The Baltimore Ravens annihilated the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 and now welcome the Arizona Cardinals to M&T Bank Stadium for their home opener. Hopefully, in your fantasy leagues, you’ve dominated opponents in the same fashion.
To help gear you up for fantasy football in Week 2, I’ve gone over some of the Ravens you might have on your fantasy team. Which ones you need to put in the lineup and which ones should probably stay on the bench for now.
START – QB, Lamar Jackson
If you took my advice and started Lamar Jackson last week, then chances are your fantasy team had a great week. Jackson finished as the top-scoring quarterback in fantasy football in Week 1, thanks to his 324 passing yards and five touchdown passes. You cannot be accused of chasing last week’s points if you roll him out again in Week 2.
The Cardinals allowed Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions to amass 385 yards against them last week. Stafford also tossed a trio of touchdown passes. We should not expect Jackson to throw for 300 yards every week, I must stress, but we should certainly see him attempt more than the three rushes he had against the Dolphins.
The matchup, plus the floor that Jackson’s rushing ability gives him, makes this another week in which you need him in your lineups.
START – RB, Mark Ingram
The Cardinals run defense was an absolute sieve in 2018. They faced the most rushing attempts in the entire NFL while allowing the most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. They allowed 116 yards to the Detroit Lions in their Week 1 tie, seemingly having the same problem again this year.
Gus Edwards led the Ravens with 17 rushing attempts in Week 1, but it was Mark Ingram who drew the start. He attempted nine of his 14 rushes in the first half and finished the game with 107 yards and two touchdowns as the game got out of control early.
Edwards’ involvement, plus the presence of Justice Hill, indicates that the Ravens will spread the carries around. But Ingram projects to see the lion’s share of the work, plus he should also command the goal-line carries. His two touchdowns on Sunday came from one and two yards out.
Ingram has enjoyed his games against the Cardinals in the past, it should also be stated. He averaged 107 yards from scrimmage in his two previous meetings with them as a member of the Saints.
START – TE, Mark Andrews
Lamar Jackson was not the only player to have enjoyed a career day against the Dolphins. Tight end Mark Andrews also enjoyed his day in the sunshine in Week 1, setting new career highs in receptions (eight) and receiving yards (108). These numbers were good enough for Andrews to finish as the third-highest scoring tight end in fantasy football last week.
The player who finished just ahead of him, T.J. Hockenson of the Lions, had his way with the Cardinals, who simply were not able to stop him. Hockenson caught six of his nine targets for 131 yards and a touchdown. This is good news for Andrews heading into Week 2.
Andrews was not an every-down player in Week 1, it should be noted, playing on just 36.1% of the Baltimore offensive snaps. But his target per snap rate of 30.8% led all NFL tight ends. He should be in for another big day.
SIT – WR, Marquise Brown
I know, I know. It must be tempting to throw Marquise Brown straight into your lineup after his amazing debut against the Dolphins. Brown converted his first two NFL targets into two long touchdowns, after all. But while this explosive start, coupled with a matchup against a porous secondary, must seem like heady wine, expectations should be tempered somewhat.
I’d like to see Brown become a bigger part of the offense, for a start. He played only 15.3% of the Ravens snaps, after all. While his ability to make every play a big one is evident, it is very unlikely that he is able to replicate his week one yardage total two weeks in a row. Only three players in NFL history have managed to record 100 receiving yards in each of their first two NFL games. I don’t think Brown will be joining Don Looney (1940) DeSean Jackson (2008) and Will Fuller (2016) on this list.
Brown should not be left on the waiver wire in ANY league, I must stress. But he’s a long way away from being a must-start in fantasy football.
