Adam Randall lands on IR to start the season

Hill ended 2025 on injured reserve because of a neck issue. He was reportedly a cut candidate during the offseason and the team selected Clemson running back Adam Randall on Day Three of the draft. It seemed possible that the team planned on replacing Hill this year, but Zrebiec shot that idea down, at least for the start of the season. Zrebiec answered, “I can’t see that happening from the jump,” in reference to a question about Randall opening the season as Baltimore’s backup running back. Hill caught 21 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown in 10 games last year. He also punched in a pair of touchdowns on the ground despite running just 18 times. His ceiling is extremely limited, even in the event of a Henry injury, but Hill should have some standalone RB4 value in PPR leagues.

Per Spotrac, the deal is worth $4.62 million and includes a $379,480 signing bonus. Randall is the team owner, Steve Bisciotti’s first handpicked player. He converted from wide receiver to running back for Clemson’s 2025 season and posted a 168/814/10 rushing line and a 36/254/3 receiving line.

The Ravens drafted Randall with the No. 174 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft’s fifth round yesterday. Bisciotti has been the Ravens’ majority owner since 2004 and was reportedly “begging” general manager Eric DeCosta for the chance to draft a rookie this year. According to DeCosta, Bisciotti “did his research and studied the tape, talked to people.” Bisciotti notably has a really good relationship with Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney. Swinney moved Randall (6’3/232) from wide receiver to running back for the 2025 season after Randall showcased shifty moves when given the chance to run the ball and contribute as a returner late in 2024. Whether Randall can earn the No. 2 or No. 3 running back role remains to be seen.

Randall could be the next big-bodied WR-to-RB convert to earn an NFL roster spot. He suffered a torn ACL during a 2022 spring practice and recovered in time to resume playing in Week 3 that year. Randall’s splash plays in the run game and return game late in 2024 inspired coach Dabo Swinney to move Randall from WR to RB for the 2025 season. Built to handle a three-down workload, Randall, 21, measured 6’3/232 at the NFL Scouting Combine. In his lone season at running back, Randall produced a 168/814/10 rushing line and a 36/254/3 receiving line. Randall is still learning how to play running back, so he comes with a very low floor, but his frame and dual-threat profile make him a name to know for fantasy purposes. He will likely get a crack at replacing Keaton Mitchell’s part-time role as a rookie.

Hill has a $3.8 million cap figure, of which the Ravens can save $3.1 million with a release. He missed the final six weeks of the season with a long-term neck injury, and turns 29 next November. Zrebiec brought up this idea in mentioning that the Ravens could chase a running back in the lower rounds of the draft to add to the room behind Derrick Henry.

An MRI on Mitchell’s knee came back clean, per Fowler, following the Ravens’ Week 14 loss to the Steelers. Mitchell left the game in the second half with the knee issue after rushing for 76 yards on six carries, including an explosive 55-yard run. If Mitchell can practice in a limited capacity this week, he could suit up in Week 15 against the Bengals. Rasheen Ali would be the clear RB2 for Baltimore if Mitchell is sidelined.

Ali could see a marked uptick in snaps, routes, and touches if Keaton Mitchell misses extended time with the knee injury he sustained in the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Steelers. Ali, who drew praise from head coach John Harbaugh last week, is a decent bench stash headed into the fantasy playoffs in case Derrick Henry gets dinged up in the coming weeks.

Mitchell hobbled to the locker room near the end of the third quarter after totaling 76 yards on six rushes, including an explosive 55-yard run in the third quarter. Mitchell, who has a long history of serious knee injuries, has emerged as a solid complement to Derrick Henry in recent weeks. If he misses time, Rasheen Ali would presumably function as the team’s No. 2 running back and could be rostered in deeper formats.

Rasheen Ali will continue as the Ravens third-down back in the meantime, per Harbaugh. Keaton Mitchell is probably a better second Ravens back to roster at this point for most fantasy leagues than Ali. Hill can be dropped in all shallow formats.

Hill was a mid-week addition to the injury report, going from a normal practice on Monday to a DNP because of the neck issue on Tuesday. He previously missed time with a toe injury. Keaton Mitchell will continue to operate as the change-of-pace back this week. Mitchell is worth a look in large-field DFS contests for the Thanksgiving slate, but redraft managers can leave him on the waiver wire for now.