Baltimore Ravens - Fantasy News

Ravens at Steelers Start 'Em / Sit 'Em

by Aaron Bowers

12/8/17

NFL

Baltimore Ravens

Alex Collins

The NFL action on Sunday wraps up with a battle between the top two teams in the AFC North. At 7-5, the Baltimore Ravens are currently three games back of the 10-2 Pittsburgh Steelers with four games to play.

John Harbaugh’s squad is built on an excellent defense and a below-average offense. Yet, thanks to playing in a weak division and getting the AFC South and NFC North on the schedule, Baltimore has put itself in an excellent position to capture a Wild Card spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s defense won’t be mistaken for the Iron Curtain, but the unit has kept the team afloat while the offense has struggled to put points on the board. Somehow a squad featuring the best wide receiver and running back in the NFL has scored more than 30 points just twice in 12 games. While the Steelers have all but wrapped up the division title, they’re looking to keep pace with New England in the race for home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs.

Baltimore Ravens Week 14 Projected Fantasy Points
Joe Flacco: 11.0 PFP
Alex Collins: 10.5 PFP
Justin Tucker: 9.0 PFP
Mike Wallace: 8.5 PFP
Jeremy Maclin: 8.0 PFP
Danny Woodhead: 7.0 PFP
Benjamin Watson: 6.5 PFP
Javorius Allen: 6.0 PFP

Pittsburgh Steelers Week 14 Projected Fantasy Points
Antonio Brown: 19.5 PFP
Ben Roethlisberger: 19.0 PFP
Le’Veon Bell: 17.5 PFP
Chris Boswell: 9.0 PFP
Martavis Bryant: 7.0 PFP
Jesse James: 5.5 PFP

Start 'Em: Alex Collins (10.5 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 9.5

Cut by the Seahawks on September 2, Collins has taken hold of the starting running back job in Baltimore. Given that he has 497 more rushing yards than any Seattle running back, it’s safe to say the Seahawks are regretting the decision to let him go. Collins doesn’t have great speed, but he has quick feet as well as power and physicality to punish defenders and make something out of nothing. With the Baltimore offense playing better as of late, Collins has been a major fantasy producer in his last five games. In that span, he’s averaged 18.6 touches and 14.2 DFP per game. Conversely, in the last two contests, Pittsburgh has allowed 27.5 and 10.6 DFP, respectively, to Jamaal Williams and Giovani Bernard. Look for Collins to continue his hot streak and get over his PFP in this one.

Sit 'Em: Joe Flacco (11.0 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 9.59

Once considered to be one of the best young quarterbacks in the league, Flacco has shown to be a below-average player at the position the last few seasons. Compounding his poor accuracy and questionable decision-making is his transformation into an Alex Smith-like check-down artist. Baltimore ranks dead last in yards per attempt because Flacco’s average completion travels just 4.6 yards in the air—a half-yard less than any other quarterback. Now Flacco travels to face a defense allowing the seventh-fewest DFP per game to opposing quarterbacks and which held him to 9.4 DFP in Baltimore in Week 4. Flacco is an easy fade for Dober Play Cards this week.

Start 'Em: Le’Veon Bell (17.5 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 18.85

Each of the last two weeks we’ve recommended Bell as a start, and each time he comfortably eclipsed his PFP. We’ll look to make it three-for-three against Baltimore, which allowed Bell to put up 32.6 DFP on 39 touches in Week 4. The Michigan State product is as close to matchup-proof as any player can be because he is such an integral part of the Pittsburgh attack through the air and on the ground. While most players seem to be wearing down at this point in the season, Bell seems to be getting stronger. Though he has 67 more touches than any player in the league, he has put up 22.6 and 26.7 DFP on 32 and 23 touches, respectively, in his last two games. We expect him to continue rolling at home for this divisional matchup.

Sit 'Em: Antonio Brown (19.5 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 19.72

This projected number is such a high bar to clear for any non-quarterback that we can’t even endorse Brown at such a figure. While he has hit it seven times this season, including in his last three games, he had a three-week stretch in which he didn’t clear 13.5 DFP. In Baltimore in Week 4, Brown was held to just four receptions for 34 yards in a game the Steelers won handily. Players as absurdly talented as Brown can make any fade recommendation look silly, but it’s hard to imagine him exploding for a huge number against a defense that has allowed just 21.28 DFP per game to wide receivers, third-fewest in the league.