After starting yesterday with Arian Foster, we will move on to today’s subject, the starting running back for the Baltimore Ravens, Ray Rice.

Half-Back

Born January 22, 1987 – New Rochelle, New York

Height 5.8 – Weight 212

Previous Three Years Rushing Receiving Season Team GP Att Yds Avg Yds/G TD Rec Yds Avg TD 2009 BAL 16 254 1,339 5.3 83.7 7 78 702 9.0 1 2010 BAL 16 307 1,220 4.0 76.3 5 63 556 8.8 1 2011 BAL 16 291 1,364 4.7 85.3 12 76 704 9.3 3 Total 48 852 3,923 4.67 81.8 24 217 1,962 9.0 5

Rice came into the league as the 55th overall draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. The Baltimore Ravens used their second round pick on him and signed him to a four-year deal worth $2.805 million plus a $1.1 million signing bonus. He didn’t originally get the number he wanted, 27, but eventually switched to it during the 2008 preseason once the Ravens cut cornerback Ronnie Prude. He made his first NFL start in Week 1 against the Bengals and received a team-high 22 carries which only amounted to 64 yards. He also fumbled once.

At the start of the 2011 season, the Ravens signed ex-Texan Full-Back, Vonta Leach. The same Full-Back who opened up holes for Arian Foster during his breakout season two years ago. Due to this addition, the Ravens received an upgrade in their running game since Leach is known as one of the best blocking Full-Backs in the NFL. Ray Rice is already a phenomenal running back, and now with a full offseason under his belt, Vonta Leach is sure to open up tons of holes for Ray Rice to run through. Additionally, Rice is a three-down back and receives plenty of catches out of the backfield. This gives him extra opportunities to score more points for fantasy, and in turn increases his fantasy value.

Recently, Rice and Ravens reached an agreement on a new five-year contract worth $40 million with $25 million guaranteed. Pros and cons come from this agreement. The pro is ultimately the fact that Rice will now get in camp on-time, allowing him to remain focussed on football and stay productive. A con would definitely be the fact that if Rice did not holdout, he would have been playing on a contract year. In other words, with it being the last year of his rookie contract, Rice could have had a career year, playing his heart out to receive the most money possible in a new deal. At the end of the day, it was probably best that he had a new contract “signed and delivered” before the season started allowing him to simply focus on football throughout the season.

Rice, with no other competition at running back, will definitely receive many touches per game. I can see him running for about 1,350-1,450 yards, while picking up about 60-70 receptions and 550-650 yards over the air. Add these stats with about 12-15 total touchdowns and you have yourself a wonderful second overall pick come draft day.

…and that is the last word.