Melvin

Gordon III

Assuming he passes through waivers, Baltimore could bring Gordon back on their practice squad. The Ravens signed Dalvin Cook ahead of the playoffs and appear content with him as at least their RB3. John Harbaugh told reporters the team views Cook as “potentially a very valuable weapon,” so he could wind up being more than a reserve running back in the playoffs.

This move comes as no shock after Keaton Mitchell suffered a season-ending ACL injury. Gordon last played in Week 4 as a rotational piece in the Ravens’ backfield and likely will do so going forward. The Ravens also signed Jake Funk to their practice squad. Gus Edwards and Justice Hill should continue to lead the backfield, but Gordon is a veteran who can handle reps when needed.

Hill missed Week 3 due to a turf toe injury, but returned to practice this week. Melvin Gordon is also likely to get another call-up from the Ravens practice squad. Gus Edwards is the most trustworthy Ravens back and Hill has RB3-value, but the Baltimore backfield is a messy situation for fantasy.

Hill missed practice all last week and was unable to play on Sunday as well. His running mate, Gus Edwards, was able to return to practice on Wednesday after suffering a concussion scare, so it looks like Edwards could be the clear lead back on Sunday against the Browns with Melvin Gordon and Kenyan Drake mixing in behind him.

Edwards left the game late in the fourth quarter and was being evaluated for a concussion. The fact that he’s able to practice on Wednesday is a pretty good indication that he didn’t suffer one. With Edwards looking likely to return against the Browns, Melvin Gordon and Kenyan Drake will return to clear back-up roles.

Gus Edwards went down with a concussion in the second half and did not return, thrusting Melvin Gordon into the RB1 in Baltimore for the closing minutes of the game plus overtime. Gordon didn’t do much on the ground but did break off a pair of catches that went for more than 10 yards each. If Justice Hill and Gus Edwards are both out for Week 4, Gordon would get the start.

Hill was absent from all three practices this week, and the Ravens signed Kenyan Drake on Wednesday, signaling that Hill was unlikely to play on Sunday. Hill’s absence will make the Ravens backfield a weird one to rely on for fantasy purposes. Melvin Gordon was active in Week 2 but didn’t receive a touch, and Drake only recently joined the team but spent the preseason with the Colts. Gus Edwards feels like the only running back on this team to trust in Week 3, and will be a touchdown dependent RB2/RB3.

This was always thought to have been the outcome after JK Dobbins suffered yet another season-ending injury in Week 1. Baltimore moves forward with Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, and Melvin Gordon in the backfield. How the workload is spread between those three backs remains to be seen, leaving all better served left on the bench in all but the deepest fantasy leagues.

The Ravens don’t plan on signing a free agent running back at this time. Gordon is expected to be promoted to the 53-man roster before Sunday’s Week 2 matchup against the Bengals, but he’ll likely work behind Gus Edwards and Justice Hill — at least early on. Harbaugh isn’t wrong about Gordon being a proven back, but he failed to touch on the fact that Gordon averaged 3.5 YPC last season, is now 30 years old, and spent the final six weeks of last season on the Chiefs’ practice squad. If fantasy managers want to kick the tires on Gordon, we’d encourage them to do so with low expectations.

Gordon was left off the Ravens’ 53-man roster but is back as a member of the practice squad. Gordon spent a significant portion of last season on the Chiefs’ practice squad and came away a Super Bowl champion as a result. Gordon is on the wrong side of the age apex and is no longer the explosive back we once saw. At this point, he’s simply an emergency backup should J.K. Dobbins or Gus Edwards ever miss time. In addition to Gordon, the Ravens also signed DB Daryl Worley to the practice squad.