The 2020 NFL Draft is in the books, and that means it’s time for us to fully turn our attention to the 2020 NFL season and fantasy football. While COVID-19 means we can’t guarantee an NFL season, our league mates want us to be on our heels, unprepared for the season. Never you fear, Football Absurdity is here to cover all of the 78 fantasy football eligible players drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft. Keep in mind, most of these guys won’t get selected in your draft, but you’ll want to know these 2020 NFL draftees when your fantasy football draft comes around. We continue our tour around the AFC by turning our sights to the AFC North and the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens ended last year earlier than they’d hoped, as they became part of the Titans’ near-destiny run last postseason. They responded by adding ten picks, with six of those in the first three rounds. Of their ten picks, they took a running back and two wide receivers. Will any of the newest Ravens have any fantasy football relevance in 2020?
FULL BALTIMORE RAVENS DRAFT RESULTS
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | School |
| 1 | 28 | Patrick Queen | LB | LSU |
| 2 | 23 | JK Dobbins | RB | Ohio St |
| 3 | 7 | Justin Madabuike | DT | Texas A&M |
| 3 | 28 | Devin Duvernay | WR | Texas |
| 3 | 34 | Malik Harrison | LB | Ohio St |
| 3 | 42 | Tyree Phillips | G | Mississippi St |
| 4 | 37 | Ben Bredeson | OG | Michigan |
| 5 | 24 | Broderick Washington Jr | DT | Texas Tech |
| 6 | 22 | James Proche | WR | SMU |
| 7 | 5 | Geno Stone | S | Iowa |
Round 2, Pick 23: J.K. Dobbins, Running Back, Ohio State (5’9” 209 lbs)
| 40-yd Dash | Bench Press | Vertical Jump | Broad Jump | 3 Cone | 20-yd shuttle | 60-yd shuttle |
| — | 23 | — | — | — | — | — |
Courtesy: NFL.com, (u) = unofficial.
Note: Dobbins did not complete most tests due to a high ankle sprain suffered in his final college game
Depth Chart:
RB1 Mark Ingram
RB2 J.K. Dobbins
RB3 Justice Hill
RB4 Gus Edwards
TALENT
Here we have yet another plug-and-play three-down back coming out of this class. Dobbins makes it look easy and if he gets to the second level, it’s going for at least 25 yards. His vision is amazing, and his cuts are even better. Defensive backs lay down in fear when he comes their way. His best trait, however, is his contact balance. His biggest knock for fantasy is an undeveloped route tree but come on, that’s picking nits. He’s either a power back with amazing speed tacked on, or an amazing speed back with some next-level power attributes. I haven’t figured it out yet. Fair warning: he’s tracked down from behind a lot, so he might break your heart if you have visions of 60+ yard touchdown runs dancing in your head.
2020 OPPORTUNITY
This is where things start to get a little head-scratchy with Dobbins. For 2021 and beyond, he couldn’t have landed in a better spot for fantasy football production. The Ravens are one of the run-heaviest teams in the league and didn’t take major steps to change that in this draft. Unfortunately, he will start behind Mark Ingram as the season starts. Ingram is 30, and this is likely his last year on the Ravens in a major capacity. The only question is if the Ravens are seeking to transition to Dobbins this season, or to give him enough touches to matter this year.
I think they will. The Ravens keep calling Dobbins a three-down back in media, and Mark Ingram ended last year on the shelf, barely returning to the field in time for the playoffs. The Titans took out the Ravens in the playoffs, and Baltimore made sure another calf injury wouldn’t sideline a starting-caliber running back. Last year, Baltimore ran the ball more than anyone else in the league, and Dobbins will get a big chunk of that. He may not start the year getting the lion’s share, but he will end the season getting it.
2020 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
Draft-and-stash J.K. Dobbins. Wait, be patient. Dobbins will usurp Mark Ingram at some point this season in the league’s most prolific rush offense. The last time I had this feeling and advice about a player, it was Alvin Kamara’s rookie year. Dobbins will likely start slow, but he won’t end that way. He’s a potential league winner if and when he takes over for Mark Ingram, full-time.
