Oct 17, 2026, 4:27 AM ET

The Baltimore Ravens' DST will face their former offensive coordinator, Todd Monken, and his Cleveland Browns in Ohio in Week 6. The Ravens' defense survived a high-octane Falcons offense, logging three sacks and a walk-off interception to win in overtime. The unit got a much-needed boost last week with the long-awaited return of defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike, and outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson (finger) is expected back after his two-game absence, which should give the DST another jolt. The three sacks against the Falcons are the team's most since Week 2, and their pass rush is key to the Ravens' game plan and fantasy managers. The Ravens' DST has a 36.5% quarterback-pressure rate and a 5.2% sack rate. Cleveland leads the league in sacks taken (19) and sack rate (11.3%) after five weeks, and Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has faced a 40.22% pressure rate, which bodes well for the Ravens' front seven. This AFC North slugfest has one of the lowest over/unders on the Week 6 slate and is historically low-scoring, with the Browns scoring 20 points or fewer since October 2024. However, rookie wide receivers Denzel Boston, the frontrunner for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, and KC Concepcion (concussion), who cleared protocol late Friday afternoon, represent the type of downfield threats that the Ravens' secondary has struggled to contain this season. Nonetheless, the Ravens DST is RotoBaller's fourth-ranked defense in Week 6 and is a solid streaming option before tougher matchups in Weeks 7 through 9.--Matt McCauley
Source: ESPN

Oct 10, 2026, 5:53 AM ET

The Baltimore Ravens' DST was serviceable against the Tennessee Titans in Week 4, but fell short of managers' expectations for a top-tier finish against one of the worst offenses. The road does not get easier as the Ravens fly to Atlanta to face the Falcons Sunday night in Week 5. Once again, the DST will be without star outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson (finger), who was ruled out Friday, and cornerback Marlon Humphrey (hamstring/calf) carries a questionable tag after logging just one limited practice this week. The Atlanta Falcons offense has been rolling since quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s return in Week 3, and elite running back Bijan Robinson looks almost unstoppable, with four rushing touchdowns and over 300 rushing yards over the last two games. Also, Penix has the league's sixth-lowest sack rate (2.2%) and has thrown just one interception in his two games. With Hendrickson out, the Ravens DST has a sub-3% sack rate, which would rank them as fourth-worst in the NFL. The Ravens DST is a risky start against the Falcons, but managers may want to weather the storm in Atlanta and look ahead to the Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.--Matt McCauley
Source: ESPN

Oct 2, 2026, 9:30 PM ET

The Baltimore Ravens DST looks to move on from its narrow 34-31 Week 3 win over the Dallas Cowboys as it hosts the Tennessee Titans in Week 4. The DST will be without star outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson (finger), who has 17 pressures this season, tied for the league's fourth-most, and was ruled out Friday after a procedure for his broken finger. This puts a slight damper on the Ravens' pass rush, which has the league's fastest average time to pressure (2.39 seconds), and the unit ranks eighth-highest in quarterback pressure rate (39.3%). The Ravens DST will need to find ways to stress the struggling Sophomore Titans quarterback Cam Ward, who led the league in sacks taken (55) last season, without Hendrickson for the unit to meet its number two overall Week 4 projected ranking. Although the Ravens DST ranks 14th in yards allowed (321.3) and 21st in points (26) per game, the Titans offense is in a worse spot, ranking 30th in points (12.3) and 31st in yards (249.3). Nonetheless, the Titans have one of the week's lowest implied point totals, and the Ravens defense, according to cornerback Marlon Humphrey, has urgency to "get [the defense] fixed this game." The Ravens DST is a top-tier streaming option this week with high potential for turnovers and sacks at home against a low-scoring offense.--Matt McCauley
Source: Ryan Mink & Clifton Brown - Baltimore Ravens

Sep 26, 2026, 8:21 AM ET

The Baltimore Ravens' defense and special teams (DST) look to put the 17-24 loss to the New Orleans Saints behind them as they head to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to take on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has taken two sacks so far this season, which is the fifth-best for all qualified passers. In addition, Dak has been rather safe with the football, with one interception over 65 passing attempts. Together, these data points limit the Ravens DST's upside and ability to generate points, as this Week 3 matchup projects as the highest over/unders on the slate. That means managers in leagues that penalize for points allowed over 35 or for yards given up over 350 are heavily reliant on the Cowboys' offense to give up sacks and turnovers. To their credit, the Ravens are averaging 2.5 sacks per game and have two turnovers before heading to Brazil. Moreover, their 43.8% quarterback pressure rate ranks fifth in the NFL, giving managers in deep leagues without better options a small glimmer of hope. However, Teddye Buchanan (knee) and Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) have yet to take the field this season, and both are without injury designations and are set to play on Sunday. Managers may also opt to hold the Ravens DST, which is still learning and growing under the new Jesse Minter system, because they take on the Titans, Falcons, and Browns in Weeks 4-6 after their Week 3 foray in Brazil against the Cowboys. Nonetheless, the Ravens DST is Rotoballer's 15th-ranked unit, making them a fringe starter in 14-person or larger leagues.--Matt McCauley
Source: ESPN

