J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards In Full Uniform For Chargers' Camp
After working on the side during June's minicamp, Gus Edwards (undisclosed) was seen working out in full uniform and performing individual drills during training camp on Wednesday along with J.K. Dobbins (Achilles). Edwards was reported to have had an offseason procedure, but it looks like he will increase his work as camp continues. Both Edwards and Dobbins will jockey for touches in a competitive backfield, along with rookie Kimani Vidal and veteran Isaiah Spiller. Edwards should have a leg up on the group as an early-down back and also receive goal-line work. At the same time, the team will likely handle Dobbins' Achilles injury recovery more cautiously. It's looking like Edwards is a mid-round value RB3 for fantasy managers in 2024, while Dobbins' status throughout training camp should be closely monitored.
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Wednesday that running back Gus Edwards (undisclosed) had an offseason surgery, and the Chargers are giving him a "longer runway" to be a full participant in practice. Edwards didn't participate in team drills on Wednesday, but he went through individuals. The 29-year-old power back is entering his first year away from the Baltimore Ravens as Los Angeles' presumptive lead back over J.K. Dobbins (knee), but the latter could make his case for a more prominent role if the former is eased back into action this summer. After scoring 13 touchdowns in 17 games with the Ravens last year, Edwards is still fine to draft in fantasy leagues as a touchdown-dependent RB3 until a clearer picture emerges of how the touches will be divvied up in this backfield, but rookie Kimani Vidal also looms as a threat.
The Athletic's Daniel Popper sees running back Gus Edwards as the Los Angeles Chargers' clear lead back heading into training camp. The secondary touches behind Edwards are open for competition, but Popper thinks J.K. Dobbins wins that battle if he's healthy over Kimani Vidal and Isaiah Spiller. Edwards was nursing an undisclosed injury during spring workouts, but head coach Jim Harbaugh said he should be ready for camp. Edwards, 29, had a career year in 2023 in his final season with the Baltimore Ravens, rushing for 810 yards and 13 touchdowns on 198 carries over 17 regular-season games (nine starts). While he should see plenty of touches in LA's new run-first offense, Edwards showed signs of decline last year and will face plenty of TD regression. He could also lose valuable touches to Dobbins (if healthy) and Vidal, so fantasy managers shouldn't reach for Edwards just based off his touchdown production last year.
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said that running back Gus Edwards (undisclosed) "has been on a really good track" and is "likely" to be back for training camp at the end of July. Edwards worked off to the side with trainers during mandatory minicamp with an undisclosed injury. The 29-year-old should be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season, but it's worth monitoring his health this summer as he enters his first season in LA. With Austin Ekeler gone, Edwards should be the primary RB in the Bolts' backfield in what will be a run-first offense under new coordinator Greg Roman. Behind him will be J.K. Dobbins, rookie Kimani Vidal and Isaiah Spiller. Edwards isn't much of a pass-catcher and has durability issues, but he managed a career-high 13 touchdowns in 17 regular-season games in Baltimore in 2023. Don't expect double-digit TDs in his first year in LA, though.
New Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards will have a big role in the offense in his first year with the team, according to The Athletic's Daniel Popper. Head coach Jim Harbaugh, general manager Joe Hortiz and offensive coordinator Greg Roman have all stated their goal of building a reliable running game to help quarterback Justin Herbert. Edwards brings the Bolts a downhill running style, physicality and proven production in Roman's scheme with the Baltimore Ravens. However, it feels like LA will add at least one more piece at RB this offseason, either in free agency or the upcoming NFL draft. The 28-year-old had 13 rushing touchdowns and 810 rushing yards on a career-high 198 attempts in 2023 in Baltimore, but he also had a career-low 4.1 yards per carry and is certainly going to regress in the TD department in his first year with the Chargers.
Veteran running back Gus Edwards is expected to join the Los Angeles Chargers on a two-year deal, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 28-year-old has rushed 699 times for 3,395 yards and 26 touchdowns since entering the league in 2018 with the Baltimore Ravens. Last year, he set career highs in attempts (198), rushing yards (810), and rushing touchdowns (13). He'll now be coached by another Harbaugh in Los Angeles, where Austin Ekeler is no longer on the roster as of Monday. The team could add another running back via free agency or the 2024 NFL Draft, but there's a chance Edwards will at least operate as the primary goal-line back in Justin Herbert's offense.
The Indianapolis Star's Nate Atkins suggests that the Indianapolis Colts could target Baltimore Ravens impending free-agent running back Gus Edwards on the open market this offseason as insurance to lead back Jonathan Taylor. The Colts could re-sign Zack Moss, but he's going to look for a starting role after a breakout contract year in 2023. Edwards had a career-high 13 rushing touchdowns last season and is a bruising back that would help spell Taylor in the backfield. Edwards has also averaged 4.9 yards per carry in his career and could pair well with rushing quarterback Anthony Richardson. At 29 years old, he could prefer a more specialized role in order to prolong his career. In addition to Edwards, Atkins suggests receiver Josh Reynolds and veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor as other offensive free agents the Colts could look at this offseason.
Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said that door has not been closed on free-agent running backs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins (Achilles) returning in 2024. Edwards led Baltimore's backs in 2023 with a career-high 810 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns and has spent his entire five-year career with the team. Right now, the team has just two RBs under contract who played last year -- Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell, who is recovering from a season-ending torn ACL. But with a deep free-agent class at the position that includes Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Austin Ekeler and Tony Pollard, it remains to be seen if Edwards or Dobbins will return. Edwards set a new career-high with his 13 TDs in 2023, but he also had a career-low 4.1 yards per carry, and his 2024 fantasy value will be clouded until we know where he'll end up in free agency.
Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards was essentially invisible against the Kansas City Chiefs in their 17-10 loss. The veteran back only saw four total touches in the AFC Championship game which was his lowest total all year. His next lowest was five in a Week 9 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Edwards finished the game with 20 yards on three carries and caught his lone target for 16 yards. His fifth season in the NFL was full of ups and downs, but he finished with career highs in carries, rushing yards, touchdowns, receptions, and receiving yards. He'll likely remain to Baltimore for at least one more year, but it's unclear if he'll be as fantasy-relevant with plenty of changes to come.
Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards has been a touchdown-dependent fantasy option all season long and the playoff matchups are no different. In their divisional game against the Houston Texans, Justice Hill received more work out of the backfield than Edwards. Hill received three more carries and caught one more pass. That gave him 38 more total yards than Edwards, and that has a good chance of happening again on Sunday against the Chiefs. Edwards will continue to receive red zone carries, but against the Texans, the Ravens scored with either Lamar Jackson on the ground or a play-action pass. One silver lining is that the Chiefs run defense is one of their weaknesses.
