Drake was unable to make the Colts' initial 53-man roster despite Indianapolis on paper having one of the worst running back depth charts in football that features a Jonathan Taylor-sized hole at the top. Even though Drake led all Ravens running backs in carries last year and averaged 4.4 yards per rush, he still had 10-plus PPR points only four times. If he finds a spot to play, you might consider him off waivers.
Drake reverted to the Ravens' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Baltimore signed Drake to its practice squad last Wednesday, and he was quickly elevated for Week 3, logging one carry for zero yards and catching two of three targets for 31 yards against Indianapolis. Though he moved back to the practice squad Monday, he could be elevated again for Week 4 if either Gus Edwards (head) or Justice Hill (foot) are ruled out. If both injured running backs can't play, Drake could see plenty of work alongside fellow practice-squad RB Melvin Gordon as the team's only healthy backfield options.
... See More... See Less
Ravens' Kenyan Drake: Sees one carry
Rotowire
Drake rushed the ball once for zero yards in Sunday's 22-19 overtime loss to the Colts. He added two receptions for 31 yards.
Drake was elevated from the practice squad after signing with the team Wednesday. That likely explains his lack of involvement in the offense, even after Gus Edwards (concussion) was forced from the game in the fourth quarter. It's possible that Drake is back in the mix in Week 4 against the Browns, pending the availability of Edwards and Justice Hill (toe).
... See More... See Less
Ravens' Kenyan Drake: Bounces up to active roster
Rotowire
Drake was elevated to the Ravens' active roster ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Colts.
Drake and fellow practice-squad callup Melvin GordonJ.K. Dobbins (Achilles) and a problematic turf toe injury for Justice Hill, who will not play Sunday. Gus Edwards still remains the team's optimal thumper out of the backfield, but he's an unproven pass catcher. Both Drake and Gordon have had plenty of experience in the passing game throughout their careers, but it's unclear which of the two will ultimately become the team's situational spell back for Edwards.
... See More... See Less
Kenyan Drake: Joining Baltimore's practice squad
Rotowire
Drake agreed Wednesday to join the Ravens' practice squad, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.
With J.K. Dobbins (Achilles) on injured reserve and out for the season, Drake and fellow practice squad member Melvin Gordon will provide Baltimore with added backfield depth behind Justice Hill and Gus Edwards. Drake has familiarity with the Ravens after appearing in 12 games for the team in 2022, carrying 109 times for 482 yards and four touchdowns to go with 17 catches for 89 yards and another score.
... See More... See Less
Kenyan Drake: Released by Indy
Rotowire
The Colts released Drake on Sunday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
With Jonathan Taylor (ankle) and Zack Moss (arm) potentially unavailable for Week 1, Drake's release comes as a bit of a surprise. The 2016 third-round pick latched on with the Colts at the beginning of August and appeared to be in a good position to carve out a role in Indianapolis' depleted running back room. However, it looks like the team didn't see enough from Drake and have opted to roll with Deon Jackson, Evan Hull, Jason Huntley and Jake Funk instead. Drake has bounced around the league since 2019 and is always a candidate to join an injury-riddled team midseason.
... See More... See Less
Colts' Kenyan Drake: Five carries in preseason opener
Rotowire
Drake had five carries for 10 yards in Saturday's preseason loss at Buffalo.
Drake worked with the second team as he tries to win a final reserve roster spot after joining the Colts last week. He's a long shot to win a roster spot but may be needed with Zack Moss and Jonathan Taylor out due to injury.
... See More... See Less
Colts' Kenyan Drake: Joining Indy backfield
Rotowire
The Colts are signing Drake, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
With top back Jonathan Taylor on the active/PUP list due to an ankle issue and in the midst of an ongoing contract dispute -- and Zack Moss' Week 1 status in question due to a broken arm -- Drake gives the Colts' backfield some added depth and experience ahead of the team's preseason opener. His main competition for depth slotting will be Deon Jackson, Evan Hull and Jake Funk, but if Drake impresses this summer, he could emerge as a candidate for Week 1 touches, pending the status of both Taylor and Moss.
