Sit/Start Week 16: Reviewing All the Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Ravens@Browns

 

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, December 22nd at 1:00 PM EST

Location: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH

Betting Odds: BAL -10, 48 total via Oddsshark

Network: CBS

Sleeper Spotlight: Kareem Hunt

 

Baltimore Ravens

 

Quarterback:

• Lamar Jackson (start, high-QB1)

 

You don’t need me to tell you to play fantasy’s number one overall player. 

Jackson has been a top-12 quarterback in 12 of 14 games this year. That includes nine top-five finishes. Jackson was the QB3 on the week when these two teams met earlier this season. Cleveland has been middling in terms of a pass rush. They are roughly in the middle of the pack in pressure percentage, sack rate, and QB hits. Jackson has led many people to fantasy championships and he has the best floor/ceiling combination this week.

 

Running Backs:

• Mark Ingram (start, RB1/RB2)

 

Ingram is the lead-runner for the team that likes to run the ball the most in the NFL. If you own Ingram you are starting him. Ingram is fourth at the running back position with 14 total touchdowns and he averages a  healthy 5.0 yards per carry. He has 13-15 carries in six of his last seven games and will throw in a couple of targets in most games. Ingram is top-five in carries inside the 10 and continues to be one of the best bets for a score each week. The matchup is unimposing as the Browns have allowed a healthy 4.80 yards per carry to opposing running backs.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:

• Marquise Brown (sit, WR3/flex)
• Mark Andrews (start, mid-TE1)

 

Andrews leads this team in targets but they remain a run-heavy offense. Coming off a Thursday night game, he should be healthier than he has been in a while. He is top-five at the position in targets and leads all tight ends in touchdowns. The Ravens have the most red-zone possessions in the league and Jackson loves to throw to his big tight end in the end zone. Andrews is a solid TE1 this week. Brown has gone over four targets in just one of his last seven games. However, his snap rate has increased each of the last three games (57%>72%>75%). That leads me to believe he is finally getting healthier after dealing with multiple lower-body injuries earlier this season. He was even playing in garbage time last week against the Jets. You could do worse than Brown this week but he remains a big-time boom or bust player.

 

Cleveland Browns

 

Quarterback: 

• Baker Mayfield (sit, low-QB2)

 

Mayfield was the QB24 last week against the lowly Cardinals pass-defense and now gets the stifling Ravens passing defense that has not allowed a top-18 quarterback in 10 straight games. He was the QB15 when these teams met in week four, throwing for 342 yards and a touchdown. Mayfield has been a QB1 in just three games this season and can be avoided on a fantasy championship weekend.

 

Running Backs:

• Nick Chubb (start, low-RB1)
• Kareem Hunt (start, low-RB2)

 

Hunt has played 61%-65% of the snaps in each of the last three games. Chubb has been more game script dependent; he has logged 59%>70%>50% of the snaps in the last three weeks. Chubb still has 16 or more touches in every game this season and his success will be crucial for another Browns win against the Ravens. In week four he had 20 carries, 165 yards, and three touchdowns against them. The Ravens are only 21st in run defense DVOA and the Browns offensive line has been solid, where they rank seventh in adjusted line yards. Hunt has averaged just over six targets and 11 touches per game since he has returned from suspension. Hunt is essentially their change of pace back and third receiver right now and he makes a fine RB2 in week 16.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

• Odell Beckham Jr. (sit, WR2/3)
• Jarvis Landry (start, WR2/3)

 

Over the last six games, Landry has 56 targets for Beckham’s 54. This week sets up well for Landry as the Ravens have allowed fellow slot receivers Jamison Crowder, Julien Edelman, Tyler Boyd, Tyler Lockett, and Cole Beasley to post at or above expectations over their last seven games. Landry dropped eight receptions for 167 yards against the Ravens in week four. Beckham is 12th at receiver in targets including 10th at the position in deep targets (20+). He is only the WR 27 in PPR points this season. Jimmy Smith and Marcus Peters lineup outside for the Ravens and have allowed 49 receptions on 92 targets (53%) for a lowly 514 yards (5.6 yards per attempt) and three scores to four interceptions since acquiring Peters eight games ago. Beckham will have the opportunity but it is hard to trust him this week and I wouldn’t blame you for starting someone else if you have a better matchup.

-Kevin Taylor(@ktbeast918)