Ray Davis (Bills) NFL Draft Preview
Post-Draft Fantasy Impact
The Buffalo Bills drafted Ray Davis in the fourth round, 128th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was the eighth Running Back off the board.
As I mentioned before the draft, Davis is not necessarily a speedy, change-of-pace type of back, so it will be interesting to see how the Bills want to use him. As of now, Davis is slotted in behind breakout Running Back James Cook as the second RB on the depth chart. He is in front of Ty Johnson and Darrynton Evans, so it’s safe to say he has a decent chance of holding that #2 spot.
Cook was an asset on the ground and through the air last season, so he probably will remain in that role this year. That leaves backup duties and “give the main guy a rest” plays wide open for Davis.
Davis needs to work on his pass protection and pass-catching before he has a shot to be on the field a lot, but he will have the time to grow/learn with Cook ahead of him and should still have the opportunity to gain experience on the field.
Davis was drafted by a winning team (passing game may have taken a hit this offseason with the Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis departures) and is in a good position to get work earlier in the season than some of his fellow backs. Should Cook go down to injury, Davis could be one of the top pickups of the season based on volume alone. But that does appear to be his only path to fantasy-relevance for now.
Ray Davis NFL Draft Preview
Ray Davis started his collegiate career at Temple in 2019. As a true freshman, Davis rushed 193 times for 936 yards and eight touchdowns. He caught 15 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns.
He saw a significant hit to his usage in 2020, mainly because it was the COVID year (few games were actually played). He only saw action in four games, totaling 308 yards and one touchdown on 78 carries. He added 12 catches for 62 yards.
At the end of his sophomore year, Davis transferred to Vanderbilt. where he saw limited action in his junior season. Davis only carried the ball 44 times for 211 yards and one touchdown.
For whatever reason, the Commodores gave him a real shot as a senior, where they were rewarded 1042 yards and five touchdowns on 232 carries. He also caught 29 passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns.
Davis transferred again, using his final year (COVID) of eligibility to attend a larger SEC school: Kentucky. There, Davis had a stranglehold on the Running Back position, attempting 193 carries and finishing with 1129 yards and 14 touchdowns. He caught 33 passes for 323 yards and seven additional touchdowns.
Davis saved the best for last, hitting career highs in almost every category. He declared for the NFL draft following a career 746 carries for 3626 yards and 29 touchdowns. He caught a total of 94 passes for 762 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He was named First-Team All-SEC in 2023.
Measurables
- 5’8″ 211 lbs
- 40-yard dash – 4.52 seconds
- Vertical jump – 35″
- 10-yard split – 1.56 seconds
POSITIVES
Ray Davis is a strong running back who isn’t afraid of initiating contact. He lowers his pads and drives forward for extra yards in most cases. He is one of the shorter backs, but he has the strength and low center of gravity to stay on his feet through initial tackles.
Davis has a ton of experience catching passes. He has soft hands and can make defenders miss out of the flat.
He grew in his patience and vision at Kentucky, waiting for lanes to open based on blocking instead of trying to force something.
Davis is relatively injury-free, which is surprising based on his over 700 carries in college.
NEGATIVES
Davis may be strong, but he isn’t the most agile back in the group. He probably won’t slip through tight spaces or be able to juke defenders in the secondary.
He doesn’t have much experience in pass blocking and would need to work on picking up blitzes. He isn’t considered a good pass protector at the moment.
Davis has average speed, so he won’t run away from defenders often. This lack of speed also hurts his outside runs. He may not be able to hit a corner before being taken down by speedier defensive backs.
Long-term durability could be an issue. Even though he stayed healthy, over 700 carries coming into the NFL these days is quite a bit. He could wear down a bit earlier than other backs in the class.
GRADE – C-
Davis falls into the general area of most backs in this draft class. Playing at Temple, Vanderbilt, and a 7-5 Kentucky team makes it hard to really know what you are getting in Davis.
He is strong and balanced, making him hard to take down initially. He also is a good enough pass-catcher to be considered a third-down weapon. That said, he lacks the speed and agility that NFL teams are turning to. Davis won’t beat anyone deep, and even his speed to the outside could limit his usage.
Still, Davis seems to have the tools needed to get a shot, figuring he lands somewhere he could slot in as the #2 right away. I’m not sure he will ever be a workhorse back, but he could see success in an offense that utilizes multiple backs.
Happily married father of two boys. I love all sports, although prefer watching them since I’m a wildly mediocre athlete. And that’s why I write fantasy football articles! I’ve been writing for Fantasyfootballcalculator for over six years now. Besides that, I enjoy watching Badger football and basketball even though it raises my blood pressure. In my downtime, I enjoy traveling with my family, playing video games with friends, and golfing.
