Which Baltimore Ravens running back should be picked up in fantasy football: Gus Edwards or Justice Hill?

When the Baltimore Ravens lost J.K. Dobbins for the season due to a torn Achilles, it was a devastating situation for so many reasons. Dobbins has worked so hard to get healthy and is now needing a contract next year. The Ravens really needed Dobbins, and even fantasy football managers are looking to the waiver wire for their next move after investing in Dobbins.

The big question now that Dobbins is out is whether the team will lean on Gus Edwards or Justice Hill to be their leading rusher.

Which Baltimore Ravens running back should be picked up in fantasy football: Gus Edwards or Justice Hill?

While there may be a split between the two, there are reasons to think that Justice Hill will end up leading the way for the Ravens. The split was pretty even after Dobbins went down, but the thought of Hill being their guy goes back to the preseason.

Leading up to the first preseason game, the Ravens listed Gus Edwards as the backup for J.K. Dobbins. However, with Dobbins out on the PUP, the Ravens started Justice Hill.

Gus Edwards came in after Hill as the backup. Hill did not pass Edwards on the depth chart, though, and when Dobbins returned, the pecking order was back to Edwards being in over Hill.

That is probably because the Ravens see Dobbins and Edwards as a duo who have differing skill sets. They play off of each other. Dobbins is faster and more lateral while Edwards is more of a downhill runner who comes straight at you. Hill is more likely to take the runs that require speed and lateral style.

That is why the Ravens pushed Hill into the starting role when Dobbins was out. Now, Edwards stays in the same role that he was expected to be in with Dobbins. He can still work downhill, and the Ravens do not have to change how they plan to call plays.

Another reason Dobbins was looking like a good fantasy pickup was his involvement in the passing game. After averaging one catch for five yards per game in his career, he left the first game of 2023 early with two catches for 15 yards. He was going to be used much more in this area.

This is another reason the Ravens want Hill to step in over Edwards. He is more dynamic in this area.

Edwards finished with eight carries to seven for Hill, but the Ravens were closing the game out with Edwards in a blowout. The thought was always that Dobbins would create early, and then the downhill power back would close the games out.

So, if Dobbins did miss the start, you could have seen Hill with closer to 15 carries, and then Edwards would have finished with his typical eight or so to finish the game.

We will see how it turn out, but look for Hill to step in for J.K. Dobbins.

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