the Ravens do in fact want to throw the ball more in 2021. They drafted two wide receivers, including Rashod Bateman in the first round (and Tylan Wallace), and added Sammy Watkins via free agency. It’s also been reported Baltimore wants Jackson under center more, as opposed to pistol formation, this season. If all these reports are true and Dobbins can turn some of his carries into targets, he’s looking more and more appealing in half-PPR and full-PPR fantasy leagues in 2021. He should be drafted as a top-15 back and has the ability to finish as an RB1 this season.