Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 20 at 1:00 PM ET
Location: M & T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Betting Odds: BAL -13, 42 Total on Oddshark
Network: FOX
Writer: Drew DeLuca (@DrewDeLaware on Twitter)
Carolina Panthers
Quarterback
Baker Mayfield (Sit, QB2)
Amazingly, the Panthers traded four draft picks for two quarterbacks who only have a chance to play this week because the undrafted free agent they signed after the 2020 XFL season is injured. P.J. Walker threw five interceptions in his first 51 passes in the NFL, an inauspicious start that evoked memories of former Buffalo Bills quarterback Nathan Peterman.
As things stand, de facto starter P.J. Walker is injured and Sam Darnold is objectively worse than Baker Mayfield. Therefore, the choice is clear for the Carolina Panthers: Welcome back to the huddle, Baker Mayfield! At least until the Panthers get boat-raced and they decide, once and for all, to make sure that Darnold is still worse.
Only five teams have allowed fewer points per game to opposing quarterbacks over the last five weeks than the Baltimore Ravens, so the matchup is far from enticing. We’re hard-pressed to find a modicum of statistical evidence to suggest that Mayfield offers any upside whatsoever this week, so quarterback streamers are better off looking elsewhere.
Running Backs
D’Onta Foreman (Start, RB2), Chuba Hubbard (Sit), Raheem Blackshear (Sit)
Only five teams have allowed fewer fantasy points to opposing running backs than the Ravens this season. However, their rushing defense DVOA ranks only 19th in the league, per Football Outsiders. Meanwhile, run blocking has been a bright spot for the Panthers this season. Brady Christensen‘s 77% run block win rate is currently fifth-best in the entire NFL among guards. Bradley Bozeman (72%) ranks among the Top 10 of all centers in that same metric. Rookie left tackle Ikem Ekwonu drew four penalties in Week 10, but on the whole, his play this season has turned heads.
Ever since Christian McCaffrey left town via trade for San Francisco, D’Onta Foreman has made the most of his opportunities behind that Panthers’ offensive line. The former third-round pick of the Houston Texans has run for 118 or more yards in three of his last four games. Foreman is benefitting from the extensive volume like few other NFL running backs these days.
The following players have logged more touches per game than Foreman over the past four weeks: Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry. That’s it. That’s the list. Foreman has been a Top 5 running back in half-point PPR formats over the past three weeks and has finished in the Top 10 in PPR formats in two of the past three weeks.
Foreman is a strong RB2 this week with RB1 upside and should be started in all formats, despite the negative projected game script. Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blackshear won’t see enough volume to be fantasy relevant in Week 11. Hubbard belongs on benches, and Blackshear is waiver-wire fodder in all but the deepest of leagues.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
D.J. Moore (Start, WR2), Terrace Marshall, Jr. (Sit), Laviska Shenault, Jr. (Sit), Shi Smith (Sit), Tommy Tremble (Sit), Ian Thomas (Sit)
Back-to-back disappointing returns from D.J. Moore have soured many fantasy analysts on his prospects for Week 11, but we expect the former Maryland Terrapin to bounce back somewhat. We don’t expect WR1 numbers for Moore without a significant bump in targets, but he should serve as a serviceable WR2. Terrace Marshall, Jr. and Laviska Shenault, Jr. have enjoyed a boom game or two, but their extremely low floors make them poor bets in traditional season-long managed leagues.
Shi Smith has an even lower floor to go along with a non-existent ceiling. We can’t recommend Tommy Tremble or Ian Thomas, but we’re interested to see what the former can do if he sees an uptick in volume. Tremble has logged a touchdown catch in two of his last four games, and the former Notre Dame standout is just scratching the surface of his potential.
Baltimore Ravens
Quarterback
Lamar Jackson (Start, QB1)
Despite a myriad of skill position injuries affecting his passing game production, Lamar Jackson is still a weekly QB1 on the strength of his rushing prowess alone. Jackson has rushed for 50 or more yards in seven of his last eight games, yet hasn’t notched a rushing touchdown since Week 3. Only five teams have coughed up more fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks over the last three weeks, so expect Jackson to finish among the five top-scoring quarterbacks in Week 11.
Running Backs
Gus Edwards (Start, FLEX*), Kenyan Drake (Start, RB2), Justice Hill (Sit), Mike Davis (Sit), Patrick Ricard (Sit)
Gus Edwards returned to the practice field on Wednesday, lifting the spirits of running back-starved fantasy managers everywhere. The “Gus Bus” surprisingly finished as a Top 10 running back in Week 7 against the Cleveland Browns in his first game back from injury, but subsequently suffered a minor setback that kept him out of action in Week 9.
Well-rested after a Week 10 bye, Edwards is poised to steal touches from Kenyan Drake, who posted three games with 16 or more fantasy points in his last four contests. Drake, who signed a one-year deal in late August, has been a pleasant surprise for Ravens fans. We expect Edwards to eat into his productivity, yet Drake should still be a dependable, low-end RB2 for bye-week-strapped fantasy managers lucky enough to have him rostered.
Justice Hill, Mike Davis, and Patrick Ricard are all non-factors and shouldn’t be rostered in traditional 12-team PPR leagues. Of the three, Hill offers promise in the event of injury to Edwards or Drake, at least until J.K. Dobbins is able to return.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Devin Duvernay (Start, WR3), DeMarcus Robinson (Sit), James Proche (Sit), Tylan Wallace (Sit), Mark Andrews (Start, TE1*), Isaiah Likely (Start, TE2*),
Is there a lesser-appealing trio of wide receivers than Devin Duvernay, DeMarcus Robinson, and James Proche? We don’t think so, either. Duvernay has somehow collected five touchdown passes this season, and as Jackson’s default favorite target in this group, serves as a passable low-end WR3 in Week 11. We can’t in good conscience recommend Robinson or Proche, and we certainly don’t advise putting Tylan Wallace into lineups.
Baltimore’s offense goes as the tight ends go. With that in mind, Mark Andrews was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, so his status for Sunday is still very much up in the air. He’s a must-start if he suits up. Otherwise, Isaiah Likely is a sure-fire low-end TE1 in Andrews’ absence.