Rasheen Ali | Marshall 5’ 11” 206 lbs. February 16, 2001 (23)
Rasheen Ali was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, becoming the 12th running back and 165th overall player in the 2024 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE PRODUCTION
| Year | Games Played | Attempts | Rushing Yards | Yards Per Rush | Rushing TD’s | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Yards/Catch | Receiving TD’s |
| 2020 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 4.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 13 | 250 | 1,401 | 5.6 | 23 | 45 | 334 | 7.4 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 | 47 | 273 | 5.8 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 5.0 | 1 |
| 2023 | 12 | 212 | 1,135 | 5.4 | 15 | 28 | 213 | 7.6 | 1 |
*Statistics Pulled from Sports Reference
Spending all four seasons at Marshall, his first collegiate season was shortened by COVID in 2020 and he played mostly on special teams. But in 2021, he burst onto the scene and was one of the nation’s premier running backs. He had eight games with multiple touchdowns and six for 100 or more yards. Then in 2022, he unfortunately missed much of the year due to an MCL injury but he still came back the last few games and had a very strong end to the season. But in 2023, he bounced back concluding a very strong college career with his second one-thousand-yard season and made the second-team All-Sun Belt Conference. Overall, he’s a running back who has shown when healthy the production is very good.
FILM
STRENGTHS
Ali is a very exciting prospect to watch and has average size in regard to most NFL running backs. He’s a loose one-cut runner with a blend of instincts and agility that create consistency. He does a great job reading his blocks with patience and shifting speeds to get where he needs to go. Ali is great at spinning away from tackles and he gives a team options as he has a history of lining up wide or from the slot in empty sets. He’s a complete running back as he’s shown he has a nose for the endzone and great third-down production. He’s been a productive runner and at the next level, his well-rounded game has improved his chances of finding a role possibly as a solid complementary back.
WEAKNESSES
The first noticeable red flag when watching Ali’s tape is that when defenders are tackling him his wiggle and run strength are average for NFL standards. He also doesn’t look to have enough top-end speed or acceleration to run away from defenders. He has average elusiveness in his run after the catch but does find ways to keep the chains moving. Most importantly, at the next level, he needs to show that he can also avoid taking shots under his pads to protect his body.
ATHLETIC TESTING
Ali was held out of on-field drills at the combine due to rupturing his biceps tendon in Mobile during the 2024 Senior Bowl, so his testing scores and RAS (Relative Athletic Score) are incomplete. He’s listed at 5’ 11’ and 206 pounds with an NFL NextGen Stats composite score of 68, ranking him 18th amongst receivers projecting him to be an average backup or special-teamer.
DRAFT ANALYSIS
Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Below-Average
Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Average
Ali was selected with the 165th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
FANTASY INSIGHTS
I have Rasheen Ali ranked lower down on the list of available Dynasty running backs to target as there’s no guarantee of him seeing real playing time, considering the draft capital invested in him. For now, he may be a taxi-squad player and nothing more but his past production and his prospect profile are enough for me willing to take a chance on him. After all, he’s young and has a history of being a productive utility back who can do it all.
Ali should be valued in the early to mid-fourth round of Dynasty rookie drafts. He should be available there in almost all leagues and I expect to target him heavily at this price as the Ravens running back room is constantly changing for one reason or another. They did sign Derrick Henry on a two-year contract but the backup role to him is up for grabs. Keaton Mitchell is recovering from a torn ACL, which occurred late in the 2023 season and Justice Hill hasn’t impressed coaches enough to keep that role full-time. I fully expect Ali to be able to come into the picture at least in the start of the year while Michell finishes his recovery and Ali should be able to factor into a complementary role behind Derrick Henry if he impresses. The Ravens are a run-heavy team and I do expect him to get an opportunity to showcase what he can do at some point but he’s probably more of a stash candidate with a possible expanded role in 2025 or the future.
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