Fantasy Football 2017: Baltimore Ravens outlook
Going into the NFL Draft, we’ll be assessing the fantasy assets of every team. We’ll cover past performances and look ahead for 2017 potential. Today, it’s the unspectacular Baltimore Ravens.
Joe Flacco
He’s your standard, run of the mill starting fantasy quarterback who will get the job done but won’t excite along way. Sometimes, that’s all you’re looking for. While reliable, his downside is simply his lack of upside. He hasn’t thrown for more than 27 touchdowns in a season, and doesn’t have the weapons around him right now to make us believe that will change. Flacco’s only a starter in 2QB leagues.
Kenneth Dixon
Dixon was expected to return from an injury at the beginning of his career and take over the starting reigns immediately. Instead, he split work with a resurgent Terrance West. The fourth round pick from Louisiana Tech had (and still has) a lot of support in the dynasty football community, and if the backfield battle is between him and West again, we have good reason to believe he’ll be a breakout candidate.
He’s a powerful, hard-working back who fights for every yard he can get. As well as the ability to run between the tackles, he can catch the ball and shouldn’t have to leave the field on third downs (even though the arrival of Danny Woodhead may jeopardize that).
Dixon would be a back I’d be looking to acquire if the team doesn’t draft anyone, but he’s also suspended for the first four games of the season, capping his seasonal upside. Bench spots are important, and he might not be worth taking up one of yours. Add him only if you afford to hold him, and reap the benefits in the second half of the year.
Terrance West
As of right now, West sits atop the Ravens’ depth chart. After a slow start to his career, he burst onto the scene last year with over 1,000 total yards and was a great waiver wire pickup for owners. Dixon will receive most of the hype of the summer, but keep an eye on how the team talks about West. It’ll likely be a committee, and if he comes extremely cheap on draft day, he could return decent value. He’s already likely to be the starter for the first four weeks.
Danny Woodhead
The 32-year old veteran is only two years removed from finishing as the RB3 overall in PPR leagues. Although he’s “old” and “injured”, he’s racked up 75-plus receptions in each of the past two full seasons he’s played. He’s certainly worth a late PPR flier.
Mike Wallace
He was seemingly unsettled and misused in Miami and Minnesota, but Wallace had his best yardage total since 2011 last year with the Ravens. Like West, he’s at the top of the depth chart and drafters are going to get excited for the potential of the youngster behind him (in this case, it’s Breshad Perriman). It’s more likely that the team adds a receiver than back, but Wallace will still have a role in the offense and is a cheap veteran option in 2017.
Breshad Perriman
After the departure of legend Steve Smith, the Ravens receiving corps is left in the hands of Wallace and the athletic specimen Perriman, who’s now entering his third season in the league. He’s endured a tumultuous ride so far in his career, missing the whole of his rookie campaign with a lingering knee problem after being selected 26th overall in 2015.
Last year, he showed flashes of his talent but still only put up one game with more than three catches and could only muster up 499 yards and three touchdowns. However, he’s big, strong and fast, and someone will have to see Flacco’s targets. He’ll be worth holding at the end of your bench to see which direction the team goes.
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The Best of the Rest
Chris Moore was taken as a deep threat in the fourth round, but didn’t provide anything last year as Wallace assumed that role. He’s yet to show anything and isn’t draftable. Having quietly topped all tight ends with 86 catches last year, Dennis Pitta should definitely be on your fantasy radars. He’s not flashy and won’t win leagues, but he will be with the team in 2017 and is a Flacco favorite. Former second round pick Maxx Williams is a deep tight end sleeper.