Ravens @ Colts
This was really a story of two halves. The Colts looked better than the Ravens by a decent amount in the first half and then the Ravens dominated the second half and pulled out the victory 24-10. The Ravens offense really couldn’t do much in the first half with 0 rushing yards in the first quarter, even as one of the most run-heaviest teams in the league. They scored 17 points in the second half and held the Colts scoreless. The Colts offense had four plays and one total yard in the third quarter. Down by 11 with about five minutes left in the game, the Colts opted to go for it on 4th and inches in comfortable field goal range. A field goal attempt would have cut the lead to eight and one possession. This was a big win for the Ravens after over half of their starting defense didn’t practice this week due to COVID contact-tracing protocols. Thankfully, they all tested negative and could play in this game.
Baltimore Ravens
Quarterback
Lamar Jackson: 19/23, 170 yards, 2 sacks | 13 carries, 58 yards, 1 TD
Lamar Jackson looked solid in this one. He was highly efficient with his passes but wasn’t asked to throw the ball downfield much. His rushing touchdown was on a beautiful play fake and he rolled out to the left and outran the defense for nine yards. The Colts quick linebackers really bottled Jackson up in the running game for the most part. He had trouble breaking away for major chunk runs. Jackson also dealt with constant poor snaps from his center Matt Skura, who cut his snapping hand early in the game. Jackson did not fumble any snaps but it may have disrupted some passing plays. It seems that passing touchdown regression is hitting Jackson hard this year. He is outside the top-15 in passing touchdowns when he led the league in that category last year. Jackson and the Ravens will have another tough matchup against the Patriots defense next week and he will be a fine QB1.
Running Backs
J.K. Dobbins: 12 carries, 30 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 5 yards
Gus Edwards: 11 carries, 23 yards, 1 TD, 1 fumble lost | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 11 yards
These running backs really couldn’t get much going on the ground with two reserves playing on the offensive line. Gus Edwards fumbled in the red zone on the Ravens’ first second-half drive. He wasn’t punished as he saw three carries inside the five on their next possession for a touchdown score. This backfield was split 14 opportunities for J.K. Dobbins and 13 for Edwards. They had zero rushing yards after the first quarter, which is quite the statement for this offense. It will continue to be a split backfield until starter Mark Ingram returns from injury, which could be as early as next week. Both backs are just Flex options in the meantime.
Baltimore First Half RB Usage:
– J.K. Dobbins: 64% snaps, 3 carries, 2 targets
– Gus Edwards: 28% snaps, 1 carry, 2 targets#FantasyFootball | #RavensFlock— QB List (@TheQBlist) November 8, 2020
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Marquise Brown: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 38 yards
Mark Andrews: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 22 yards
Willie Snead IV: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 37 yards
Nick Boyle: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 46 yards
We know when this passing offense is rolling where the production is coming from. Unfortunately for these receivers, the passing game did not have much volume to match Lamar’s efficiency today. Marquise Brown had the “squeaky wheel” performance after openly complaining about his role last week. He had three early targets (dropped an easy third down conversion) then wasn’t asked to do much more. Mark Andrews had a couple of chain moving receptions but didn’t do much else. The ancillary pieces in this offense chipped in as well but no one in that range is fantasy viable. If you own Andrews, you start him every week. Brown is a volatile WR3/flex option on a weekly basis at the moment.
Indianapolis Colts
Quarterback
Phillip Rivers: 25/43, 227 yards, 1 INT
Phillip Rivers really struggled with his deep ball today (I don’t think he completed any balls over 20 yards down the field). He was constantly hitting screens and his running backs out of the backfield for quick gains. His interception was on a poorly, under-thrown deep ball that Marcus Peters intercepted. It was initially ruled incomplete but was challenged and semi-surprisingly overturned as it was questionable if Peters had possession before dropping it. Baltimore scored the go-ahead touchdown on the following drive. The Colts have a quick turnaround and travel to Tennessee for Thursday Night Football. Rivers hasn’t shown a ton of upside this year and is just a QB2 at this point.
Running Backs
Jonathan Taylor: 6 carries, 27 yards, 1 TD, 1 fumble lost| 2 targets, 2 receptions, 7 yards
Jordan Wilkins: 11 carries, 39 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, -1 yard
Nyheim Hines: 2 carries, 18 yards | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 20 yards
Jonathan Taylor got the start and was involved early. He scored the Colts’ only touchdown early in the first quarter on a goalline plunge. On the next drive, he fumbled and the Ravens scooped it and scored (seen below in GIF form). Taylor did not see another carry the rest of the game. The Ravens lost stud lineman Calais Campbell on the first drive in this one. Regardless, the Colts’ running backs still couldn’t manage much on the ground on Sunday. Jordan Wilkins got most of the running back carries after Taylor was in the ‘doghouse’ for fumbling. Nyheim Hines came back down to earth after his two-touchdown performance a week ago. When all three of these guys are healthy, none of them get enough volume to be trusted in fantasy. You could make an argument for any of them as a risky flex play. They will have a plus matchup against Tennessee next week.
Defensive TD in Indy.#FantasyFootball | #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/9ey3GN3Hmg
— QB List (@TheQBlist) November 8, 2020
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Zach Pascal: 6 targets, 5 receptions, 55 yards
Marcus Johnson: 7 targets, 2 receptions, 14 yards
Michael Pittman: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 56 yards
Trey Burton: 4 targets, 1 reception, 6 yards
Jack Doyle: 2 targets, 0 receptions
Mo Allie-Cox: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 43 yards
This has been the story with the Colts pass-catchers all year. They spread the ball out so much that no one gets enough volume to matter much in fantasy. Jack Doyle got hit hard in the first half and I don’t believe he returned to the game. If he misses time in the coming weeks, Trey Burton and Mo Allie-Cox could be more interesting for fantasy and DFS. Zach Pascal remains the steady slot receiver but lacks upside. Marcus Johnson, largely playing for the injured TY Hilton, looked to have a couple of miscommunication plays on some of his targets from Rivers. Rivers was visibly frustrated with Johnson’s routes a couple of times. Michael Pittman showed well on his opportunities. He showed some nice burst on his short receptions and we know about his large size for potential-jump balls in the future. None of these receivers are exciting fantasy options at the moment.
— Kevin Taylor (@ktbeast918 on Twitter)