Key Fantasy Additions
No free agent signings of note, however rookie WR Breshad Perriman and rookie TE Maxx Williams could make an impact
Key Fantasy Departures
- TE Owen Daniels
- WR Torrey Smith
(written by Brendan O’Brien-Cockson)
Team Overview
The Ravens had a very successful 2014 season, finishing 10-6 and making it into the playoffs as the 2nd Wild Card team. They upended divisional foe Pittsburgh in the Wild Card round but were taken down in the Divisional round by the eventual Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots, 35-31. Joe Flacco had a solid bounce back season after his disappointing 2013 campaign, as he threw for almost 4,000 yards and 27 TDs while maintaining a solid QBR of 67.0.
We also saw the breakout of NFL journeyman Justin Forsett in 2014, who amassed 1,266 yards rushing with 8 TDs. The Ravens’ receiving core put up solid but not flashy numbers last season, however they will have to cope with the loss of their top receiver in Torrey Smith. I expect Baltimore to contend for a playoff spot again this season, and there figure to be several skill players from the team that can carry you to your fantasy playoffs!
Quarterback
Obviously he’s no Rodgers or Luck, but Joe Flacco can be that criminally underrated guy on your fantasy football squad that can take you the distance (my opponent in the championship last year had him as his QB). The University of Delaware product won’t burn you with interceptions, so that’s a good place to start when looking for safe, reliable fantasy QBs.
On the contrary, he won’t throw for 300 and 3 TDs every week but he has the potential to be close to those numbers on a weekly basis. He gets to prey on the weak defenses of the AFC North and AFC West this season, but do note that the AFC North is playing the NFC North this year so you may want to have a backup plan when Flacco plays the Seahawks and Cardinals. Overall, Flacco is definitely rosterable in all leagues, all formats and should be a solid contributor all season long, barring injury of course. Position Grade: B
Running Back
We are all aware of the Ray Rice saga, so I will just put that to rest right here. As I mentioned earlier, Justin Forsett was one of the biggest surprises in the entire NFL last season and after a few weeks he emerged as the undisputed starter. Behind him, Bernard Pierce and Lorenzo Taliaferro saw a fair share of snaps but had little to no fantasy relevance for the season. I expect Forsett to have a heavy workload in 2015, and I legitimately believe that he can have another great season and prove that 2014 wasn’t a fluke.
Obviously, you’re going to try to snag a Lacy/Charles/Foster type player to be your RB1 but settling with Forsett as your primary back isn’t all that bad. Taliaferro appears to be the backup, so you might consider handcuffing him to Forsett. The 8th year man out of Cal should be a stud again this year, and I would be happy to have Forsett on my fantasy football squad. Position Grade: B
Wide Receiver
This is where things get a little dicey for the Ravens. The Birds of the North had a solid 1-2 punch last season with Torrey Smith and Steve Smith Sr. However, the first Smith departed for the San Francisco 49ers in free agency so that leaves the Ravens in a pretty precarious position. Yes, Smith Sr. had an excellent season last year with 79 receptions for 1,065 yards and 6 TDs. However at age 36, there’s no way the former Panther should be the #1 receiver in the system.
That being said, UCF standout Breshad Perriman could be poised for a big rookie season and might surpass other big rookie names such as Amari Cooper or Kevin White. 3rd year player Marlon Brown made a little noise late in the season last year, but he figures to be waiver wire fodder once again this season. Ugh, the Ravens WR coach has quite a bit of work to do… Position Grade: C
Tight End
We’ll keep things short and sweet here in the TE section, as there’s not much to discuss. Unfortunately, injuries have hindered Dennis Pitta’s production since 2012 but if he can play a full season his numbers should be excellent (60 receptions, 650 yards, 5 TDs). Secondary options at the position look to be second-year player Crockett Gillmore (Go CSU Rams!) and rookie Maxx Williams. If you have two X’s in your name, you’re bound to be awesome but there are always uncertainties with rookies and their transition to the NFL. Position Grade: C-
Summary
The Baltimore Ravens can be classified as one of those teams that has more “real life impact” players than “fantasy impact” players, and that certainly limits their collective appeal in fantasy football leagues. There are definitely some question marks (WR, TE), but I think both Flacco and Justin Forsett can be great assets to your team and help you reach the championship. round!
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