Lamar Jackson and the Ravens look to be catching fire, despite an injury riddled season. By tackling adversity and adapting to their situation, they were able to start the season 3-1, including a massive win over the Chiefs, proving all the doubters wrong. Why do I mention this? Because we all can and need to do the same thing in fantasy! This season has been brutal with injuries and if your team has taken as devastating of a blow as mine, you need a pick me up. Some motivation. Well, if the Ravens have shown us anything, it is that against all odds we can still be victorious and take home some W’s!
With that being said, lets get into this weekend’s action!
Ravens – Colts Fantasy Outlook
Start Em’
Hollywood
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown should live up to his name and put on a show this week against a Colts secondary that has allowed the 4th most fantasy points to opposing WR’s and is the 7th worst pass defense in the league thus far. Jackson has illustrated the chemistry he has with Hollywood, as he has received the most targets on the team through the first four weeks and has received five or more targets in each game this season. Hollywood is averaging over 15 fantasy points per game and looks confident as ever after last week’s performance. I don’t see any sign of his production slowing down. Hollywood is a safe start with big upside.
Michael Pittman Jr
This was a tough one because I’m not confident that there are any trustworthy fantasy options on the Colts this week. Carson Wentz has looked sub-par all season. Between the Ravens’ 12th ranked rush defense and a non-ideal game script for RBs (19.25 implied point total for the Colts while being seven-point underdogs), Jonathan Taylor likely wont have a big day especially given his lack of involvement as a receiver. Pittman has been targeted 32 times in the past three games and while he hasn’t turned it into much, he is Wentz’s favorite target and has the best odds at a TD.
Sit Em’
Sammy Watkins
While Watkins has received no less than seven targets per game, his hands have been unreliable, and we have yet to see any of his big play upside come to fruition as a Raven. Watkins has a decent enough floor to be started in an emergency, but until he can prove that he can be a reliable weapon in this offense, I want no part of him on my fantasy team. It’s a shame because I was really hoping he would jump start his career as a Raven.
Carson Wentz
Wentz has not been impressive as the Colts new QB and that wont change this week. The Colts OL took a massive blow with the loss of Quenton Nelson and that’s gonna cause issues against this Ravens defense. Wentz is going to see some pressure in the pocket, and when he does, what is he gonna do? His receivers aren’t talented enough to consistently gain separation against the Ravens DB’s. Perhaps he looks Nyheim Hines’ way a bit, but that wont save his fantasy day.
Wentz should not in any lineups this week.
Streamin’ around the league
Ryan Tannehill
I don’t want to say its guaranteed… but it pretty much is: this week we will see last year’s version of Ryan Tannehill. The Titans are matched up with the abysmal Jaguars defense that ranks dead last overall defense and 2nd worst in pass defense. It’s looking like Tannehill will finally have A.J. Brown and Julio Jones back this week, so he will actually have guys to throw to again! The Titans are projected a healthy 26.5 points and the Jags have let up the 3rd most fantasy points per game. He is an excellent streaming option this week.
Alex Collins
That’s right! FORMER RAVEN Alex Collins has returned from the grave! With Chris Carson very likely out tonight, Collins is the next man up. In his limited work against the 49ers last week, Collins rushed for 4.4 YPC and was targeted twice. When you think Rams, you think dominant defense and have nightmares of Aaron Donald. No need to be scared anymore. Well. At least for your RB’s. The Rams have surprisingly struggled to stop the run and are the league’s 27th ranked rush defense and also give up the 10th most fantasy points to RBs. Not only will Collins get the lion’s share of the work, but he will also see the goal line carries.
Alex Collins is back! Well, at least for this week.
Cole Beasley
If the pattern holds true, Cole Beasley should be a safe streamer this week. Beasley has alternated target dominance. Through weeks one through four, starting with Week 1, here are his target amounts: 13…4…13…2. Its Week 5 baby, gimme all the Cole Beasley targets!
In what is surely going to be a shootout, Beasley should dominate against the Chiefs’ horrid pass defense, ranking 3rd worst in the league! The Chiefs have let up the 2nd most fantasy points per game and you can be damn sure that this game is gonna be a high-scoring affair. The Bills’ implied point total is at 26.75 and they’re still three-point underdogs! Pencil in Josh Allen to attempt 40+ passes. Combine all these factors and Beasley is looking mighty fineeee this week.
Tyler Conklin
The Vikings will be taking on the Lions that aren’t looking so much like the scary lion that would eat you, but more like the cowardly lion from Wizard of Oz. The Vikings are projected 29.5 points and get to feast on the Lions’ league-worst pass defense and 2nd worst overall defense. Conklin has very quietly accrued a 14% target share and a 20% red zone target share. The game script likely wont require a huge game from Conklin, but he has a good shot at a TD given how often the Vikings will be in scoring position and has proven to be a reliable target, catching 17 of his 22 targets from Kirk Cousins thus far.
Fire & Ice
Fire Squad
QB: Josh Allen
RB: Derrick Henry
WR: Marvin Jones
TE: Kyle Pitts
Ice Squad
QB: Taylor Heinicke
RB: Jonathan Taylor
WR: Odell Beckham Jr.
TE: George Kittle
