Game Info
Kickoff: Wednesday, December 2nd, at 3:40 PM EST
Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Betting Odds: BAL +5, 44.5 total via Oddsshark
Network: NBC
Baltimore Ravens
Quarterback
Lamar Jackson (Start, QB2)
It’s hard to consider Lamar Jackson a sit, and I’m not ready to do so this week either. That said, Jackson and the Ravens overall have been disappointing through 10 games. Yes, it’s hard to keep pace when your division rival and opponent this week are 10-0, but Jackson quite frankly is looking lost out there. He’s publicly stated that defenses know what’s coming when he snaps the ball, which is all you need to know about his 2020. He hasn’t amassed over 250 yards through the air since Week 1 and only has 15 passing scores to date. The Steelers pose a difficult task, as they have given up the fewest amount of fantasy points to his position this year; and they’ve already held him to 208 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions back in Week 8. He’s a high-end QB2 for me this week on the basis that his carry total may see an uptick with the lack of healthy running backs set to play.
Running Backs
Gus Edwards (Start, RB2), Justice Hill (Sit)
Fantasy volume will reign this week for the Baltimore backfield. With both J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram ruled out after being placed on the COVID-19 list, enter Gus Edwards. He should be seeing the majority of the carries, with Justice Hill in the mix, but Edwards is the back to start. In Week 8, Edwards turned 16 carries into 87 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Marquise Brown (Sit), Willie Snead IV (Sit), Dez Bryant (Sit), Mark Andrews (Start, TE1)
Just a few weeks ago, Marquise Brown threw some shade on social media in regards to his involvement in the Baltimore offense. Well, last week’s goose egg is certainly not a good look for Hollywood. He’s partly been the victim of inconsistent play from Jackson, but he’s also at fault himself for the lack of production all season. Willie Snead IV has seen 14 targets total in the past two games, and but aside from the (fluke) two scores Week 10, he hasn’t been able to be a consistent fantasy option. Dez Bryant had his first catches on the season last week, but even he remains on the wire still, as the Baltimore pass game truly funnels through tight end Mark Andrews and Andrews only. He is coming off his best game of the season – five receptions for 96 yards and a score against the Titans – but is set to face a Steelers defense that has given up the fewest points to his position this season.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger (Start, QB1)
Ben Roethlisberger, 10-0 at the age of 38, enters Week 12 with a 24:5 pass TD to INT ratio. The Steelers weaponry have delivered week in and week out, which has allowed him to find great success through the air. This is a pass-heavy offense, and it shows considering Big Ben is fourth overall in pass attempts to date.
Running Backs
James Conner (Start, RB2), Benny Snell Jr. (Sit)
It’s been a few down weeks for James Conner, as he hasn’t topped 100 yards or over on the ground since Week 6, and only has one rushing score in that span which came in Week 8. He’s seen 26 total carries in the past two games and is playing more like an RB2 with high upside as opposed to a locked-in RB1. It’s worth noting that just last week, Derrick Henry rushed for 133 yards and a score on 28 carries against the Ravens, so perhaps this could be a nice spot for Conner to find his groove. Benny Snell Jr. found the end zone last week, but that doesn’t make him a viable option.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Diontae Johnson (Start, WR1), Chase Claypool (Start, WR2), JuJu Smith-Schuster (Start, WR3 with upside), Eric Ebron (Start, TE1)
Start ’em all. Diontae Johnson is a locked-in WR1 as he’s amassed over 100 receiving yards in back to back games on 10+ targets in each. Rookie Chase Claypool has 10 total touchdowns in 10 games, and he’s quickly turned into a huge asset for an already potent offense; another rookie receiver producing in the NFL despite the unorthodox first training camp. JuJu Smith-Schuster hurt his foot against the Titans, but he’s been back at practice this week in a limited fashion. I have him as a WR3 with upside seeing as there are plenty of mouths to feed around him.
Eric Ebron has been a key red-zone factor for Roethlisberger, as he has drawn at least one target in each of the last six games. In that span, he has three scores. The Ravens have allowed the 15th most fantasy points to the tight end this season, and five touchdowns total to the position. His target share appears to be rising weekly, and as long as Big Ben continues to pepper his receivers, Ebron should remain a beneficiary.
-Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ Twitter & Reddit)