TALENT: 
OPPORTUNITY:
2020 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK:
Round 3, Pick 28: Devin Duvernay, Wide Receiver, Texas (5’10” 200 lbs)
| 40-yd Dash | Bench Press | Vertical Jump | Broad Jump | 3 Cone | 20-yd shuttle | 60-yd shuttle |
| 4.39s (u) | — | 35.5 | 123.0 in | 7.13s | 4.2s | — |
Courtesy: NFL.com, (u) = unofficial.
Depth Chart:
WR1 Marquise Brown
WR2 Miles Boykin
WR3 Devin Duvernay
WR4 Willie Snead
WR5 James Proche
WR6 Chris Moore
TALENT
While reviewing my notes for this exercise, I repeatedly found, “not open, good catch,” under Duvernay’s game tape. Duvernay cannot shed man coverage to save his life but makes nice catches regardless. He’s decent at finding holes in zones, and he’s hard to bring down. If he breaks away, he breaks away. There isn’t too much about him that’s exciting except the things that won’t work out well at the next level. He’s physical with good hands, but he has no wiggle and serious trouble getting open.
2020 OPPORTUNITY
The Ravens have two young wide receivers ahead of him in the pecking order, and that’s before roster cloggers like Willie Snead and (maybe) Chris Moore. Then, we get into the problem that the Ravens hardly throw, and when they do, it’s usually to a tight end or running back. There aren’t that many targets to go around for Duvernay to have a big season.
2020 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
Duvernay will do more to help Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense than shepherd your fantasy football teams to glory. I have guarded faith that Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin might return value, and he sits behind them. I wouldn’t worry about Devin Duvernay unless the Ravens significantly change their game plan going forward.
TALENT: 
OPPORTUNITY:
2020 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK: 
Round 6, Pick 22: James Proche, Wide Receiver, Southern Methodist (5’11” 201 lbs)
| 40-yd Dash | Bench Press | Vertical Jump | Broad Jump | 3 Cone | 20-yd shuttle | 60-yd shuttle |
| — | 20 reps | 34.5 in | — | 7.27s | 4.4s | — |
Courtesy: NFL.com, (u) = unofficial.
Depth Chart:
WR1 Marquise Brown
WR2 Miles Boykin
WR3 Devin Duvernay
WR4 Willie Snead
WR5 James Proche
WR6 Chris Moore
TALENT
Proche is replacement level in nearly every way… but one, where he’s elite. He’s not fast and not big. He gets zero separation and is not elusive with the ball or before the ball is thrown. Where does he shine? He’s an extremely great possession receiver, which is something the Ravens sorely lacked last season. Daniel Jeremiah pegged him as having the best hands in the class, to give you an idea of his skill level there. If you don’t believe me, replay that Ravens-Titans playoff game, where pass after pass clanged off of hands.
2020 OPPORTUNITY
He’ll play a great complementary role with the Ravens going forward, but there likely won’t be enough targets for him to have even PPR relevance in most leagues. Still, if an injury in the depth chart ahead of him forces him into active duty, he could haul in a ton of balls as Lamar Jackson’s binky late in downs. He’s there to preserve Lamar Jackson’s career (to prevent L Jax from taking a ton of unnecessary hits by dumping off instead of running). Was Cole Beasley ever truly fantasy-relevant? Because that’s Proche’s likely ceiling.
2020 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
There’s too much going on in the Ravens offense to take away from Proche, and Proche’s role is likely to complement the main thrust of the Ravens rather than be their focal point. He could develop into a 120+ target guy down the line, but I don’t expect that his rookie year. Keep an eye on him in deeper leagues, because if Lamar Jackson turns him into his security blanket, he could be a great plug-and-play WR3 or flex.
TALENT: 
OPPORTUNITY:
2020 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK:
For more 2020 NFL Draft coverage, check out these:
The Rookie Roundup… Roundup
Fantasy Football Fallout: 2020 NFL Draft Round One
Football Absurdity Podcast: First Round Recap
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