The Baltimore Ravens may have an MVP quarterback in Lamar Jackson, but they will always be a team that is built on a strong ground game. Why else would they spend a good chunk of change on Derrick Henry despite leading the league in rushing yards once again last season?
Henry will be the driving force that helps lead the Baltimore rushing attack, but the Ravens will also have a proven deputy in Justice Hill who can come in and make plays when Henry needs a breather.
The Ravens have continuously invested in the running back position, and that approach has paid dividends in the form of some elite rushing numbers. The rest of the league is right to have some nervousness over what the Ravens could do at full strength, as this running back duo is one of the best in the league thanks to Henry’s skill.
Bleacher Report ranked the Ravens’ 1-2 punch as the fifth-best running back duo in the league. The Lions, 49ers, and Falcons ranked ahead of them, with the Dolphins being the only AFC team coming in ahead of Baltimore. The fact Henry has almost single-handedly pushed Baltimore to the No. 5 spot shows his quality.
Ravens RB duo led by Derrick Henry ranked No. 5 in NFL
Even with all of the issues that limited Henry during his final season with the Titans, he still managed to claw his way to the second-most rushing yards in the league behind Christian McCaffrey. Even at his advanced age for a running back, Henry remains a bruising, effective runner.
Hill had one of his best seasons in the pros last year, rushing for 387 yards and three touchdowns. Hill may not be a 1,000-yard rusher, but anyone who can average 4.6 yards per carry and show adequate receiving value can be safely designated as a quality RB2.
The overall room might look better than just the Henry-Hill partnership. Not only do the Ravens have a promising speedster working his way back from injury in Keaton Mitchell, but they also used a fifth-round pick on former Marshall running back Rasheen Ali. Even with Jackson, this is a ground-and-pound team.
When Jackson gets thrown into the mix alongside a possible Hall of Fame player in Henry and a back like Hill that could put up fringe starter numbers if he was given extended reps, the Ravens should expect to go into 2024 with the best rushing attack in the league.