Baltimore Ravens 2020 season outlook: J.K. Dobbins

The Baltimore Ravens stunned the football world when they selected Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins in the 2020 NFL Draft. What will he do as a rookie?

Drafting J.K. Dobbins was the ultimate luxury pick for the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore was already stacked at running back entering the 2020 NFL Draft but decided to take Dobbins anyways. The team’s identity is as a run-heavy offense, so there shouldn’t be much issue wondering whether or not Dobbins will fit in with this offense.

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The biggest question is how big will J.K. Dobbins role be in his rookie season?

It seems fair to assume that Dobbins will enter training camp as the Ravens second-string running back only behind Mark Ingram. He won’t have a firm grasp on the spot, however, thanks to the great play of Gus Edwards over the last two years. Justice Hill will also find a way to get some touches, as well.

With so much going on at the position many will wonder just how big an impact Dobbins can make.

While it wouldn’t be a surprise to see J.K. Dobbins get lost in the shuffle, he’s simply too talented to keep sidelined. Dobbins is practically a clone of Mark Ingram and if he’s even half as good as Ingram then he’ll be a key fixture to this offense.

Dobbins is a flashy runner who can run between the tackles or bounce it outside with ease. He may not be the fastest player on the field, but he certainly plays quick and runs hard. Dobbins is also a polished pass catcher, only increasing his value to an offense. His ability to be a three-down running back is what’s going to make him so beneficial and keep him on the field.

With Mark Ingram another year older and Gus Edwards exclusively a run-only back, it stands to reason that J.K. Dobbins will be the go-to guy in passing situations. Dobbins should also get first dibs on relieving Ingram, while Edwards could see more time closing games out with his brute strength.

The big takeaway here is J.K. Dobbins can do a multitude of things well, and that is the biggest reason why he’ll produce even in a crowded backfield.

J.K. Dobbins likely won’t be a 1,000-yard rusher as a rookie simply because there are too many mouths to feed. That doesn’t mean his impact will be lessened in the slightest. I fully expect to see Dobbins carve out a significant role with this offense and show off what made him a top-55 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The future is bright for J.K. Dobbins and he’s going to show us why as a rookie.

J.K. Dobbins 2020 projected stats: 150 carries, 700 rushing yards, four touchdowns, 30 receptions, 250 receiving yards, two touchdowns