Fantasy Football 2021: 3 Sophomores primed for breakout, 3 for bust
2) J.K. Dobbins RB/ Baltimore Ravens
Again, this isn’t a talent issue, this is a situation issue. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh doesn’t do workhorse backs, he just doesn’t.
And why would he?
Gus Edwards is no slouch back there and he has maybe the most prolific runner in the NFL in Lamar Jackson under center. Yes, his quarterback being a better runner than him is certainly a ding on Dobbins. Add in that the Ravens want to open it up and throw the ball more, things are not looking great for Dobbins to have the breakout year we all really want to see him have.
Harbaugh has had that committee language all year, and that scares me off of Dobbins in the late 2nd round/early 3rd he’s being drafted at. If you find yourself without a back you can count on because you went zero RB early in the draft, you may not have a choice, I wish you all the best, but don’t say I didn’t warn you that this might hurt.
Guys like Miles Sanders, Chris Carson, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are going after Dobbins, so see if you can grab one of them. With Jackson being given more passing chances and his rushing still a huge factor, Dobbins will certainly be a candidate to pull a disappearing act that would make David Copperfield smile.
The best case I see for Dobbins is being a mid-RB2, with potential RB1’s and WR1’s on the board don’t fall into the trap of Dobbins, Harbaugh will just hurt you when you need him most.