The Steelers and Ravens have the potential to be an offensive onslaught, and as a result, using these players in fantasy could result in a big win
The Steelers looked like they were set to dominate the Titans at half time last Sunday. Ben Roethlisberger was carving the Titans defense while the defense had shut down every phase of the opposing offense. Then, the second half commenced, and the Steelers watched as their lead let up. Only by sheer luck did the Steelers win this game, as a missed field goal in the last minutes secured the win for the Steelers.
The only great starter for the Steelers last week was Diontae Johnson, as he weaved his way through the Titans for two scores. As well, I called A.J. Brown last week as being a must-start, and he made good on that, scoring off a huge pass and compiling over 150 total yards. This week, there is a danger in either offense stalling or exploding, which will make picking the fantasy starters tricky.
For the Steelers, the obvious starts are Roethlisberger, James Conner, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Chase Claypool. While the passing game wasn’t elite last week, it should improve this week. While the Ravens certainly haven’t been horrible covering, this game could lead to a lot of passing, making any of these options viable. As for Conner, he has looked great as the lead back, and he should continue his success this week as long as he remains healthy.
For the Ravens, the obvious starts are Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews. While Jackson has been lackluster as a passer, he is still scoring enough and running enough to make him a good fantasy quarterback. As for Andrews, he has progressed into one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL. While the Steelers did well against the position last week, Andrews will likely be facing some prime opportunities.
That isn’t the end of the fantasy options though. Here are the three players you should sit and the two that you should start this week.
Eric Ebron
Verdict: Sit ’em
While Eric Ebron did a decent job serving as a security blanket last week, he still struggled to make an impact in the red zone. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Ebron is a touchdown-dependent option. When he doesn’t score, his fantasy value won’t be there. As stated above, the Ravens aren’t a great coverage team, meaning receivers could be in store for a strong game.
That said, Ebron will likely be covered by either Chuck Clark or Patrick Queen. Either will likely give Ebron fits and realistically he could be taken out of this game completely. Neither of those options are slouches, and while the Ravens may not be keying in on Ebron as a big threat, either matchup looks like a win for the Ravens on paper.
If Ebron can find his way into the end zone for the second time this season, he may have a salvageable fantasy day. That said, that is relying heavily on the idea of him scoring while being covered by two good coverage options. Keep him on the bench this week but look to see some more promising weeks after this matchup.
Marquise Brown
Verdict: Start ’em
A “new AB” destroyed the Steelers last week, and former Steelers cousin Marquise Brown could be the next Brown to do so. While the Ravens passing attack hasn’t been great, the Steelers secondary has arguably been worse. Besides the matchup with the Browns, the Steelers secondary has proved suspect each week. Worse yet, they have particularly struggled with the deep ball.
This plays well for a receiver like Brown, who’s top-end speed could very well kill the Steelers this week. All he needs is to sneak past one of the boundary corners and he could be off to the races. As well, last week the Steelers had a sloppy play result in a long touchdown. If Brown gets the ball in space and the Steelers coverage is sloppy again, he can easily turn on the burners and find a way to score.
While Brown has been a boom or bust fantasy prospect, he is lined up for a favorable matchup this week. As well, he isn’t any sort of an elite threat that may cause the Steelers to focus on him. Don’t be surprised if he gets a long pass and score at some point. Considering his game-breaking speed, he could just as well turn a short pass into a long score. He should find a way onto your fantasy roster this week.
Ravens RBs
Verdict: Sit ’em
Arguably the easiest sit this week, the Ravens running game is a mess for fantasy owners. While each back has seen some sort of success, seemingly every week has a new lead back for the Ravens. The most established is Mark Ingram, but the timeshare he is on coupled with some injuries he is dealing with makes him an unappealing option. As well, power back Gus Edwards doesn’t have a defined role and is touchdown-dependent.
The runner with the most upside is J.K. Dobbins, but even he hasn’t seen enough consistent use to warrant a start. The split the Ravens utilize is hard enough to overcome, but top that off with the Steelers dominant rush defense, and suddenly this room seems even less appealing. While one of these players is likely to have a decent day, there is little indication as to who it will be.
While the Steelers defense is a force, the equal committee that the Ravens use makes all three of their backs unappealing. If you have to role with one, Dobbins seems like the safest bet thanks to his pass-catching ability. That said, be prepared to see another unique combination at the position this week and more frustration from your fantasy starters.
Diontae Johnson
Verdict: Start ’em
Fully healthy again, Diontae Johnson reminded the Steelers of just how frustrating yet talented the young wideout could be. While he looked like his usual slippery self with the ball in his hands, he also still suffered from some frustrating drops. While his two scores outweighed his negative plays from last week, it still doesn’t make his inconsistencies any less upsetting.
That said, what was important last week was that Johnson resumed his role as one of, if not the Steelers’ top receiver when healthy. As well, he continued to display elite open-field ability, making him a favorable start this week. While his laurels are enough to warrant starting, the Ravens secondary also presents a favorable matchup. Both of the Ravens corners are built for bigger and more physical receivers, not ones that win based on sharp routes.
This plays into Johnson’s strengths and the weaknesses of just about every other Steelers receiver. Thus, Johnson could realistically have the best day of the receivers again this week. Add him onto your starting roster and be prepared for his usual targets. If he can get his drops down, he should become a top fantasy starter.
James Washington
Verdict: Sit ’em
While Johnson’s return was positive, it also led to the reduction of play from James Washington. While not the top option in the passing game, he benefits from being a great third option and one that can win deep. With Johnson returning though, that meant fewer snaps for Washington as the Steelers wanted to get Claypool on the field more.
It was evident early on that he is the odd man out here, and by the end of the game, his usage furthered that idea. In all, he saw 18 snaps for the offense. To put this in perspective, his lowest snap count before this was week two due when he only played 48 snaps. That means his snap counts were effectively halved with the Steelers receiver unit being fully healthy.
Given his decreasing role and the fact that he is most effective as a deep threat, and it seems clear that Washington is trending down for the Steelers. He has obvious talent, but he is going to see less and less playing time for the Steelers as the year goes on. Unless an injury occurs, Washington is the odd man out in this passing offense and should be completely off your starting spots as a result.
While owners set their lineups this week, keep these Steelers and Ravens options in mind as they could make or break your fantasy week. This game can result in a lot of fantasy points, so keep these players in mind heading into the week.