Sep 20, 2026, 9:20 AM ET

Baltimore Ravens star defensive end Trey Hendrickson (finger) is expected to play in Sunday's Week 2 contest against the New Orleans Saints, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Hendrickson broke his finger into multiple pieces during practice this week, but he'll be available to play this week with a cast on his hand. The 31-year-old played 41% of the snaps last Sunday, logging just one tackle in a relatively quiet Ravens debut. He'll look to make a bigger impact this week, as the Ravens face mobile quarterback Tyler Shough and his potent Saints offense. Hendrickson is just two years removed from back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in Cincinnati.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Ian Rapoport

Sep 19, 2026, 4:50 AM ET

The Baltimore Ravens' defense and special teams (DST) had a solid fantasy outing in Week 1, as the team opened the season with a 41-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts. They are ready to repeat the success at home in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints. Last week marked the first look at the revamped Ravens DST under new head coach Jesse Minter, and the defensive unit did not disappoint. They racked up two turnovers, sacked quarterback Daniel Jones twice, and held the Colts offense to under 300 total yards. The most significant change was the Ravens' pass coverage deployment. According to Next Gen Stats, in Week 1 the Ravens showed Cover 4 pass coverage 23.5% of the time, closer to Minter's rate with the Chargers last season (25.6%, 4th-highest). In 2025, the Ravens used Cover 4 at the league's third-lowest rate (9.1%). This shift matters in Week 2 against the Saints because Tyler Shough threw one of his two interceptions and tallied only 69 yards when facing Cover 4 in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. Of course, the second-year quarterback is coming off a 400-yard game, but the Ravens DST, which generated pressure in an average of 2.33 seconds and has the league's highest pressure rate (52.9%), probably will give Shough little time to throw. The DST is dealing with some injuries, and Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) will remain out, which will continue to put a damper on the Ravens' run defense that gave up 5.2 yards per carry to Colts running back Jonathan Taylor in Week 1. Trey Hendrickson (finger) is questionable for Sunday but is expected to play. Nonetheless, the Ravens DST is a top choice in Week 2 and has favorable matchups in two of the next three weeks, making them a potential hold for fantasy managers streaming defenses through Week 5.--Matt McCauley
Source: ESPN

Sep 11, 2026, 4:25 PM ET

Baltimore Ravens defense will unveil its new scheme under head coach Jesse Minter Sunday afternoon in the season opener against the Colts in Indianapolis. Last season, Jesse Minter's Chargers defense finished in the top five in yards allowed per game with a 285-yard average and within the top 10 for points allowed per game at 20. This is good news, especially for managers in leagues that penalize for yards and points allowed. However, sensational defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) was ruled out Friday afternoon, which is likely to dampen the Ravens' pass rush and limit some DST upside with sacks. However, the Ravens acquired four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Trey Hendrickson during the off-season, who led the NFL in sacks in 2024 and ranks fourth among NFL defenders in quarterback pressures. Hendrickson and the rest of the Ravens' defense should be able to generate sufficient pressure on Indianapolis quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles), who may not be as mobile as he was pre-injury, which may offset the loss of Madubuike. Moreover, the Ravens' star-studded secondary, led by safety Kyle Hamilton, will look to take advantage of a Colts wide receiving corps on the mend from training camp and off-season injuries to generate fantasy points from interceptions. The Ravens DST profiles as a top-ten play in Week 1. They are also a potential hold candidate for fantasy managers streaming defenses, as they play the New Orleans Saints in Week 2, should have Madubuike back by then, and have a generally favorable season-long schedule.--Matt McCauley
Source: Baltimore Ravens - Ryan Mink

Aug 30, 2026, 11:43 PM ET

Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) appears on the team's initial 53-man roster, which means that he was not placed on injured reserve. As a result, he'll be eligible to play in the Ravens' first four games this season, although it remains uncertain whether he'll be available for Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts. The former Pro Bowler continues to work his way back from a very serious cervical neck injury that he suffered during Baltimore's second game last season. Prior to that, though, he had played every game for three consecutive seasons from 2022 through 2024. Between 2023 and 2024, he amassed 99 tackles, 19.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. He ranked as a top-12 defensive tackle in IDP leagues during both of those seasons.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Jamison Hensley

Aug 24, 2026, 11:43 PM ET

The Baltimore Ravens don't have a "definitive answer" regarding defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike's (neck) availability for Week 1, head coach Jesse Minter told Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. The team isn't sure whether there will be enough time for him to get ready over the next couple of weeks, and at the moment, they're just focusing on the defender's day-to-day improvement. A serious neck injury limited Madubuike to just two games last year, but he has been productive in years past, such as when he recorded 99 tackles, 19.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles between 2023 and 2024. Madubuike, a 2020 third-round pick out of Texas A&M, is expected to be a key piece of the Ravens' defense this year, but as it stands, there's a real chance he misses the team's season opener Sept. 13 against the Colts.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Jeff Zrebiec