Game Info
Kickoff: Saturday, January 6th @ 4:30 PM ET
Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Betting Odds: BAL -3.5, 36.5 O/U total via Oddshark.com
Network: ESPN, ABC
Writer: Dustin Ludke (@theDunit13)
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterbacks
Mason Rudolph (Sit)
Let’s face it: Mason Rudolph is not a great NFL quarterback. He was a third-stringer behind Kenny Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky for a reason. Sure, he posted a decent game recently, but putting him up against the defense giving up the fewest points to quarterbacks in a must-win game is expecting a lot, even if the Ravens end up short a few key pieces on defense. Even if the Ravens sit most of their starters, I don’t like Rudolph who has thrown only two touchdowns in 51 passing attempts. Sit him this week and find a better option.
Running Backs
Najee Harris (Start, RB2), Jaylen Warren (Start, Flex)
The duo of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren is coming off one of their best combined games, totaling just shy of 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns together. Even at less than full strength, the Ravens are arguably better than the Seattle Seahawks. However, the Ravens have nothing to play for and might even want the Steelers to win to possibly eliminate the Buffalo Bills. The Steelers could easily play their style of football and run the ball early and often. I like both Najee and Warren this week; Harris is a solid RB2 while Warren should be a great flex play.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends
George Pickens (Start, Flex), Dionte Johnson (Sit) Allen Robinson (Sit), Pat Freiermuth (Sit, TE2)
I’m not starting anyone for the Steelers except George Pickens as a flex play. The quarterback situation is dreadful and the matchup is even worse. Even if the Ravens rest their starters at corner and safety, their backups should still be able to handle Pittsburgh’s pass catchers. I don’t expect a total defensive sit for the Ravens but I expect them to rotate guys in and out more frequently than usual. Pickens is the clear playmaker on the team and the others are just hope-and-pray pieces at this point.
Baltimore Ravens
Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson (OUT) Tyler Huntley (Start, QB2)
The Ravens have decided to sit Lamar Jackson and save him for the playoffs since they already have the Number 1 seed locked up. One-time Pro Bowler Tyler Huntley gets the starting nod as the next man up. Given what we have seen from Huntley this season and last, he is worth starting. He has two touchdowns on the season with only nine passing attempts. The Ravens’ pass catching corps is lighter than usual this week, but Huntley offers some serious rushing upside. He’s a solid QB2 option this week, but best avoided in single quarterback leagues except in cases of emergency.
Running Backs
Gus Edwards (Sit), Justice Hill (Start, Flex), Melvin Gordon III (Sit), Dalvin Cook (Sit)
The Pittsburgh Steelers are really bad against the run. They are giving up the 10th most points to running backs so it’s just a matter of who will be carrying the rock for the Ravens. I think Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, and Melvin Gordon should all get carries and rotate enough to make them all frustrating; who knows, maybe newly-signed Dalvin Cook might make a cameo, as well. I like Hill a bit more than the others thanks to his big play ability and pass-catching work, so I’m willing to throw him in as a flex play. Usually, we like Gus Edwards to fall into the end zone, but that could easily be Gordon this week to preserve some hits on Edwards for the playoff run. Sit both Edwards and Gordon this week.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends
Zay Flowers (Sit, Doubtful), Odell Beckham Jr. (OUT), Rashod Bateman (Start, Flex), Nelson Agholor (Sit) Isaiah Likely (Start, TE2) Charlie Kolar (Sit, Flex)
Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham have been dealing with minor issues now for a few weeks and have been tabbed by the team as “Doubtful” and “Out” this week, respectively. Nelson Agholor has had his ups and downs this season, but with Lamar Jackson sidelined, I’m sitting him. Rashod Bateman is the interesting one here. He got more looks last week than he has seen in a while and had one of his most productive games of the year. If he had caught the first play of the game he would have had an impressive stat line. He will play a majority of the snaps and is a safer FLEX play in your lineup now than he has been at any point season.
The Steelers are giving up the 12th most points to tight ends so that should be the focal point for the Ravens offense this week. With Mark Andrews already gone for the season I believe we will see a mix of both Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar. I’ll endorse rolling Likely out as a high-end TE2, and Kolar could be a sneaky flex play if you’re desperate.