RADIO
Dynasty football team outlook for the 2018 Baltimore Ravens. Martin Konstantinov examines each position in depth to provide a value overview to fantasy owners.
Here at RotoBaller, our dynasty crew will be reviewing all 32 teams in our offseason Dynasty Team outlook series. Leading up to the draft, we will break down every franchise as they currently stand and will review them again after the conclusion of free agency and the NFL Draft.
Which players should you buy and which players should you sell? Who will be sleepers this season and who will be busts? We will cover all the positions and all the angles for you.
The Ravens have not qualified for the playoffs in three straight seasons but are perennial contenders; with a 9-7 record last season in a tough AFC North division, they were so close to earning a wildcard spot but had to watch from the stands for yet another year. Although the team has often lacked a fantasy spark, the Ravens have several interesting options to consider going into the 2018 fantasy season.
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Baltimore Dynasty Outlook
Team Record: 9-7 (2nd, AFC North)
Fantasy Leaders (taken from FantasyData.com)
QB: Joe Flacco - 185.04 (QB24)
RB: Alex Collins - 148 (RB16)
WR: Mike Wallace - 99.2 (WR38)
TE: Benjamin Watson - 76.2 (TE16)
IDP: CJ Mosley - 166.5 (LB1)
Quarterback
After a career year in yardage in 2016 from former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, there was considerable regression to the mean in the 2017 NFL season for the Ravens signal-caller. Flacco, who has had ten seasons as the Ravens quarterback, threw for just over 3,100 yards last season, leading to 18 touchdowns and thirteen interceptions as well. Flacco's QB Rating of 80.4 was his worst since the 2013 season, which saw him throw more picks than touchdowns. Unfortunately, Flacco is one of the NFL's franchise quarterbacks who seemingly always underperforms and does not have very high fantasy value in almost every format.
With just 5.7 yards per attempt per throw for the Ravens quarterback last year, it's hard to imagine Flacco doing a considerable amount of damage this year, despite the addition of some offensive weapons in free agency and a likely addition or two to his skill position groups through the NFL draft. Yes, Flacco will have All-Pro guard Marshall Yanda back as part of a very impressive offensive line, but it seems that unless there is some magical spark that goes off in the Ravens locker room this year, we will continue to see the same thing we see every year from the Ravens quarterback - mediocre play that results in little fantasy appeal.
In Rotoballer's own dynasty rankings, Flacco is in Tier 19 standing at an ADP of 233 overall, making him one of the lowest quarterbacks in our rankings. Therefore, in dynasty formats, it is best if you stay away from drafting Flacco unless you are in a truly desperate situation; there are plenty of better upside picks to make in the tiers above.
Running Back
Although the 2017 season started with a committee between incumbent starter Terrance West and receiving back Danny Woodhead, the pair both sustained injuries and generally exhibited poor play throughout the early portions of the season. After being elevated from the Ravens practice squad, Alex Collins took over in a part-time capacity but eventually became the team's workhorse runner to finish out the season. Collins finished with 973 rushing yards on 212 attempts to go along with four rushing touchdowns. Furthermore, in the receiving game, Collins racked up 23 receptions on 32 targets for almost 200 yards. Collins emerged out of nowhere to lead the running backs in all-purpose yards despite fumbling the ball four times throughout the season.
As the 87th ranked overall player in Rotoballer's dynasty rankings, Collins is a Tier 7 running back who, at age 23, still has a lot left in the tank. Although his lack of pedigree and the overall nature of the Ravens offense has dropped him down the rankings in most formats, Collins is an intriguing dynasty play with high upside due to his big play ability that he showed last year. Although Collins will be on a short leash with the Ravens staff if he continues to fumble, he has the ability to fully entrench himself as the starting running back on a team that will likely run the ball a fair amount due to their dominant defense throughout the course of the season.
Behind Collins on the depth chart is reception maven Javorius "Buck" Allen. Allen finished with almost 600 rushing yards on 153 attempts but also had 46 receptions for 250 yards and two receiving scores. Although his yardage numbers were a few hundred less than Collins, Allen showed that he was a very effective back splitting carries with his younger counterpart and that he could handle a larger receiving workload. Unless Allen is somehow removed from the Ravens running back room, he will continue to bite into the attempts that Collins will get throughout games in 2018. Allen is currently ranked 177th overall in our dynasty rankings and should not be considered more than a late-round flier for fantasy owners given his lack of sustained production for the Ravens.
An interesting X-factor who could shake up the running back setup in Baltimore is third-year pro Kenneth Dixon. Dixon had a decent rookie year in 2016 but was injured for all of last season after tearing his meniscus. Dixon is unranked in Rotoballer's dynasty outlook but could work his way into some touches if he is able to display the form he had in college and in his first season as an NFL running back. Regardless, he should merely be seen as a waiver wire add once the season starts.
