Tag: Ray Rice

ADP Watch- Ray Rice

Ray Rice is the third running back being taken off the board on average in standard league mock drafts as of Friday the third of August.

Analysis: Ray Rice may be one of the finest backs in the league but he should experience a bit of a drop off in production this year. The Ravens’ passing game and Joe Flacco are developing with the young talent around them. Torrey Smith appears to be a Mike Wallace type of playmaker while tight end Ed Dickson will have his break out season this year. Aside from the improving passing game taking a few touches away from Rice here and there, we must consider the primary reason his numbers will take a hit this year.

Terrell Suggs was the defensive player of the year last year and the loss of his play for most if not all of the season will cost Rice dearly. The Ravens defense will not be getting off of the field nearly as fast and as often as they would with Suggs playing. Fourteen sacks, seven forced fumbles and two picks is impossible to replace. Rice had at least 360 touches per season over the past two years but do not expect that to continue in 2012.

 

Ricky Williams Has Value

Ricky Williams has signed with the Ravens and in doing so may have more value than Willis McGahee did for Baltimore from 2009-2010.

Analysis: Considering Ray Rice was on the end of 370 touches last year and 332 touches in 2009, owning Ricky Williams as insurance is an intelligent play this year. Williams may be thirty-four years old but the veteran has only had one 200 carry season since 2003. Williams has also averaged over four yards per carry in each of his last three seasons, not bad for back in his thirties. Ray Rice may or may not be due for an injury with all the touches he has been on the end of, but when considering Willis McGahee scored twenty touchdowns as the Ravens’ backup in the last two years to a healthy Rice, Ricky Williams looks like steal at his ADP. Williams’ ADP is 152 and he’s the fifty-seventh back being taken off the board right now. He may not be a RB3 but he will score plenty of touchdowns and would serve as a solid recplacement should Rice get banged up. Either way, at pick 152 Ricky Williams is a steal.