Today we are continuing our 4-EYED TEAM PREVIEW SERIES and we are covering the Baltimore Ravens of the AFC North!
In 2020, the Ravens finished (11-5) and second in the AFC North. They had some sense of success/redemption, though, in the post-season as they faced the Tennessee Titans for the second post-season in a row as they played them in the first round of the playoffs and won! However, their success was short-lived as they lost in the second round to the Buffalo Bills. With the Steelers improving their offense and the Browns focusing on defensive improvements, the Ravens are going to have another difficult season ahead with their division rivals. Needless to say, the Ravens stars are going to have to step up on offense.
So with that said, who are the players from the Ravens offense that can help you win a fantasy championship in 2021?
Find out below in our 2021 Ravens Offensive 4-EYED Team Preview!
Quarterback
Lamar Jackson
While he is still technically listed as a quarterback, Lamar Jackson is truly the number one running back for the Ravens. Jackson had the third-most rushing attempts, but led the Ravens in rushing yards and was second on the team in rushing touchdowns. The Ravens have reported in the offseason that Jackson is working on improving as a passer which is definitely a low point of his game. Jackson led all quarterbacks in rushing yards but ranked 22nd in passing yards.
In 2020, we saw the floor of Jackson because from Week 1 to Week 11 he was the QB9 which isn’t bad, but he was widely drafted as a top-three quarterback. From Week 13 to 17 Jackson was the QB6 so he started to improve in both areas of his game. Jackson is currently being drafted as the QB4 which might be slightly high if he doesn’t improve his passing game, but expectations are for Jackson to resume being a top quarterback in the league in 2021.
Running Backs
J.K. Dobbins
Dobbins finished the 2020 season as the RB21 in half-PPR formats and is looking to increase his workload heading into his second season. As a rookie, Dobbins ran the ball 134 times for 805 yards and nine touchdowns which led the Ravens. He brought in an additional 120 yards on 18 receptions. Dobbins should still be the lead back in this offense and is hoping to be more involved in the passing game. Jackson doesn’t have a history of involving his running backs as Dobbins and teammate Gus Edwards combined for 34 total targets last year and none of them were touchdowns.
Dobbins is currently being drafted as the RB15 in the third round and I think that is right where he should be going. You are hoping for upside in the passing game, but he will be a consistent rusher to open up the offense running the option with Jackson.
Gus Edwards
While Gus Edwards did lead the Ravens in rushing in 2020, expectations have gotten out of hand for him. Edwards didn’t add much to the passing game with only 11 targets and he had the fewest average yards per carry between himself, Jackson, and Dobbins. He is going as the RB42 in drafts in the ninth round and that is fine for what he is going to bring to the offense. That being said, Nyheim Hines and J.D. McKissic are being drafted three and seven RBs later and I would much rather either of them to start the season. Edwards needs a Dobbins injury to maintain fantasy relevance.
Wide Receivers
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown
Brown played in all 16 games for the Ravens last year and led the team in targets, receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. As the WR1 for the team, why is he being drafted as the WR50? Brown struggled early in the season as Jackson did because Jackson wasn’t able to consistently pass the ball well. Through the first 11 weeks of the season, Brown was the WR55. When the Ravens struggle to pass the ball, they go more run-heavy with Jackson improvising on the ground.
When Jackson is able to pass well, Brown has his best value which was shown between Weeks 12 and 17 when he was the WR11. In the final six weeks of the season, Brown had 338 receiving yards and six touchdowns. It was definitely a season of two halves for Brown and his current ADP reflects that people are assuming that he will be playing more like his first-half self than his second. The Ravens are still going to be run-heavy, but if Brown can consistently be involved in the passing game, he could have sneaky value this year.
Sammy Watkins or Rashod Bateman?
The Ravens brought in Watkins in free agency and spent their first-round draft pick on Rashod Bateman out of Minnesota. While both should help Jackson improve as a passer, it is tough to see a path where either of these players is fantasy-relevant. They are great players for BestBall leagues, but I think it is going to be tough to predict when they are going to have good games and who between Brown, Watkins, and Bateman are going to be the hot hand that week. The Ravens had 29 receiving touchdowns as a team last year, so it is possible that multiple receivers can be supported in this offense, but you can’t expect consistency week to week.
Tight End
Mark Andrews
Andrews played in 14 games last year and was tied for the lead in receptions for the Ravens with 88. He was second in targets, yards, and touchdowns. For clarification, Andrews had 88 targets and the next highest target share was former Raven Willie Snead with 47. Andrews’ role is pretty secure and he has consistently been the favorite receiving target for Jackson. Andrews finished as the TE5 last year and he is securely in that third tier of tight ends behind Travis Kelce alone in the top tier and then Geroge Kittle and Darren Waller being in tier two. Andrews is the one pass catcher in this offense that you can rely on week in and week out.