Steelers@Ravens
Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 29th at 4:25 PM EST
Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
Betting Odds: PIT -2, 37 total via Oddsshark
Network: CBS
Sleeper Spotlight: Benny Snell
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback:
- Devlin Hodges (sit, low-QB2)
Last week was an odd one for Hodges. He got benched in favor of Mason Rudolph but then Rudolph got injured and Hodges had to try and lead the Steelers back for a win. He could not rally the Steelers and they fell to the Jets. This week they need a win and a Titans loss to get into the playoffs. On the plus side for Hodges, the Ravens will be sitting multiple defensive starters and I wouldn’t be surprised if the others played a quarter or two. If a couple of the stud cornerbacks for the Ravens are out or limited, that would boost Hodges’ and his receivers matchups.
Running Backs:
- Benny Snell (start, RB2/3)
- Jaylen Samuels (start, RB3/4)
With James Conner unlikely to play in this one, I expect Snell to be the starter and goalline back and Samuels to play a good amount in the passing game. The Ravens have already ruled out difference-making defensive tackle Brandon Williams for rest. I expect more members of their front-seven to sit or be limited. That should allow the Steelers good offensive-line to have their way in terms of opening holes for Snell and company. No one in this backfield is a smash play because the Steelers like to rotate backs with Snell, Samuels, Trey Edmunds, and Kerrith Whyte.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
- JuJu Smith-Schuster. (sit, WR4/5)
- Diontae Johnson (sit, WR4/5)
- James Washington (sit, WR4/5)
- Vance McDonald (sit, TE2)
It is hard to start any of these guys with the poor quarterback play they have gotten in recent weeks. Smith-Schuster returned last week from injury but only saw a handful of targets and was fifth on the team in targets. The Ravens secondary is stacked but I would expect most of them to sit or play very limited snaps. McDonald just doesn’t get enough work to be startable and he has been a disappointing TE3 this season.
Baltimore Ravens
Quarterback:
- Robert Griffin III (sit, low-QB2)
MVP favorite Lamar Jackson has already been ruled out for this game and that means we will see RG3 and possible some Trace McSorley later on. With the Steelers very much fighting for their playoff lives, I don’t see a path for Griffin III to be very successful. Starting right guard Marshall Yanda is also going to sit and I wouldn’t expect to see a lot of Mark Andrews and Marquise Brown in this one either. The game plan will likely be to run the ball early and often and try to escape this one healthy. You can find better options if you are still playing this week.
Running Backs:
- Gus Edwards (start, RB2/RB3)
- Justice Hill (sit, RB3/4)
The matchup isn’t great for the Ravens offense without key starters. Starting running back Mark Ingram will be sitting and that leaves Edwards and Hill to start. I wouldn’t be surprised if another running back is active to take carries towards the end of the game. I would be surprised if Edwards or Hill got heavy usage as they both play a role when everyone is active. Edwards is the best bet for a score as he is likely to claim the goalline work especially with most of the starters still playing. It is hard to trust anyone on this offense as we don’t know how much any of the ‘starters’ will play.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:
- Marquise Brown (sit, bench)
- Mark Andrews (sit, TE2)
I would be very surprised to see more than a quarter or two of action from Andrews and Brown. Andrews is currently battling injuries and is the clear top weapon for this offense. It doesn’t make sense to risk further injury in a meaningless game. Brown is the clear number two option in the passing game and has battled a myriad of lower-body injuries throughout the year. After those two, there are a lot of rotating parts and none of them can be trusted in leagues that are still playing.
–Kevin Taylor (@ktbeast918)