2013 Fantasy Outlook: Ray Rice

Information is constantly changing in the NFL and fantasy player values can change at any moment. Having updated, informative news can help you not just at your fantasy football draft but during the regular season. Feel free to glance at our recent articles to make sound decisions throughout the year.

To help you get ready for draft day you will notice articles for ADP advice, cheat sheets, mock drafts and projected stats for Ray Rice here. During the season, you can also find regular weekly ranking articles at this section as well.

Welcome to Ray Rice fantasy football outlook archive. At this section of Rice’s player page you will notice our past thoughts and advice for fantasy football.

Summer of 2012: Fantasy Projections

One of the top three stud running backs in the game, Ray Rice is primed for another big year, assuming he doesn’t go through a long holdout, as he’s in the final year of his contract.

Because the Ravens have one of the best GMs in Ozzie Newsome I’m sure things will work out fine, and Rice will be ready to go for training camp.

Rice will have little competition for touches as the Ravens are likely to use rookies Bernard Pierce or possibly Bobby Rainey as fill in players for a breather, but Rice will get his normal 300 carries and 60 plus receptions, as a three down stud.

	Rushing Stats			Receiving Stats
	Attempts	Yards	TD	Rec	Yards	TD
2012 Projected Stats	302	1,321	10	66	612	2

Summer of 2011: Fantasy Projections

Ray Rice posted another respectable season in terms of total yardage but his touchdown total continued to be a problem as he only scored six on the season. This was not the total needed for Rice to be a quality number one option in standard league play but his 63 receptions continued to keep his value in check for PPR leagues.

While Willis McGahee could leave in free agency, I would expect the Ravens to bring in a power back to run with Rice and take over the same role McGahee had, in the past three seasons.

Heading into the summer, Rice’s ADP value checks in at Mock Draft Central as the 10th best (12.08 average selection) runner to select in standard redraft leagues and the 9th best (13.09) in PPR leagues. This puts Rice’s value as a second round option in ten team leagues and a fringe first round choice in twelve team leagues.

Because of some of the health concerns in runners like Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden I will have Rice ranked as a clear first round option because his health has proven to be less of a question mark in recent years and heading into this season. The Ravens will continue to make Rice the feature back in this offense and his big play ability, could help him find 10 touchdowns on the season.

Obviously, Rice is a better selection in PPR scoring leagues because he’s a lock to pickup 60 plus receptions a year and that makes him one of the better pass catching runners in fantasy football.

8/2011 Update - The addition of full back Vonta Leach (was with the Texans) is a nice up grade for Rice as Leach is one of the better run blockers in the game. Willis McGahee is out of town but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Ravens find a suitable goal line option to replace him. If they don’t bring in a power back, they may give Rice a chance at goal line chances, early in the season. Point is Rice is gaining in value and is clearly one of the top six running backs to target in standard and PPR leagues this summer.

8/2011 Update Part 2 - Don’t worry about Ricky Williams as a goal line back as OC Cam Cameron recently came out and sighted Rice as the teams official goal line back. I have bumped Rice’s touchdown total up to ten rushing touchdowns and he will be a possible top three running back in our updated rankings just before the third week of the preseason.

	Rushing Stats			Receiving Stats
	Attempts	Yards	TD	Rec	Yards	TD
2011 Projected Stats	309	1,351	10	68	591	1

2010 Preview

Ray Rice broke out in his first year as the starting tailback. Look for Rice to have another solid season as he is the Ravens top offensive talent.

2010 Fantasy Football Outlook

2009 Fantasy Year In Review: Ray Rice was our top sleeper coming into last season as he won the starting gig and had a solid offensive line to run behind. I knew Rice was going to be a great pass catching runner, and he was probably going to rack up over 1,500 total yards.

Little did I know he would go on to gain over 2,000 total yards with over 1,300 yards rushing and over 700 yards receiving. What impressed me the most was that he scored eight total touchdowns on the season. That number won’t blow you away but when you consider he had zero in his rookie season it was a big concern.

Audio: RB Ray Rice | 2010 NFL Fantasy Football Player Rankings

2010 NFL Fantasy Football Player Rankings: I was hoping the Ravens would part ways with Willis McGahee this offseason and give Rice more opportunities at the goal line. Unfortunately, McGahee had a very productive year in 2009 and the team picked up his 3.6 million dollar option.

With McGahee around (fourteen touchdowns last year) Rice may not improve much on his eight touchdowns from last season. Still, Rice has a great team around him, and he will be a very productive player for your fantasy team as a first round pick. In PPR leagues, Rice has even more value because of all the receptions he gains.

However, he may see a drop in pass catches because Joe Flacco has a better receiving core this year. That is something to keep in mind as we head closer to draft day.

Assets

- Terrific Pass Catcher

- Game Breaker

- Great Offensive Line And Team

Liabilities

- Willis McGahee Hurts His Touchdown Totals