How the Ravens' Running Back Room Shapes Baltimore's 2024 Playoff Hopes

The Ravens' running back depth chart matters more to Baltimore fans than it might elsewhere, because the franchise has built its identity around ground-game dominance since the Lamar Jackson era began. This guide covers who's lined up at the position, what each player brings, and why the ordering matters for the team's ability to win playoff games in January.

The Starter and What Defines It

Derrick Henry arrived in Baltimore in 2024 on a one-year deal, immediately establishing himself as the lead back. At 30 years old, he carries the kind of downhill running style that fits the Ravens' power-running scheme without requiring constant involvement in the passing game. The Ravens signed him specifically because their offensive line and play-calling system, refined over years of Jackson's dual-threat role, could maximize a north-south runner. Henry's workload typically runs 15 to 20 carries per game when healthy, a volume that defines the position's primary role in John Harbaugh's offense.

What separates starter reps from rotational work in this Ravens system is not just snap count but assignment type. The starter inherits the goal-line carries, the third-and-short attempts, and the sequences where the team commits to running rather than staying multiple-option. Henry's signing shifted this framework entirely from the committee approach the Ravens used in 2023.

The Change-of-Pace Back

Justice Hill serves as the complement runner, a role that in Baltimore's system means more than simply spelling the starter. Hill was drafted by the Ravens in 2019 and has spent five seasons learning the team's language. His value lies in pass-catching ability out of the backfield—something Henry is willing to do but not the default choice—and his fit in two-minute situations where the Ravens need controlled movements between the sidelines. Hill averages around 8 to 12 carries and 3 to 5 targets per game when active, numbers that reflect his secondary but distinct role.

The Ravens use Hill differently than other teams use backup backs. Rather than waiting for Henry to rest, Baltimore often brings Hill in on fresh drives to attack specific defensive weaknesses or to signal a passing tendency. This dual-back structure has been consistent across multiple seasons, making Hill's presence meaningful even when his counting stats seem modest.

Third-Down and Situational Specialists

Glyph Keaton (or whoever occupies this slot by mid-season) functions as the pass-protection specialist and receiving target on obvious passing downs. The Ravens rarely deploy a fullback in traditional blocking assignments; instead, this third back enters on third-and-long situations to offer outlet receiving options or to handle pass-protection responsibilities when Jackson needs a second runner in the formation. The position demands knowledge of protection schemes rather than pure running ability.

This role is not glamorous in stat lines, but it directly impacts how many times Jackson gets hit per game. Teams that spend draft capital on backs who can pick up blitzers and catch swing passes in space tend to give their quarterback more time to operate downfield. The Ravens' playoff success in recent years correlates with having a competent third option who doesn't force the team into obvious rushing or passing situations.

How the Chart Shifts Based on Injury

The Ravens keep four running backs on the active roster during most weeks, but the depth chart becomes functionally a two-man operation when Henry or Hill faces injury. The team's offensive identity doesn't shift as much as people expect because the system itself is repeatable; the Ravens don't need a specific back, they need bodies who understand pre-snap recognition. However, durability at the top two spots determines playoff seeding in a way that other positions sometimes don't.

Henry's injury history over his career makes the Hill backup role essential to plan for. If Henry misses two or more games, Hill typically assumes 60 percent or more of the rushing volume, with the third-string back seeing 15 to 20 carries. The Ravens have managed this transition multiple times and usually maintain within 0.3 yards per carry of their season average, a small decline that speaks to system consistency rather than individual player dominance.

Why the Ravens' Depth Chart Differs From Other Teams' Versions

Most NFL teams publish depth charts as a formality; the actual play-calling tells the real story. In Baltimore, the depth chart reflects genuine snap distribution. The Ravens do not rotate running backs extensively on every drive the way some offenses do. Instead, Henry will play 75 percent of offensive snaps on a given Sunday, Hill 20 percent, and the third back 5 percent. This clarity allows defenders to prepare mentally but does not change the Ravens' execution because the running lanes themselves, the blocking assignments, and the call sequences remain the same.

Compare this to, say, a team that cycles three backs through every series. The Ravens' approach means their depth chart is predictive—you can estimate a back's workload and role from his position on the sheet with higher accuracy than you could elsewhere.

What This Means for Playoff Contention

The Ravens' running back depth chart enters December conversation because the organization's philosophy is that running backs in January are earned through four months of carries and familiarity, not brought in fresh off injury rehab or signed mid-season. This is why Hill's continued presence matters even though he is not the starter. By December, Hill will have logged nearly 1,000 combined snaps, and the offensive line will have conditioned itself to his timing on cutbacks and misdirection. A fresh back brought in late offers speed and health but not the embedded knowledge.

Playoff wins for the Ravens depend partly on having a running back room that can execute in minus-weather conditions and against defensive fronts that know exactly what is coming. The depth chart's real utility is showing which backs have earned that trust through a full season.