In this second part of our Ravens’ 4-EYED TEAM PREVIEW, we’re going to be covering the Ravens’ IDPs that you should consider rostering for the 2021 fantasy football season.
Heading into the 2021 season, the Baltimore Ravens are poised for another deep run in the playoffs given the talent on defense alone. Defensive Coordinator and aggressive play-caller, Wink Martindale, will look to have his defense fine-tuned and filled with fantasy stars from the D-Line to the secondary. That being said while last years’ #2 scoring defense didn’t have many weaknesses, the pass-rush was the one blemish on an otherwise dominant group.
For a team that blitzed the most in the NFL, only tallying 39 sacks (14th) was a bit discouraging. That negative aspect of their defense notwithstanding, the fact that they were 2nd in QB hits and added Justin Houston this offseason is very encouraging for a bounce-back in the sack department in 2021. The addition of Houston should help bolster a front line, but the lack of depth at LB is a little concerning, especially after the season-ending injury to LJ Fort recently.
While the Ravens are still looking to get the bitter Buffalo taste out of their mouth from last years’ playoff loss, you SHOULD be salivating over the IDP menu of Baltimore’s defense.
So with that being said which players on this Ravens team can help you win a Fantasy Championship in 2021?
Find out now in our 2021 Ravens’ IDP 4-EYED Team Preview.
Linebackers
*Positional designations & ADP data brought to you by Sleeper.
Patrick Queen (Current ADP: LB11)
The Ravens absolutely struck gold again the way of a 1st round linebacker. Patrick Queen led all Ravens players in tackles and was a monster in the backfield causing three sacks in 2020. His disruption didn’t stop there as he also forced two fumbles and recovered two more!
Last year, Queen finished as the LB20, despite obviously wearing down towards the end of the season and capping his tackle volume. One of the key areas that Queen is looking to improve upon is his coverage skills. This improvement could cap his tackle upside, could lead to more splash plays.
Further development, a tremendous snap share floor, and elite instincts make Patrick Queen a solid LB2!
Patrick Queen and that Baltimore energy go together so well 😭 pic.twitter.com/YpYoePB6cB
— ramey (@HoodieRamey) August 16, 2021
Defensive Back
*Positional designations & ADP data brought to you by Sleeper.
Marlon Humphrey (Current ADP: DB9)
Marlon Humphrey is, by most accounts, the first CB taken amongst the safety-heavy DB’s in IDP drafts this offseason. Entering his 5th season with the Ravens, and 3rd as an every-down starter, Humphrey continues to improve at all facets of his game. Last years’ DB8 finish was an improvement upon his DB24 finish in 2019, on the heels of eight forced fumbles. While the eight forced fumbles is not likely to be a sticky statistic to forecast, it goes a long way in showing just how disruptive he can be on the field.
One of the most important aspects of maintaining Humphrey’s IDP floor is the presence of Marcus Peters on the other side of the field. If offenses are still adamant about attacking Marlon’s side of the field, his 70-80 tackle projection is pretty firm. While the one interception is a dip from previous years, it is always encouraging to know that he is in a Wink Martindale scheme that emphasizes a blitz-heavy approach that ultimately leads to more errant passes thrown by opposing quarterbacks, ALL OF WHICH is great for a quality CB like Humphrey.
Chuck Clark (Current ADP: DB34)
Clark got his first taste of full-time snaps in 2020 which resulted in a career-high 96 tackles. If there is a negative to nearly reaching triple-digit tackles is the fact that it was pretty much a 1.5:1 ratio solo to assist. The tackle volume, with a 17 game season, and no reason to see him lose snaps, should result in 100+ tackles. While the tackle volume is nice, it would be very nice to see an increase from the one INT that he has averaged over the past few years.
As with all of the Ravens’ defensive players, they should be put in a position to succeed, and with a positive game script, there should be plenty of passing plays for him to attack!
That’s all for our Ravens‘ IDP coverage for today. Stay tuned tomorrow for our double coverage of our next AFC North team, the Cleveland Browns!
