Ravens at Seahawks
Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 20th at 4:25 pm EST
Location: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA
Betting Odds: SEA -4, 50.5 Total via Oddsshark
Network: FOX
Sleeper Spotlight: TBD
Baltimore Ravens
Quarterback:
- Lamar Jackson (Start / QB1)
Lamar Jackson is currently the eighth leading rusher in the league, with 460 rushing yards, a pace for more than 1200 on the season, including multiple 100-yard performances. That’s before we even look at his passing numbers. Granted Jackson’s warts are still visible as a passer but that hardly matters to fantasy owners. Because of the rushing upside alone, Jackson is every week must start, and perhaps the best fantasy draft value in the league so far. Start him without hesitation as a top-five fantasy option this week.
Running Backs:
- Mark Ingram (Start / RB2)
- Gus Edwards (Sit)
- Justice Hill (Sit)
Mark Ingram draws a solid matchup this week. Seattle hasn’t been terrible defending the running back position but they haven’t been great either. The team is allowing a touchdown each game and more than 100 total yards per game. Ingram will find some running room because of the threat of Jackson and can be started as a high-end RB2 with upside. Ingram should be able to find his way into the endzone in a game where they will want to establish the run. However, third-down backs haven’t found much success in Baltimore this year simply because Jackson is not looking their way. Running backs as seeing just three targets a game, with Ingram soaking up most of them. Gus Edwards and Justice Hill are players without much value at the moment but Hill can be rostered as a handcuff should Ingram miss any time.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends:
- Marquise Brown (Start / Flex)
- Willie Snead (Sit)
- Mark Andrews (Start / TE1)
Amongst the pass catchers, tight end Mark Andrews has emerged as Jackson’s top target and with so little options at the position, Andrews is a clear TE1 each week. Seattle has struggled to defend the position all season and this week Andrews is the top tight end starter of the week. A 100-yard day with a touchdown is well within sight. As for the other pass catchers on the Ravens, the team is boom or bust. With bye weeks upon us, keep an eye on the injury status of Marquise Brown. Brown is receiving targets when in the lineup, he has just been unable to connect as often as needed to be reliable. Brown is 16th in Air Yards and is receiving nearly a quarter of the team’s target share and we have seen that all it takes is a single completion for Brown to return his value. Otherwise, owners will need to look elsewhere for receiver help this week.
Seattle Seahawks
Quarterback:
- Russell Wilson (Start / QB1)
Russell Wilson has been the fantasy MVP through six weeks of the season, a great sign as Wilson has historically finished stronger than he’s started. Wilson is currently the QB1 in PPR formats and appears to be matchup proof because of his efficiency. The Ravens are currently 11th best in fantasy points allowed and are surrendering just a single touchdown per to opposing quarterbacks but Wilson is hot right now and the opponent may not matter.
Running Backs:
- Chris Carson (Start / RB1)
- Rashaad Penny (Sit)
- C.J. Prosise (Sit)
Chris Carson is truly a back who gets exactly what is available, no more no less. Carson is just a few points over expectations on the year but Seattle has given him plenty of opportunities and that has propelled Carson into the RB10 overall. This week against the Ravens, Carson has another positive matchup against a Ravens team that is allowing 70 yards and a score each game. The Seahawks will be sure to pound the run which means good things for Carson. Keep an eye out on the status of Rashaad Penny. He has been a full participant in practice this week and should send C.J. Prosise to the bench. However, the backup running back role in Seattle is not one that owners should be looking to for help.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends:
- Tyler Lockett (Start / WR1)
- DK Metcalf (Start / Flex)
- Jarron Brown (Sit)
- David Moore (Sit)
- Luke Wilson (Sit)
The list of pass-catching options in Seattle is long, as Wilson loves to spread the ball around, but that does mean that owners are left scratching their heads when looking at starting options. Tyler Lockett should be started as a WR1 now and always, regardless of matchup. This week he faces a team in the Ravens who have given up nearly 40 fantasy points to the position each week and Lockett should find a way to take advantage. Likewise, owners can start DK Metcalf at the flex and hope for a long touchdown. Metcalf is receiving 17% of the team’s targets and is twelfth in the league in air yards despite limited targets. All it takes is one catch for him to have a nice fantasy day. However, With a likely season-ending injury to tight end Will Dissly, the rest of the receiving corps is hard to figure. While Jarron Brown, David Moore and maybe even Luke Wilson will score touchdowns it is nearly impossible to figure out which each week. Because of that owners cannot own any with confidence.
-Marc Salazar (@dingwog)
You have Justice Hill listed as the handcuff, so I’m wasting a roster spot on Gus?
If something happened to Ingram, I think it’s fair to say that it would be a committee approach to replace him. Depends if you would prefer the workhorse and TD role of Gus or the passing game role with Hill. As someone who drafted Hill everywhere, I have long since dropped him. Gus is probably the safer handcuff in my opinion, Hill maybe has more upside in a PPR league.
Might be worth noting Josh Gordon had one target after he left the game with a knee injury in second quarter.
Odd that you’re taking that stance on Murray. Everything that i’ve read has said that Kamara possibly has a high ankle sprain and is most likely not playing. Even with Kamara playing last week, Murray spit out 10 points in my half ppr league.
Great breakdown of the QBs in Week 7! It’s really helpful to see everything in one place. Thanks for the time and effort you put into this post!