Can tailback JK Dobbins become first Baltimore Raven to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year?
The Baltimore Ravens have had two players win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year but never an offensive winner. Could tailback JK Dobbins be the first in 2020? Dobbins might find it tough to get enough touches in an offense that features reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson as well as a very accomplished veteran tailback in Mark Ingram. Dobbins is +2000 on the moneyline odds at William Hill sportsbook.
Running back didn't seem like a big position of need in April's draft for the Ravens, but they obviously couldn't resist plucking Ohio State's Dobbins when he somewhat surprisingly was still on the board at No. 55 overall. Dobbins was ranked as the No. 3 running back in the class on the CBS Sports Big Board behind Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor (picked No. 41 by the Colts) and Georgia's D'Andre Swift (No. 35 overall to the Lions).
The 5-foot-9, 210-pound Dobbins rushed for 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns last year for the Buckeyes. Dobbins had "only" 19 career games with 100 yards rushing, but Ohio State was so frequently blowing people out that he wasn't used enough. In the 23 games where Dobbins got at least 15 carries, he had 17 100-yard outings.Â
Dobbins was the first running back chosen in the first two rounds of the draft by the Ravens since Ray Rice in 2008. Behind Jackson and Ingram, the 2019 Ravens set the NFL single-season rushing record with 3,296 yards. Their 596 rush attempts were nearly 100 more than any other team. Jackson had 176 carries, Ingram 202 and Gus Edwards 133.
For what it's worth, Dobbins is the highest-rated rookie running back in the video game "Madden 21." Dobbins was given a rating of 75. Swift and Chiefs first-rounder Clyde Edwards-Helaire were both at 74. Dobbins is the second former Buckeyes running back in the past five years to earn the highest rating among rookie running backs. Ezekiel Elliott had a grade of 84 in "Madden 17." He was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 draft but didn't win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Teammate Dak Prescott did.Â
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