How will the Ravens' crowded RB situation shake out?

Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns, and spent the last 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast."

The Baltimore Ravens released running back Justin Forsett on Saturday, then brought him back on Monday.

While Forsett's release is certainly not a ringing endorsement, he is perhaps the only constant in the Ravens' running equation. They know who he is and what he is capable of, as Forsett has led Baltimore in rushing each of the past two seasons, including 1,266 yards in 2014.

But Forsett is soon to turn 31, was never an overwhelming physical specimen, and only played 10 games last year due to injury. His broken arm should not be a hindrance going forward, but chances are 2014 will go down at Forsett’s best season. It should also be noted that Forsett was much better on tape in 2014 than he was before his injury last year. And as a receiver, he averaged a measly 4.9 yards per reception in 2015, which is a major problem in Baltimore's offensive system. He looks like a placeholder at this point.

Rookie Kenneth Dixon, meanwhile, is currently rehabbing a knee injury. Dixon should only miss the first few games of the season, but the length of his absence is still undetermined. Other running backs on the roster are Terrance West and Javorius Allen, and it's possible all three plus Forsett see action early in the season, each looking to emerge from the pack.

Allen enters his second season and while far from overwhelming in any area, he does have an intriguing combination of size and receiving ability. This is especially important in Marc Trestman’s offense, as running backs catch a ton of passes. Think Matt Forte. While Allen does have skills in this area, he isn’t as dynamic in space or with the ball as Baltimore ideally wants from a lead back. He should have a role, though, especially until Dixon returns, and Allen did log 32 carries during the Ravens' final two games of 2015, playing mostly with replacement-level teammates. But in the end, Allen averaged just 3.75 yards per carry during his rookie season and hasn’t shown the ability to create on his own, or get much more than what's blocked.

West looks like a new man in Baltimore and may have potentially resurrected himself, after going through near-death career experiences in Cleveland and Tennessee. West's talent was obvious this preseason, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he gets the bulk of early carries. The Ravens might just decide to feed West and see how long he holds up, and how much he can handle, as he's not yet proven to be reliable at this level of play. If West “hits,” his ceiling is higher than Allen's and Forsett's, at this stage. It isn’t crazy to think that West takes this job and never looks back.

The best back on this roster could be Dixon, who was starting to run with the first team before he sprained his knee. While this situation is very cloudy, Dixon is exactly what Baltimore's system looks for. He is good in protection and an excellent receiver. Dixon should not only be a favorable dump-off option for Joe Flacco, but it's conceivable that before long, he could align away from the formation and run wide receiver routes, similar to Forte's Chicago days with Trestman. As a ball-carrier, Dixon has the best balance and is the most elusive. And he doesn’t lack power. Dixon isn’t a speed guy and probably won't run away from NFL defenders for long touchdowns, but that is one of the most overrated running back traits at this level of play. He certainly has the skill set to rack up 15- and 20-yard runs with some consistency.

Overall, there are an awful lot of moving parts right now with Baltimore’s backfield. While Forsett's release didn't look good, the next steps implied both parties knew he would be back immediately. He is probably the top ball-carrier in Week 1, with lots of West and Allen sprinkled in.

We shall see how it all plays out and if anyone in particular steps up to grab the job, but by the sixth or seventh game, it would be an upset if Dixon were not the Ravens' best running back.