... See More... See Less
Ravens' Kenyan Drake: Fills in effectively
Rotowire
Drake rushed the ball 16 times for 60 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-16 loss to the Bengals. He added two receptions on five targets for 19 yards.
Drake had been inactive for each of Baltimore's last three games, but he got back in action with J.K. Dobbins (rest) sidelined. His workload expanded further when Gus Edwards exited late in the first quarter, and Drake took advantage by contributing significantly in the form of an 18-yard run and a four-yard touchdown plunge in the second quarter. Depending on Edwards' status, Drake could have a role in Baltimore's wild-card round rematch against the Bengals.
... See More... See Less
Ravens' Kenyan Drake: Inactive for Week 17
Rotowire
Drake is inactive for Sunday's night's game against the Steelers, Ryan Mink of the Ravens' official site reports.
Drake remains the odd man out in the Ravens' backfield in Week 17, which leaves J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards to lead the team's rushing attack versus Pittsburgh, with Justice Hill in reserve.
... See More... See Less
Ravens' Kenyan Drake: Idle for second straight week
Rotowire
Drake (coach's decision) is inactive for Saturday's game against the Falcons.
Now that the Baltimore backfield has returned to full strength in recent weeks with both J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards moving past their respective injuries, Drake could begin to find himself on the inactive list on a regular basis the rest of the way. Though Drake has often received carries ahead of third-stringer Justice Hill when one or both of Dobbins or Edwards has been absent this season, Hill will be active over Drake for the second week in a row due to his ability to contribute on special teams.
... See More... See Less
Ravens' Kenyan Drake: Inactive Saturday
Rotowire
Drake is inactive for Saturday's game against the Browns, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
Drake is the odd man out in the Ravens' backfield in Week 15, which leaves J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill to handle the team's backfield duties versus Cleveland.
... See More... See Less
Ravens' Kenyan Drake: Three touches in win
Rotowire
Drake carried the ball once for one yard and secured both of his targets for one yard in Sunday's 16-14 win over the Steelers.
Drake operated as the Ravens' No. 3 running back in the contest behind both J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. With just three touches on 11 offensive snaps, Drake was a complete nonfactor Sunday, while Dobbins played 26 snaps and Edwards was on the field for 21 snaps. Going forward, it's likely that Baltimore uses a similar rotation out of the backfield, which would diminish Drake's fantasy value. The veteran should not be trusted for fantasy purposes when the Ravens visit the Browns in Week 15.
... See More... See Less
Ravens' Kenyan Drake: Handles two carries in loss
Rotowire
Drake carried the ball twice for two yards and failed to secure his only target in Sunday's 28-27 loss to the Jaguars.
As expected, Drake saw a major reduction in his role Sunday with teammate Gus Edwards active for the contest. Drake's two carries and two rushing yards were his lowest totals of the season in each category. Meanwhile, Edwards dominated in touches out of the backfield, handling 16 carries in his first game action since Week 8. With J.K. Dobbins (knee) nearing a return from injured reserve, it is fair to assume that Drake should likely see his role diminish even further as a change-of-pace back. Heading in to a Week 13 matchup with Denver, the 28-year-old is extremely difficult to trust for fantasy purposes.
... See More... See Less
Ravens' Kenyan Drake: Headed for role reduction
Rotowire
Drake is expected to move back into a reserve role out of the backfield for Sunday's game against the Jaguars with Gus Edwards (hamstring/knee) active for the contest, Ryan Mink of the Ravens' official site reports.
While Edwards was sidelined for Baltimore's past two games, Drake started and played at least 50 percent of the offensive snaps on both occasions, combining to produce 139 rushing yards and two scores on 34 carries to go with four receptions for 23 yards. Edwards isn't expected to face any major limitations in his return to the lineup Sunday and should settle back in as the Ravens' clear lead option on the ground, relegating Drake and Justice Hill to change-of-pace work behind him.
