Week 4 is upon us, and I’m sure nobody in the Ravens Flock will disagree with me when I say from a fantasy standpoint? I don’t care if I’m facing a team with Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, Mark Ingram and Justin Tucker all on the same team – I just want Baltimore’s playmakers to get back to their scoring ways!
Surely the Ravens have the same mentality at One Winning Drive, as the team cannot afford a second consecutive down week, and given the matchup against the WFT (I have yet to call them by their name, since it’s offensively stupid) I think we’ll see a pissed off Ravens offense, doing pissed off Ravens things.
That’s a good thing, in case that wasn’t clear.
Start ‘Em
QB Lamar Jackson
I’m breaking my rule and I don’t care. Jackson will return to form against a WFT team without stud rookie pass rusher, Chase Young. Look no further than Kyler Murray’s combined trio of scores (two rushing, one passing) in Week 2 for an idea of what a pissed off Lamar is going to accomplish Sunday.
RB Antonio Gibson
Look, this isn’t a “start him because he’s going to be great” it’s more of a “if you have to start anybody? Start him, I guess.” Gibson has led the team in touches over the past two weeks (29 total in that stretch).
Sit ‘Em
RB Mark Ingram
The WFT has given up four rushing TDs in the past two weeks (two for Kyler, two for Nick Chubb) which would typically bode well for an opposing back, but in Baltimore the backfield is a pure committee with no end in sight. I simultaneously trust nobody (as a fantasy owner), and everybody (as a Ravens fan), in the backfield at once.
WR Terry McLaurin
Brinks Truck Humphrey on Scary Terry. Enjoy that matchup all day.
Sleepers
WR Devin Duvernay
This is a deeeeep sleeper, but I can’t help but notice the fact that John Harbaugh has been praising Duvernay this week, and insisting the rookie from Texas (Hook ‘Em) is pushing for a larger role on the offense. You may not flex him in this week, but you’ll be taking waiver wire swings on him come Week 5.
TE Logan Thomas
The Ravens have struggled with Tight Ends this season, and Thomas could capitalize on a WFT pass heavy attack this week.
Sleeping Around (the NFL)
We all know who to start and bench, now let’s look at the sleepers around the league.
Quarterback
Joe Burrow (vs Jags)
Burrow is starting to heat up, and the Jags are a fantasy matchup that dreams are made of. The only thing I hate about Burrow thriving (from a fantasy perspective) is how badly this offense diminishes Joe Mixon’s fantasy potential…
Ryan Fitzmagic (vs Seahawks)
Fitzmoney had one helluva Week 3 against the Jags, and now faces a surprisingly weak Seahawks defense against the pass. Don’t get me wrong: this won’t be a close game, but the Fins will be chucking the rock around to stay close.
Wide Receiver
Justin Jefferson (vs Texans)
The first-round rookie came alive last week with a 7/9/175/1 line. Facing a Texans defense that’s been trounced weekly this year, I think Kirk Cousins keeps going back to the well with Jefferson and it pays off for fantasy owners.
Allen Lazard (vs Falcons)
Even with Davante Adams returning, you have Aaron Rodgers… facing the Falcons…that’s it. That’s all you need to know. There’s a very real chance Lazard and Adams both put up 100+ and a score before halftime. Then again after halftime.
Running Back
Darrell Henderson (vs Giants)
Henderson has looked great and the Giants have looked atrocious. I’m genuinely not sure what else to say here; he’ll put up chunky points for a second consecutive week.
Carlos Hyde (vs Fins)
Chris Carson was limited in practice, but I don’t see Seattle risking him against the lowly Fins this week. Carlos Hyde, on the other hand, is nursing a minor injury and I expect him to handle the load versus Miami. Lest we forget, he’ll face a porous Fins run defense that was gashed by UDFA RB James Robinson last week to the tune of 129 total yards and 2 touchdowns. Hyde should fare well.
Tight End
Dalton Shultz (vs Browns)
If you screwed the pooch in the draft like I did, you probably misfired at Tight End with guys like Austin Hooper, Gronk, or Hunter Henry. Fret not. Grab Shultz and he’ll pay off with a slew of red zone targets he’s bound to capitalize on.
Mike Gesicki (vs Seahawks)
Am I doubling down on the Fins? Is this real? Seattle’s pass defense is that bad. While TE’s aren’t blowing away the Seattle D to date, it seems every team they’ve faced (Atlanta, Patriots, Cowboys) have far more weapons at wide receiver than tight end, whereas Gesicki leads Miami in targets, yards and touchdowns.
