Allen benched after fumble

Ravens RB Buck Allen lost a fumble late in the 1st quarter of Sunday's game that was returned the other way for a Chiefs TD.  It was Allen's 2nd fumble in as many weeks, and this one got him benched.  “You play the best players, and at running back, the best players don’t fumble,” HC John Harbaugh said. “Fumbling is what it is. You have to hold onto the football. He knows that.”  Terrance West and Terrence Magee handled backfield duties after Allen was sent to the pine.  Harbaugh hinted, though, that Allen would get back in the mix next week.  "In no way is Buck going to be banished, by any stretch,” he said. “He’s done a lot for us. He has a great future for us. But you have to hold onto the football."  Allen will remain the best bet in Baltimore's backfield in Week 16, but the ball-security problem adds risk.

The Saints have signed RB Buck Allen. The 27-year-old mustered just 3.7 yards per carry across 4 seasons in Baltimore. He was better in the passing game, tallying 35+ catches in 3 different campaigns. But he averaged just 6.3 yards per catch, failing to reach even 5.7 in each of the last 3 years. Allen figures to battle RBs Dwayne Washington and Devine Ozigbo for a roster spot in New Orleans. And if he makes the team, he'd need an injury to Alvin Kamara or Latavius Murray to have a shot at fantasy value.

The Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec believes RB Buck Allen has proved "worthy of an offensive role" this summer. "Allen has been the Ravens’ most effective back throughout training camp and the preseason," Zrebiec adds. That latter part isn't exactly saying much. Allen has averaged just 3.4 yards per carry through 2 exhibitions, but that bests Terrance West's 1.9, while Danny Woodhead has carried just once for 2 yards. Allen has some pass-catching chops -- he caught 45 balls as a rookie -- but has posted 3.8 YPC in both of his first 2 seasons. Don't bet on him becoming a fantasy factor this year. We'll see if he sees enough action to dent West's or Woodhead's numbers.

Ravens RB Buck Allen is a healthy scratch for today's opener against the Bills. He was expected to serve in a passing-down role but has evidently fallen out of favor. That work figures to now to to RB Justin Forsett, making him a much safer fantasy play. Forsett and Terrance West are the only 2 active RBs for the Ravens.

The Ravens selected RB Buck Allen in the 4th round.  This fit makes a ton of sense.  Allen is 1 of the best pass-catching backs in this draft class, racking up 41 catches for 458 yards and a score in 2014.  He led the RB class in yards per route run, per Pro Football Focus.  Allen joins a Ravens offense run by OC Marc Trestman, who loves to get his RBs involved in the passing game.  Justin Forsett is a strong pass-catcher, but Allen could immediately eat into his receiving production.  Longer term, the 6'0, 221-pounder has the potential to develop into a lead back.  Allen's arrival is bad news for RB Lorenzo Taliaferro.