What Gus Edwards' knee injury means for Baltimore's backfield
Yahoo Sports' Liz Loza and Dalton Del Don discuss Gus Edwards' knee injury, including a few RBs fantasy managers should target.
Video Transcript
LIZ LOZA: The Ravens, man, really bad luck in their backfield. First, it was JK Dobbins. Then, Justice Hill out for the season with an Achilles. Now, they're worried that Gus Edwards tore his ACL in practice on Thursday. They actually ended the practice early because cornerback Marcus Peters and then Gus Edwards were seriously hurt on back to back plays. And there has been a whole cacophony of activity surrounding Baltimore as a result.
And we know that yet-- we know that on Wednesday, they signed Le'Veon Bell to the practice squad. I talked about that signing with Charles Robinson on the "You Pod to Win the Game" podcast. And Trenton Cannon was also at-- I think, Trenton Cannon, by the way, like three years in the league, two with the Jets. And he's, I think, tallied 48 carries over that amount of time.
Initially, Le'Veon Bell was added to the practice squad, assumingly, to like get back into game shape, you know, and learn the playbook. But, now, there are reports that Harbaugh says that he has a chance to be activated in Monday's game. And then, as we were just booting up, we found news that Devonta Freeman was added to the team as well. So a whole bunch to sort out.
I think that, probably, right now, week one, obviously, a very fluid situation. Ty'Son Williams is probably the best bet for Monday night in terms of production. What do you think?
- Oh, totally agree there. Devastating news for those obviously who drafted Edwards who was obviously going to be the feature back there. And for the Ravens, everyone keeps going down. Don't forget Rashod Bateman too and Marquez Brown, the receivers. Although Brown looks back now. But a rough preseason. So my main thoughts here is I moved Ty'Son Williams into my top 30, but not too much above that.
He's like an RB 3. He's the last man standing there. I'm not-- not rushing to the waiver wire to pick up Bell or Freeman. I mean, I just think there'd be a committee. And at this stage of their careers as number two or three options, I'm not that excited. I think Lamar Jackson has an argument to be the number one fantasy QB. I mean, he's just going to get all of the touchdowns there.
I mean, he's just going to run even more in. So, yeah, move Ty'Son Williams up, obviously. Yeah, like a flex type option now. The number one clearly on Monday night and moving forward. And I don't love the veteran options behind them. Maybe you can talk me otherwise. But I don't know. I don't see much upside there. What do you think, Liz?
LIZ LOZA: No, I think the Ravens are doing exactly what you're doing in fantasy, and they're throwing a whole bunch of stuff against the wall and seeing what sticks.
- Latavius Murray, maybe. Latavius Murray.
LIZ LOZA: Well, so, it's interesting, though, that the team added Devonta Freeman, because Devonta Freeman was the back in addition to Latavius Murray that was cut by the Saints. And we're going to get to a preview of all of those teams in a bit. But Josina Anderson reported two days ago that she got off the phone with Latavius Murray after he was cut, and he said he'd really like to go to a place like Baltimore.
He was ready to work. He was in shape. And, you know, he's been practicing obviously much more. And it seemed to be like the disagreement in New Orleans seemed to be about money more than performance. It is interesting that it was Freeman who was cut ahead of Murray that got this gig. I am not sure. You know, Le'Veon Bell, to me, I remember, last year, when he was added to the Chiefs, everyone was like, oh, I don't know. He won't go to a place where, like, he doesn't get playing time.
And I was like, nah, I think he just wants to go to a place that's not a circus in a bad way, like the Jets, and also a place where he can win. And he's tired of, like, losing and all of the madness that came with the Adam Gase and Company show. And then don't forget, he sprained his-- his knee towards the end of the season. He barely made-- he was inactive for the Super Bowl.
So this is a player who also got hurt at the end of last year. I don't-- and he's not-- he's seemingly not in game shape. We also know that he's a player who admittedly at the top of his career maybe struggled with conditioning a little bit. So it wouldn't surprise me that that pattern reappears for him. And I said this on the show with Charles. Like, I feel like when Le'Veon Bell was added to the practice squad and then the Ravens go and add Trent and Cannon and-- to the regular team, that, to me, signals that Bell's not ready yet, you know?
Like, he might get there, but he's not. And then you add Freeman. I think you're right. Ty'Son Williams, like the match-up against the Raiders, is pretty good on Monday night for Williams. The Raiders allowed the fifth most fantasy points to the running back position last year. It's a big spot. I think you're right about Lamar Jackson. I have Williams in week one, knowing this is a fluid situation, as my RB 25.
