2024 Dynasty Rookie Post-Draft Update: Rasheen Ali
The NFL Draft is behind us, rookie drafts are taking place, and as dynasty managers we are looking ahead to the upcoming season. In our Dynasty Rookie Post-Draft Update series, we break down all the incoming fantasy-relevant rookies, looking at their profiles and where they fit. The basis of the rookie profile involves the usage of STORM analysis, focusing on five key components: Situation, Talent, Opportunity, Risk, and Market.
Situation
Name: Rasheen Ali
Position: Running Back
Pro Team: Baltimore Ravens
College Team: Marshall
Draft Status: Round 5; Pick 165
Ali was a largely unheralded recruit out of Cleveland, Ohio. He was a two-star prospect and the 273rd-ranked running back in his class by 247 Sports. As a freshman, Ali didn’t see much playing time and only received 22 total touches throughout the season. However, in his second season with the Thundering Herd, Ali broke out in a big way, leading them in all rushing categories, including an NCAA-leading 23 rushing touchdowns, while also being second on the team in receptions.
Big things were expected from Ali in his third season. However, injuries curtailed his season, forcing him to return to college for a fourth season. In 2023, he backed up his impressive 2021 season with another highly productive season. Despite the small school production, Ali showed enough through his college career to garner an invite to the NFL scouting combine and eventually be drafted.
Talent
Rasheen Ali’s Combine Results:
- Height: 5’11”
- Weight: 206
- Arm: 31 1/4
- Hand: 8 5/8”
- 40-Yard Dash: N/A
- 10-Yard Split: N/A
- Vertical Jump: N/A
- Broad Jump: N/A
Ali decided not to work out at the Combine or his pro day, so understanding his raw athleticism is a little challenging. There are some reports that he was recorded with a top speed in college of 20.7mph, which is impressive but not a ground-breaking number.
When you put on the film, Ali is a natural receiver, adept at making hand catches away from his frame. He has an impressive wiggle, which shows in his ability to create separation and space with the ball in his hands. Ali is at his best as a one-cut runner, where he can plant his foot and use most of his excellent acceleration.
Opportunity
Baltimore Ravens Depth Chart:
Courtesy of 4for4 Depth Charts.
The Ravens completely remade their running back room this off-season. They signed Derrick Henry away from Tennessee in free agency, and while his advancing years are slightly concerning, he is still a physical marvel and one of the best running backs in the league if he is given a runway to get up to speed. After Henry, it is a little up in the air; Justice Hill has been largely a special teams player, although he did flash some ability as a complimentary back last season. Keaton Mitchell was explosive and fantastic in spurts last year, but a week 15 torn ACL will likely limit his usage early in the season.
This means that you could look at the opportunity for Ali in two ways. You could argue that Henry is a workhorse with Hill, the complementary back, and when Mitchell is healthy, he will relegate Ali to the bench and special teams usage. However, you could also argue that Ali is one Henry injury away from being the lead back in this Ravens offense. Since Henry is 30 and has over 2000 career carries, there is some concern about his ability to play 17 games.
Risk
Expectations of a day three running back are always relatively low, so the potential risks are lowered due to the lower expectations. However, one area will need addressing if Ali is to become a regular fantasy contributor.
His running style is very upright, and he doesn’t run behind his pads into contact. This leads to poor contact balance and, more importantly, ball security issues. Ali finished his college career with 11 fumbles. That means Ali fumbled on almost 2% of his touches in college. To give that reference, Derrick Henry has fumbled on 0.7% of his touches in the NFL.
Market
Rasheen Ali ADP History Courtesy of DLF ADP History Tool.
Ali was an afterthought in the pre-draft process, as he was undrafted in mock drafts. Many NFL Mock drafts had him undrafted, so it wasn’t surprising to see his dynasty value so low. However, now, post-draft, he is sneaking into the back end of a few rookie drafts in single quarterback Rookie ADP and DLF’s Superflex Rookie ADP.
At the price you have to pay to acquire Rasheen Ali, he is likely nothing more than a lottery ticket who will likely be cut before the end of the season or will spend the year on your league’s taxi squad. However, flyers at the volume-based positions of running back and quarterback are where you want to make lottery ticket-type picks, as they are usually one injury away from fantasy relevancy. Ali is in that exact scenario where an injury could thrust him into relevant volume. He is unlikely to ever become a fantasy superstar, but he has impressive athleticism and rushing ability, and he could become a dependable NFL back if he is given the opportunity.
