Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice saw significant action in the team's third preseason game on Thursday, against the Carolina Panthers. He was playing well into the third quarter, and even managed a touchdown, but his stats were just average for what's expected of him.
Ray Rice plays decent in preseason, fantasy value should remain unaffected
Ray Rice played decently in his third preseason game. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Rice carried the ball 16 times and put up 62 yards, including the aforementioned 1-yard touchdown run. Rice’s average yard per-carry only came out to 3.9 yards, though he did get have runs of 13 and 15 yards, respectively. It’s unlikely Rice plays much, if at all, in the team’s fourth preseason game, so it’s likely he’ll finish the preseason with 27 carries for 89 yards and the one touchdown, with a 3.3 yards-per-carry average.
Fantasy Impact: Rice has been considered overvalued by some, but his performance in the preseason really shouldn’t be the gauge for whether or not he’s worth drafting. If healthy, Rice will be among the most productive running backs this season and is a solid No. 1 starter for any fantasy team, despite lacking numbers in the preseason. It’s what happens in the regular season that counts.
