One series. That's how much the Ravens starters played against Washington last night, and that's how long it took for starting running back J.K. Dobbins to be carted off after taking a low hit to the knee that bent his leg backwards in a way human limbs shouldn't go. Sean McVay is nodding grimly.

I'm with McVay, who doesn't put his starters on the field in these exhibition games. Yes, I realize players get hurt in practice, and yes I realize players get hurt in Week 1, too. But those events need to happen. Practice activities can be controlled (running backs can wear non-contact jerseys, and defenders don't dive into teammates' knees on the practice field). Week 1 games actually count. The fact that Dobbins suffered this injury in a meaningless contest is aggravating. Maybe it will be the final blow to any NFL team playing key starters in these exhibitions. Maybe not. It would be for me.

If you're reading this looking for Dobbins' status, sorry. I'm waiting for the news like everyone else, and I'll update in the comments when it occurs. But watching the video of the play it looked Really Bad. Hope for a hyperextended knee or sprained MCL, brace for a torn ACL. Didn't look like something you tape up and laugh off.

For the purposes of this article, let's say Gus Edwards is the Ravens starting running back going forward. I've already had people asking me where he should be ranked. We're producing the update today and official rankings will be out early tomorrow morning, at which point we should know for sure what Dobbins' status is. Looking at the Thursday rankings, we had Dobbins 15th in Standard and 22nd in PPR among running backs. I think Edwards shows up in right about the same spots, probably a spot or two higher. Not because he's as good as or better than Dobbins, but because he doesn't have a No. 2 who's as good as Gus Edwards taking work from him.

Behind Edwards, we already had undrafted Ty'Son Williams ahead of Justice Hill. This is because Williams has actually looked good this preseason, while Hill has done nothing in his first two seasons in the league. You can say it's because he's been stuck behind two good running backs all this time, but the facts are that he's had occasional opportunities (and feel-good quotes from coaches proclaiming "We've got (4, 3) good running backs...") and never shown anything. He's a former fourth-round pick who's primarily played special teams. Throw a late-round pick at Hill in a draft, sure, whatever. But if you draft him where you had previously been selecting Edwards, I think you're throwing away a pick. I'd rather use a late-round pick on Williams and take my chances.

Circling back to Edwards, well, it looks like his time has come, and I have nothing bad to say about the guy. Yes he's been working behind a strong offensive line and with the league's most dangerous running quarterback on his side, but he's been consistently effective with those chances. He's had that No. 2 role for the last three seasons, and averaged over 5.0 yards per attempt in all of them. Among running backs with at least 125 rushing attempts, he shows up in the top 20 in effectiveness in all three seasons. Nobody can fail to notice who No. 1 is. Sigh.

RUNNING BACK YARDS PER ATTEMPT, 2018-2020 (125+ CARRIES)
YearPlayerAttYdsAvgTD
2020J.K. Dobbins, Balt.1348056.09
2019Raheem Mostert, S.F.1377725.68
2020Nick Chubb, Cle.19010675.612
2020Aaron Jones, G.B.20111045.59
2018Aaron Jones, G.B.1337285.58
2018Phillip Lindsay, Den.19210375.49
2020Derrick Henry, Ten.37820275.417
2019Gus Edwards, Balt.1337115.42
2018Matt Breida, S.F.1538145.33
2020Miles Sanders, Phil.1648675.36
2018Gus Edwards, Balt.1377185.22
2018Nick Chubb, Cle.1929965.28
2019Devin Singletary, Buff.1517755.12
2020Ronald Jones, T.B.1929785.17
2019Derrick Henry, Ten.30315405.116
2018Melvin Gordon, LAC1758855.110
2020Jonathan Taylor, Ind.23211695.011
2019Mark Ingram, Balt.20210185.010
2020Damien Harris, N.E.1376915.02
2020Gus Edwards, Balt.1447235.06
2019Nick Chubb, Cle.29814945.08
2018Saquon Barkley, NYG26113075.011
2018Christian McCaffrey, Car.21910985.07
2020Dalvin Cook, Min.31215575.016
2020Alvin Kamara, N.O.1879325.016
2018Joe Mixon, Cin.23711684.98
2018Derrick Henry, Ten.21510594.912
2018Todd Gurley, LAR25612514.917
2019Christian McCaffrey, Car.28713874.815
2020Chris Carson, Sea.1416814.85
2019Kenyan Drake, 2TM1708174.88
2018Tevin Coleman, Atl.1678004.84
2018Isaiah Crowell, NYJ1436854.86
2020Jeff Wilson, S.F.1266004.87
2019Josh Jacobs, Oak.24211504.87
2018Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.30414344.76
2020David Johnson, Hou.1476914.76
2020Antonio Gibson, Was.1707954.711
2018Mark Ingram, N.O.1386454.76
2018Chris Carson, Sea.24711514.79
2018Marlon Mack, Ind.1959084.79
2019Alvin Kamara, N.O.1717974.75
2020Wayne Gallman, NYG1476824.66
2018Lamar Miller, Hou.2109734.65
2018Frank Gore, Mia.1567224.60
2019Saquon Barkley, NYG21710034.66
2018Dalvin Cook, Min.1336154.62
2019Aaron Jones, G.B.23610844.616
2020Melvin Gordon, Den.2159864.69
2019Miles Sanders, Phil.1798184.63
2018Alvin Kamara, N.O.1948834.614
2018Kareem Hunt, K.C.1818244.67
2019Dalvin Cook, Min.25011354.513
2018James Conner, Pitt.2159734.512
2020Darrell Henderson, LAR1386244.55
2019Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.30113574.512
2019Phillip Lindsay, Den.22410114.57
2020Latavius Murray, N.O.1466564.54
2020James Robinson, Jac.24010704.57
2018Sony Michel, N.E.2099314.56
2020Clyde Edwards-Helaire, K.C.1818034.44
2019Chris Carson, Sea.27812304.47
2019Marlon Mack, Ind.24710914.48
2020Devin Singletary, Buff.1566874.42
2019Carlos Hyde, Hou.24510704.46
2019Latavius Murray, N.O.1466374.45
2019Leonard Fournette, Jac.26511524.43
2020David Montgomery, Chi.24710704.38
2020Cam Akers, LAR1456254.32
2020James Conner, Pitt.1697214.36
2019Adrian Peterson, Was.2118984.35
2020Kareem Hunt, Cle.1988414.36
2019Austin Ekeler, LAC1325574.23
2019Ronald Jones, T.B.1727244.26
2018Doug Martin, Oak.1727234.24
2018Adrian Peterson, Was.25110424.27
2018Latavius Murray, Min.1405784.16
2020Myles Gaskin, Mia.1425844.13
2019Joe Mixon, Cin.27811374.15
2020Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.2449794.06
2018Royce Freeman, Den.1305214.05
2020Kenyan Drake, Ariz.2399554.010
2019Tevin Coleman, S.F.1375444.06

--Andy Richardson