Reports: Gus Edwards will return to Baltimore ‘one way or the other’

Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said Tuesday that running back Gus Edwards will be on the team “one way or the other” in 2021. Edwards is slated to be a restricted free agent this offseason, meaning the Ravens can match any offer he receives.

Edwards has been with the Ravens since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He’s had between 711 and 723 rushing yards in each of his three seasons, though he offered slightly more as a receiver in 2020 (career-high 129 yards; previous high was 45) than he had before that point. J.K. Dobbins is slated to enter the 2021 season as the Ravens’ No. 1 back, and Lamar Jackson will get plenty of carries as well, but in one of the league’s run-heaviest offenses and with Mark Ingram gone, there will be work for Edwards as well.

Fantasy slant: This is a huge caution sign to anyone who expects a massive year from J.K. Dobbins in 2021. Not only do the Ravens have a quarterback who is going to eat up a hearty share of the carries, but they also will likely continue to use Edwards in conjunction with Dobbins. We saw that committee on full display over the final five weeks of the regular season with Dobbins amassing 63 touches and Edwards seeing 56. While we still like Dobbins to be on the right side of a committee, this isn't likely to a situation where he dominates the touches. Whether we like it or not, Edwards re-signing in Baltimore would place a cap on Dobbins' volume and likely render him in RB2 territory.