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Baltimore Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins is recovering from ACL surgery, leaving his Week 1 status for the 2022 fantasy football season in doubt. Will he be ready?
J.K. Dobbins was selected in the second round, No. 55 overall, in the 2020 NFL Draft. He made a difference right out of the gate by compiling 134 carries for 805 yards while adding nine touchdowns, with seven occurring within the final six games of his inaugural campaign.
Although Dobbins had to share running opportunities with Gus Edwards and Lamar Jackson, he still showed flashes of promise as a rookie. As a result, he was forecast to be even more productive as a sophomore, leaving fantasy managers chomping at the bit to acquire his services moving into 2021.
Yet, things went south quickly in Baltimore when the Ohio State alum tore his ACL during the final preseason game in August 2021. He had surgery in September and was placed on the injured reserve list, ending his second season before it began. Now, nearly a year removed, will he be ready for Week 1?
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Hold The Phone! J.K. Dobbins Injury Update
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport provided an update on the situation. The football insider's report wasn't too bleak, reporting that Dobbins hasn't suffered any setbacks since suffering the "serious" injury. At the same time, he pumped the brakes on the former Buckeye's chances for Week 1 by adding he's "no sure thing."
Since Rapoport broke the story, it has to be true, right? Not so fast! While nearly every football executive, coach, player, and fan saw the report in real-time on the NFL Network or the subsequent Tweet afterward, one man, in particular, wasn't too thrilled, and that was Dobbins.
It didn't take long for the third-year pro to fire back at the reporter, taking to Twitter to respond. "Okay, I'm tired of being quiet," he exclaimed, "I might not even go on PUP because that's how good my rehab is going and I'm damn sure going to be ready for Week 1."
Will J.K. Dobbins Be Ready For Week 1?
Rapoport appears to be winning the credibility battle, with the Ravens announcing that Dobbins would begin training camp on the active/PUP list. With the designation, he can't practice. However, he can be activated anytime leading into the season opener against the New York Jets.
Granted, Rapoport has been incorrect before. Yet, Dobbins not only tore his ACL but also damaged his meniscus and LCL.
Interestingly, Rapoport also informed viewers/readers that Baltimore "has no incentive to rush him back." That appears to be the case, especially considering some moves have been made during the offseason to add depth to the position.
Should I Draft J.K. Dobbins for 2022 Fantasy Football?
Without question, Dobbins has plenty of talent, and when healthy, he is an asset to any fantasy football team. Currently, he is ranked No. 23 in standard leagues and No. 24 in PPR formats, according to RotoBaller.
With rankings like that, he is projected to go somewhere in the fifth or sixth rounds of fantasy drafts going into the 2022-23 campaign, depending on league size.
Considering Dobbins was one of the most impactful fantasy backs in 2020, primarily toward the second half of the year, he's capable of finishing ahead of guys like rookie Breece Hall, Elijah Mitchell, Cam Akers, David Montgomery, and Damien Harris.
Still, he'll need to play nearly all season for that to happen. Fantasy managers should monitor Dobbins throughout July and August for sure. If he is on tap to play in Week 1, he's worth drafting over the players mentioned previously for various reasons, even if he is eased back into things.
However, if he misses weeks, that's a different story, although a stash opportunity still exists. In the meantime, drafting an insurance policy is recommended, especially since nobody really knows if and when Dobbins will be back on the field.
Edwards and Justice Hill may not be ready to go for Week 1 either, with the latter possibly not even making the active roster. The team picked up Mike Davis, the favorite to get a chunk of the snaps out of the backfield while everyone looks to get healthy, putting him in play as a late, late-round option in deep fantasy formats.
Tyler Badie could also be involved, and the Ravens signed Corey Clement, so he may get some work as well. Yet, if Dobbins and Edwards (of just one of them) are active, nobody else besides Lamar Jackson should get enough touches to make a difference for fantasy managers.
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