The Baltimore Ravens have one of the best rosters in football, and their running backs room is no exception. Led by superstar Derrick Henry and featuring reliable role players from top to bottom, Baltimore’s overall talent is second to none, according to Pro Football Focus. In a recent article, PFF’s Dalton Wasserman named Baltimore’s backfield the best in the league, as they have the best combination of star power and impactful depth.
“Alongside [Derrick] Henry is one of the NFL’s best third-down backs, Justice Hill,” Wasserman writes. “…Baltimore also has Keaton Mitchell, who earned an elite 92.5 PFF rushing grade in limited work in 2023, and Rasheen Ali, who added special teams value late last season.”
PFF: Ravens Have NFL’s Best Running Backs
There is nothing to write about Derrick Henry that hasn’t already been said. The ultimate statistical outlier, Henry’s hard-nosed style of running remains remarkably effective even though he’s well past the age where running backs of his style tend to slow down. Fresh off a dominant 1,900-yard, 16-touchdown season, the five-time Pro Bowler should remain as dominant as ever entering his age-32 season. Until he actually starts slowing down, there is no reason to bet against him.
The biggest Wild Card in the Ravens running back room is easily Keaton Mitchell. While the undrafted free agent showed promise as a rookie, he tore his ACL midway through 2023 and looked like a shell of himself when he returned to the field in 2024. For what it’s worth, Mitchell says he’s back to full strength and should improve, but only time will tell if he can recapture that exciting rookie form. Mitchell won’t overtake Henry in the pecking order, but he could be an effective change of pace back and ease Henry’s workload.
Main Photo: Tina MacIntyre – Imagn Images