... See More... See Less
Ravens' Kenyan Drake: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
Rotowire
We'll see if Gus Edwards (hamstring) will play this week against the Jaguars, and Edwards will impact the status for Drake. If Edwards is out then Drake has the chance to be a No. 2 running back in all leagues. While he only had six PPR points against Carolina in Week 11, he did score at least 16 PPR points in three of his previous four games. It's a favorable matchup with the Jaguars, who have allowed six running backs to score at least 11 PPR points in their past five games.
... See More... See Less
Ravens' Kenyan Drake: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
Rotowire
Gus Edwards (hamstring) returned to practice Wednesday, but I like Drake slightly ahead of Edwards as the best Ravens running back this week against the Panthers. That could be a mistake if Edwards leads the team in touches, but Drake has done a nice job while Edwards was hurt, scoring at least 16 PPR points in three of his past four games. Edwards had 18 PPR points in his last healthy game in Week 7 against Cleveland, and hopefully both do well against Carolina. I would use them both as flex plays, and the Panthers are No. 5 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs for the season.
... See More... See Less
Ravens' Kenyan Drake: Beneficiary of Gus Edwards' absence
Rotowire
Drake is expected to retain a lead role out of the Baltimore backfield in Sunday's game against the Panthers while Gus Edwards (hamstring/knee) is inactive for a second straight contest, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
Prior to the Ravens' Week 10 bye, Edwards sat out Baltimore's 27-13 win over New Orleans on Nov. 7. In that contest, Drake played 66 percent of the Ravens' snaps on offense and carried 24 times for 93 yards and two scores to go with two catches for 16 yards, while Justice Hill served as the clear No. 2 option and finished with 19 yards on five touches over a 26 percent snap share. A similar distribution of the playing time and touches could be on tap Week 11, as the Ravens enter the contest as a heavy home favorite against the 3-7 Panthers. With that in mind, Drake looks to be a solid option in both DFS and season-long leagues this week.
... See More... See Less
Ravens' Kenyan Drake: Sleeper RBs
Rotowire
Gus Edwards (hamstring) is expected to play this week, but I like Drake slightly ahead of Edwards as the best Ravens running back this week against the Panthers. That could be a mistake if Edwards leads the team in touches, but Drake has done a nice job while Edwards was hurt, scoring at least 16 PPR points in three of his past four games. Edwards had 18 PPR points in his last healthy game in Week 7 against Cleveland, and hopefully both do well against Carolina. I would use them both as flex plays, and the Panthers are No. 5 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs for the season.
Obviously, if the Ravens fall in love all over again with Edwards, Drake is going to be a drag on Fantasy lineups. But it's likely the Ravens will not let Edwards play a lot of snaps in his Week 11 return, and if Drake is still running hot, he'll be the one picking up good numbers. He's the preferred Ravens running back this week to start, but understand there's a boom/bust scenario in play because of Edwards' return. At a minimum, expect 12 touches for Drake, which should mean another game with around 10 PPR points. I'd start him over Melvin Gordon, Devin Singletary and Gus Edwards.
... See More... See Less
Ravens' Kenyan Drake: Headlines win over Saints
Rotowire
Drake rushed the ball 24 times for 93 yards and two touchdowns in Monday's 27-13 win over the Saints. He added two receptions for 16 yards.
In the absence of Gus Edwards (hamstring) and J.K. Dobbins (knee), Drake dominated carries out of the Baltimore backfield. Though he averaged only 3.9 yards per carry, he managed two rushes of more than 10 yards and also tallied touchdowns of one and three yards. Despite the strong performance, Drake's value could be in jeopardy moving forward as the Baltimore backfield will have the chance to get healthy with the team heading into its Week 10 bye.