Wide Receiver
Although Jeremy Maclin was supposed to be the spark that the Ravens wide receiver corps needed in the 2017 season, he largely disappointed, hauling in 40 receptions for 556 yards and three measly touchdowns. However, the rest of the team's receiving corps did not fare much better, with Mike Wallace leading the team in receiving despite having just 52 receptions for 748 yards and four touchdowns. Clearly, the Ravens needed some receiver help going into the 2018 season.
In comes Michael Crabtree, the ex-Raiders wide receiver who had a very disappointing 2017 season but looks to rebound with a more successful 2018 campaign after signing a three year 21 million dollar offer with the team. Crabtree had just over 600 yards last year in a down year for the Raiders, but still came away with eight touchdowns. The previous two seasons before 2017, Crabtree had 922 and 1,003 yards as well as nine and eight touchdowns, respectively. Crabtree has been a touchdown machine the last few years, and the Ravens and fantasy owners alike will hope that that trend continues into the 2018 season. Crabtree is ranked 56th overall in Rotoballer's dynasty rankings, making him a decent mid-tier pickup who will be available within the first 5-6 rounds of redraft formats. However, he does carry some risk as he is entering a new offense and is on the wrong side of 30.
Alongside Crabtree is the addition of speedy deep threat John Brown. The ex-Cardinal has had two very disappointing seasons plagued with injuries after coming into the league with two very solid performances for his team. Brown signed a one year 5 million dollar contract with the Ravens and will hope to perform well in order to secure a more lucrative deal during next year's free agency period. It is assumed that with the departure of Wallace and Maclin, Brown will assume a significant role in the team's passing game. However, with the low-powered nature of the team's offense, Brown is merely a lottery ticket receiver who is ranked 116th overall in our latest rankings.
An even bigger lottery ticket is former first round pick Breshad Perriman. Ranked 236th overall, the young receiver had just ten receptions for 77 yards last year and looks to be a major bust for the team. He is entering a contract year and is a longshot to have fantasy value with the team despite his great intangibles.
Clearly, there is a lot of work that can be done throughout the rest of free agency and through the draft. It is likely that the Ravens will spend early draft capital on a wide receiver in the hopes that they can produce immediately on the field, which could definitely catch the eye of dynasty owners. Furthermore, the Ravens have extended an offer sheet for Willie Snead, who could have decent fantasy value if he does sign for the team.
Tight End
With leading tight end Benjamin Watson leaving in free agency this year, the core of tight ends for the Ravens looks very thin. Even Watson did not produce at a high level last season, with just over 5o0 yards and four touchdowns for the veteran tight end. With three young tight ends on the roster for the Ravens, anything can happen moving forward. Nick Boyle looks to be the most likely tight end to inherit a steady workload, but the lackluster nature of the offense as a whole should mitigate his involvement as he is a decent blocker and will most likely have a capped receiving floor. Furthermore, Maxx Williams has struggled early on in his career, making both players dart throws at best in dynasty formats. While the Ravens could bring in another tight end through the draft, it is unlikely that that player will have an immediate impact on the team given how the Ravens tight ends have produced in the last year since the retirement of Dennis Pitta.
IDP
CJ Mosley was the best IDP player last year for the Ravens and in the NFL, with over 100 total tackles, a sack, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and a defensive touchdown. Although it is hard to predict which players will score from the defense, Mosley has the big-play ability to continue to be a dominant force for the Ravens defense as well as for fantasy owners. With several other solid options such as Matt Judon, Terrell Suggs, and Eric Weddle, the Ravens defense is one of the best for IDP selections in the league, and is primed to have another solid year given that much of the supporting cast is returning for the 2018 season.
While you should wait to draft the majority of the Ravens defense if you skip on Mosley, in dynasty formats, Judon is a very nice value play given his development and young age; Weddle and Suggs will likely be available in later rounds given their advanced age, yet they can still solidly produce for the team and for fantasy owners if necessary.
Draft Results
The Ravens went all-out on offense and selected several skill position players who could have dynasty value in the long term.
Offense
Addressing their main weaknesses, the Ravens drafted tight end Hayden Hurst in the first round as well as tight end Mark Andrews in the third. While the pair have relatively little short-term value, the duo should be formidable long-term dynasty assets (especially Hurst). In addition, the team added late round wide receivers Jaleel Scott and Jordan Lasley, who have a chance to make the roster but should be viewed as late round prospects at best.
However, by far the most important selection of the draft was the choice of Lamar Jackson at 32nd overall. Jackson is a polarizing quarterback with undeniable ability who, if he unseats Joe Flacco in the near future, will likely be a fantasy star. While it looks like Flacco will be the team's quarterback heading into the season, Jackson should have very high long-term dynasty value and could be a great pick in rookie drafts this year.
Defense
With no major additions on defense outside of fourth-round cornerback Anthony Averett, the team's defense will look the same as it did last year: solid and consistent with several IDP options available.
