It's not often that a running back can fumble three times and still make a positive impact, but that was the case for Maurice Jones-Drew on Monday against the Ravens. Only one of his fumbles was lost, and his steady work in the running game (30 carries, 105 yards) helped the Jaguars move the chains on a night that rookie Blaine Gabbert finished with just 93 passing yards. It also helped shorten the game by keeping the clock moving, which shouldn't be overlooked considering the Jaguars' defense was playing over its head by limiting the Ravens to just a single score.
Maurice Jones-Drew Fantasy: Jags RB Comes Up Huge Despite Fumbles
Jones-Drew is typically viewed as a matchup-proof running back, and in the NFL's current era of six-team bye weeks, there's likely no chance you had the luxury of benching him, but things were not looking up as the Jaguars hosted the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7, otherwise known as a Top 3 defense in terms of rushing yardage and scoring.
MJD has been productive enough this season, averaging close to 100 rushing yards a game, but he’s had difficulty finding the end zone and a consistent place in the passing game, two areas that have made him such a reliable back in seasons past. Facing the Ravens this week, MJD didn’t figure to begin improving in either of those areas, especially with Gabbert at the helm.
For more on Jones-Drew and his matchup with the Ravens, check out Jaguars blog, Big Cat Country, and our Ravens blog, Baltimore Beat Down.
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