- Dynasty Decision: David Montgomery - April 18, 2025
- Dynasty Decision: Michael Pittman - April 11, 2025
- Dynasty Decision: Rhamondre Stevenson - April 4, 2025
The NFL Draft is behind us, rookie drafts are taking place, and as dynasty managers we are looking ahead to the upcoming season. In our Dynasty Rookie Post-Draft Update series, we break down all the incoming fantasy-relevant rookies, looking at their profiles and where they fit. The basis of the rookie profile involves the usage of STORM analysis, focusing on five key components: Situation, Talent, Opportunity, Risk, and Market.
Situation
Name: Rasheen Ali
Position: Running Back
Pro Team: Baltimore Ravens
College Team: Marshall
Draft Status: Round 5; Pick 165
Ali was a largely unheralded recruit out of Cleveland, Ohio. He was a two-star prospect and the 273rd-ranked running back in his class by 247 Sports. As a freshman, Ali didn’t see much playing time and only received 22 total touches throughout the season. However, in his second season with the Thundering Herd, Ali broke out in a big way, leading them in all rushing categories, including an NCAA-leading 23 rushing touchdowns, while also being second on the team in receptions.
Big things were expected from Ali in his third season. However, injuries curtailed his season, forcing him to return to college for a fourth season. In 2023, he backed up his impressive 2021 season with another highly productive season. Despite the small school production, Ali showed enough through his college career to garner an invite to the NFL scouting combine and eventually be drafted.
Talent
Rasheen Ali’s Combine Results:
- Height: 5’11”
- Weight: 206
- Arm: 31 1/4
- Hand: 8 5/8”
- 40-Yard Dash: N/A
- 10-Yard Split: N/A
- Vertical Jump: N/A
- Broad Jump: N/A
Ali decided not to work out at the Combine or his pro day, so understanding his raw athleticism is a little challenging. There are some reports that he was recorded with a top speed in college of 20.7mph, which is impressive but not a ground-breaking number.
When you put on the film, Ali is a natural receiver, adept at making hand catches away from his frame. He has an impressive wiggle, which shows in his ability to create separation and space with the ball in his hands. Ali is at his best as a one-cut runner, where he can plant his foot and use most of his excellent acceleration.
Opportunity
Baltimore Ravens Depth Chart:
Courtesy of 4for4 Depth Charts.
The Ravens completely remade their running back room this off-season. They signed Derrick Henry away from Tennessee in free agency, and while his advancing years are slightly concerning, he is still a physical marvel and one of the best running backs in the league if he is given a runway to get up to speed. After Henry, it is a little up in the air; Justice Hill has been largely a special teams player, although he did flash some ability as a complimentary back last season. Keaton Mitchell was explosive and fantastic in spurts last year, but a week 15 torn ACL will likely limit his usage early in the season.
This means that you could look at the opportunity for Ali in two ways. You could argue that Henry is a workhorse with Hill, the complementary back, and when Mitchell is healthy, he will relegate Ali to the bench and special teams usage. However, you could also argue that Ali is one Henry injury away from being the lead back in this Ravens offense. Since Henry is 30 and has over 2000 career carries, there is some concern about his ability to play 17 games.
Risk
Expectations of a day three running back are always relatively low, so the potential risks are lowered due to the lower expectations. However, one area will need addressing if Ali is to become a regular fantasy contributor.
His running style is very upright, and he doesn’t run behind his pads into contact. This leads to poor contact balance and, more importantly, ball security issues. Ali finished his college career with 11 fumbles. That means Ali fumbled on almost 2% of his touches in college. To give that reference, Derrick Henry has fumbled on 0.7% of his touches in the NFL.
Market
Rasheen Ali ADP History Courtesy of DLF ADP History Tool.
Ali was an afterthought in the pre-draft process, as he was undrafted in mock drafts. Many NFL Mock drafts had him undrafted, so it wasn’t surprising to see his dynasty value so low. However, now, post-draft, he is sneaking into the back end of a few rookie drafts in single quarterback Rookie ADP and DLF’s Superflex Rookie ADP.
At the price you have to pay to acquire Rasheen Ali, he is likely nothing more than a lottery ticket who will likely be cut before the end of the season or will spend the year on your league’s taxi squad. However, flyers at the volume-based positions of running back and quarterback are where you want to make lottery ticket-type picks, as they are usually one injury away from fantasy relevancy. Ali is in that exact scenario where an injury could thrust him into relevant volume. He is unlikely to ever become a fantasy superstar, but he has impressive athleticism and rushing ability, and he could become a dependable NFL back if he is given the opportunity.
- Dynasty Decision: David Montgomery - April 18, 2025
- Dynasty Decision: Michael Pittman - April 11, 2025
- Dynasty Decision: Rhamondre Stevenson - April 4, 2025
