Ray Rice is entering his third season as an NFL player

Ray Rice is entering his third season as an NFL player and like in fantasy baseball rings the third year is the "break out" year. Well most think that last year was Rice's coming out party… wrong… Rice is a multi purpose back, he can run for speed, strength, and agility. He has become an elite pass catcher in the backfield and hes tough as nails in the blocking game. He will step it up another notch and enter the tier of elite must have territory.

Why you may ask? Well the Ravens are now and have always been a heavy running team… That game plan isnt going to change because Joe Flacco has developed or because Anquan Boldin was acquired, no that game plan is going to open up even more because of these new threats! The terrifying passing threat that Flacco to Boldin creates will force defenses to adjust their schemes to put either A double coverage on Boldin or B more hesitation for pass coverage. Defensive schemes against Baltimore could always bank on a run heavy offense and now with the new 1-2 combo the running game will have holes for Rice that the Ravens have never seen.

Another reason Ray Rice will edge out Johnson and Peterson for the top spot is this… Unlike the Titans and Vikings the Ravens don't insert a spell back as a must need in goal line situations.The Titans are working diligently to find a replacement for Lendale White in either Javon Ringer or LeGarrette Blount and the Vikings used a 2nd round pick to bring in Stanford bruiser Toby Gehart.

Because of that Peterson will surely lose out on those 2nd and goal carries on the 1 or 2 yard line. At that point in a game he becomes more of a liability than a talent and those plays will cost fantasy owners points, points that Ray Rice wont lose out on. And yes will there is still a threat looming of Willis McGahee stealing some carries from Rice this season I am not concerned. Lets be real McGahee had 109 rushing attempts last year, hes heading towards the end of his career and he has a litany of injury problems. The real threat to take carries from Rice is Le'Ron McClain but fantasy owners don't need to worry because he poses the same threat that every other Mike Alstott and Tony Richardson posed for their teams respective lead rushers.

Only 28, McGahee still has the strength and athleticism to be a starting tailback in the NFL. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry en route to 544 yards last season.

And although Rice - who rushed for 1,339 yards and finished second in the NFL with 2,041 yards from scrimmage en route to his first Pro Bowl berth - will likely begin the 2010 season as the offense's starting running back, McGahee will still be counted on to power the rushing attack when he is on the field.

To that end, McGahee said he came into training camp a little heavier than usual. McGahee, whose playing weight is listed at 235 pounds, said he weighed in at 240 pounds - which did not concern him.

"I feel like when I came in lighter, that's when I was getting the injuries and all of that," McGahee said, referring to 2008, when arthroscopic knee surgery in the preseason was followed by injuries to his eye, ribs, ankle and finally neck because of a helmet-to-helmet blow by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark that knocked him out of the AFC championship game. "I just go with the flow right now. Just keep it up."

Coach John Harbaugh said the added weight did not appear to be a hindrance for McGahee.

"He looks like he's in very good shape," Harbaugh said. "He's carrying really well, and he's running really well. So I'd say that's a plus."

For now, McGahee is content to bide his time and play a supporting role to Rice. But McGahee put to rest any notion that he might launch a Twitter campaign as his backfield mate Le'Ron McClain.

"No," McGahee said with a chuckle. "I'll leave that to Le'Ron."

Injury updates

Cornerback Chris Carr and linebacker Tavares Gooden did not practice Sunday, but neither's absence is considered long-term.

Carr appeared to injure his hamstring during Saturday's practice at M&T Bank Stadium, and his left thigh was heavily wrapped under his shorts.

"He was out doing some things today," Harbaugh said. "So he should be fine."

It's unclear what Gooden's ailment is, and when asked repeatedly about his nonparticipation, Gooden replied, "I'm good."

"He should be back tomorrow, too," Harbaugh said of Gooden. "We'll see. But (we) just gave him a day here. We'll see him tomorrow."

In addition to Carr and Gooden, offensive tackles Jared Gaither (back spasms), Tony Moll (concussion) and Stefan Rodgers (leg); cornerbacks K.J. Gerard (hamstring) and Prince Miller (unspecified); center David Hale (unspecified); and safety Marcus Paschal (right leg) did not practice Sunday.

Mattison returns to offense

Bryan Mattison is back with the offensive line - for now.

A defensive lineman out of Iowa, Mattison has alternated between both sides of the trenches and filled in as a defensive lineman because of depth issues during the team's playoff run last season.

"They told me, when it happened, that it was going to be a short-term thing and that I'd be going back," said Mattison, whose father, Greg, is the team's defensive coordinator. "I'll just do whatever the team needs."