Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 11th at 1:00 PM ET
Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Betting Odds: CIN +13, 51 total via Oddsshark
Network: CBS
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Joe Burrow (Start, QB2)
Coming off of his first career win, Joe Burrow had himself a solid performance against the Jaguars, despite it being the Joe Mixon show. He was 25 for 36 for 300 yards on the nose, one touchdown and one interception. With each passing week, Burrow looks to be getting more comfortable adapting to the speed of the NFL, and if Mixon can get going himself, I think Burrow will only benefit. That said, you can start Burrow against Baltimore in light of the inevitable playing-from-behind game script he may face, but it won’t be the easiest road to a productive day. The plus side is from a fantasy perspective: the Ravens have given up the 14th most points to the quarterback this season.
Running Backs
Joe Mixon (Start, RB2), Giovani Bernard (Sit)
Welcome to the 2020 season, Joe Mixon! On 25 rush attempts, Mixon exploded for 151 yards and two scores; with a third through the air. He was a late add to the injury report prior to the game last week, so his performance was certainly a pleasant surprise for his owners. Hopefully, this was the game to jump-start his season, though his production may come to a screeching halt this week as he faces a Ravens defense that has given up the ninth fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. Giovani Bernard remains as only a handcuff to Mixon and out of your lineups.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Tyler Boyd (Start, WR2), Tee Higgins (Start, FLEX), A.J. Green (Sit), Drew Sample (Start, TE2)
Tyler Boyd is the clear WR1 for the Bengals, as he continues to lead the receiver core in targets thus far. His catch rate is reliable, as he hauled in seven of eight targets last week against Jacksonville for 90 yards. He’s only scored once, and the opportunity will be tougher this week against Baltimore, but not impossible. The Ravens have given up the 17th most fantasy points to wide receivers through four games. Tee Higgins has emerged as well for Cincy, filling in as a red zone threat in the absence of tight end C.J. Uzomah. He’s out-targeting A.J. Green too – who is a sit for me until further notice – and is worthy of a FLEX play.
Drew Sample to me, despite being the only viable TE for the Bengals, is nothing more than a touchdown-dependent fantasy option. However, the Ravens are giving up decent production to the tight end position, and this could bode well for Sample if you have no other options to choose from.
Baltimore Ravens
Quarterback
Lamar Jackson (Start, QB1)
Lamar Jackson is picking up where he left off from his MVP season last year. Despite a down game Week 3 against the Chiefs, he bounced back against the Football Team last week, throwing for two touchdowns and picking up another on the ground; a career-long 50-yard run. He did throw for under 200 yards again, but his arm was not needed that much. At the time of writing, he’s listed as questionable (knee) and did not practice on Wednesday. It’s strictly precautionary, and I would consider him a lock and load QB1 in this division matchup.
Running Backs
Mark Ingram II (Start, RB2/FLEX), J.K. Dobbins (Sit)
Mark Ingram II has been quite the fantasy disappointment this season. He hasn’t had more than 10 carries in any game and surpassed 50 yards just once (55, Week 2). This Ravens backfield has talent but appears to be as true to the word committee as you can be. It’s hard to trust and expect big numbers from Ingram, but maybe he can produce against a Bengals defense that has given up the 13th most fantasy points to the running back position this season. His running mate, rookie J.K. Dobbins, does not possess fantasy relevancy at this time and is a mere stash candidate at best.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Marquise Brown (Start, WR3), Willie Snead IV (Sit), Miles Boykin (Sit), Mark Andrews (Start, TE1)
Having yet found the end zone this season, it seems Marquise Brown inches close to doing so on a weekly basis. He’s a big-play threat no doubt, which plays into his weekly production, both on the field and for fantasy. He only has 26 targets on the season, with 16 receptions for 242 yards. Perhaps this is the week he scores against a Cincinnati defense that has given up the 16th most fantasy points to wide receivers on the year. Both Willie Snead IV and Miles Boykin should be left out of your lineups.
Tight end Mark Andrews is coming off a two-touchdown game against Washington, and so what if it was on just three receptions. You’d hope his target share increases on a weekly basis, and this could be a spot where he’s fed a bit more and often. The Bengals are giving up an average of over 64 receiving yards per game to the tight end this season.
-Matthew Cava
Just to be clear. Carson was not concussed. he was checked for a concussion after a hit. There are no tiers to concussions. Had he had a concussion he would have been pulled from the game.