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Bottom line: Denver-Baltimore fantasy preview (focus on Ravens)
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Ravens QB Joe Flacco. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
OPPONENT FOCUS (Baltimore Ravens)
The 3-3 Ravens welcome the upstart Denver Broncos for a big AFC clash this weekend (get the Broncos preview here). Baltimore needs a win to keep pace with the surging Bengals and a solid Pittsburgh Steelers team.
Joe Flacco has emerged as one of the league's better fantasy QB's in only his second season. He is putting up big numbers this season in a Ravens' offense that is uncharacteristically aggressive. However, many of Flacco's big-number games have come against weaker defenses like Kansas City, Cleveland and the Vikings. Denver has made much better QB's look average this season (see Brady, Tom and Rivers, Philip), they should be able to do similar things against Mr. Flacco.
Bottom Line: If you have a better option to put in there, you should do it. Flacco will put up some points this weekend, but may have trouble getting into double-digits.
Ravens RB's Willis McGahee has slowly lost playing time to the electric Ray Rice in recent weeks. (McGahee's touches over the first six contests: 14-17-7-6-2-7) The trend should continue as the younger and more explosive Rice has demonstrated the ability to shoulder the load with plenty of success, averaging over 7 yards per touch and receiving a steady 15-20 touches per game. Rice's ability to catch the ball out of the backfield also causes plenty of problems for opposing defenses.
Baltimore RB Ray Rice. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)
Bottom Line: McGahee is on the verge of drop-status and shouldn't be played. Even against a stifling Denver defense, Rice's ability to both run and catch the ball make him enough of a threat to warrant a start.
Ravens WR's The Ravens' WR corps tends to be all-or-nothing in the fantasy game. Derrick Mason, by far the most dependable Baltimore receiver, has three games with double-digit points and another three where he has failed to break the five-point mark. Mark Clayton has also had a wide spectrum of production this season. A surprising stat: Clayton has actually been targeted more often in the red zone (six-four in targets) and has had only two fewer passes thrown his way all season, but Mason has definitely been the more productive player.
Bottom Line: With Denver's solid secondary don't expect much from either player. If you must play one of them, Mason is the safer bet to at least give you something.
Ravens TE's While Todd Heap has been an active part of the Ravens' offense, totaling 40+ yards of receiving in every game but the San Diego contest, he has simply not been involved near the end zone (only three passes have come his way in the red zone this season).This lack of activity near the goal-line has limited Heap to a four-six point player most weeks. And facing a Broncos defense that has shut down the likes of Antonio Gates and Jason Witten, Heap cannot be counted on to produce this week.
Bottom Line: You could do worse than to start Todd Heap, but you could probably also do a lot better. Only start him if you're really stuck.
Ed Reed and the struggling Ravens "D". (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Ravens D/ST This previously stout unit has fallen on harder times of late. They have struggled to slow down the better offenses on their schedule this year, with San Diego, Minnesota, New England and even the lowly Chiefs putting up good numbers against them. They come into the game ranked 19th in scoring defense. The only saving grace for the Ravens' "D" fantasy-wise has been the two touchdowns they have produced, otherwise it would be a dismal fantasy season thus far.
Bottom Line: With the Denver offense hanging onto the ball remarkably well and getting more in sync every week, it's probably a good time to sit this unit for now.
Steve Hauschka has only been called upon to kick seven field goals on the season. Unfortunately, he has missed two of them, leading to a low 71.4% rate. He has also only broken into double-digit fantasy points in one game this season.
Bottom Line: Unless you play in the deepest of leagues and your PK is on a bye-week, Hauschka is not a practical choice to start. He is definitely in the third or even fourth wave of fantasy kickers.
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