The Baltimore Ravens did not add one offensive skill player this draft, preferring to focus on defense. On the surface, this offense looks fairly unappealing. Given that there have been a few notable departures let’s dive into the immediate beneficiaries this season.
Quarterback
Joe Flacco
Coming off an ACL tear, Joe Flacco threw for a career-high 4,317 yards in 2017 on 673 Pass Attempts. Despite playing in a pass-happy offense, Flacco was by no means a paragon of efficiency or production. His -13.0 (No. 28) Production Premium and 58.6 (No. 20) Total QBR peg him as one of the least efficient fantasy quarterbacks in 2016. Despite leading the league in Pass Attempts, Flacco threw for only 20 touchdowns, good for 18th in the league.
Playing behind an offensive line that ranked 6th in the league in pass-blocking efficiency, Joe Flacco ranked No. 8 among all quarterbacks in Deep Ball Attempts (77) and No. 11 in Air Yards (2,327). Flacco was decently efficient last season, completing 64.9-percent of his passes.
Joe Flacco 2016 Passing Productivity
Joe Flacco 2016 Passing Efficiency
Quarterback Fantasy Outlook
Joe Flacco ended 2016 as the 21st most productive quarterback, posting a pedestrian 15.7 points per game. Given that Baltimore’s offense remains largely unchanged, there is no reason to expect him to improve significantly this season. Flacco maintains streaming appeal and is a starter in 2-QB leagues only.
Running Back
Terrance West
Currently the favorite for early-down work given Kenneth Dixon’s four-game suspension, Terrance West will have every opportunity to win the starters job. He is the prototypical Just-A-Guy running back and may lose his role before the season’s mid-point.
Terrance West Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Danny Woodhead
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Zero RB hero Danny Woodhead returns this season. Despite coming off an ACL tear, Woodhead is a lock for passing down work the first four weeks of the season. He represents an upgrade over Kyle Juszczyk and should be a lock to receive his 49 abandoned targets. Assuming Woodhead is fully healthy, he should see plenty of opportunity as the Ravens satellite back and could flirt with 100 targets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByDx9xX3aQ4&t=23s
Kenneth Dixon
Kenneth Dixon emerged as the lead back for the Ravens towards the end of 2016. Dixon demonstrated big play potential evidence by a 6.8-percent (No. 11) Breakaway Run Rate and elusiveness with a 32.2-percent (No. 6) Juke Rate. Once he returns from suspension, Kenneth Dixon should push Terrance West for touches given his superior athleticism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz25ewwfFW4
Running Back Fantasy Outlook
Situation trumps all else in fantasy football. Given that the Ravens offensive line ranked 10th in run blocking efficiency last season, the running game should continue to be successful. Bear in mind this backfield could ostensibly remain a source of frustration for fantasy gamers. Kenneth Dixon will have to earn his way back into the rotation, a task that becomes much tougher if Terrance West plays in his absence. Additionally, both Javorius Allen and Lorenzo Taliaferro could siphon away playing time from the projected starters if either back excels throughout training camp and preseason. Only Danny Woodhead’s role feels secure, and he should therefore be on the radar of Zero RB zealots.
Wide Receiver
Mike Wallace
Don’t call it a comeback; he’s been here for years. Mike Wallace had a bounce-back 2016 season, catching 72 balls for 1,017 yards on 117 targets. Given the lack of competition for targets, we can expect him to see a similar workload in 2017. The debacle in Minnesota aside, Mike Wallace has finished as a top-35 PPR wide receiver each season. His +12.2-percent (No. 25) Target Premium indicates that he’s among the top-25 receivers in the league, and appears primed for another good season. Although the cat is out of the bag regarding Mike Wallace‘s fantasy stock in seasonal leagues, he’s still a screaming value in dynasty leagues given his advanced age.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICHNFy94O48
Breshad Perriman
2016 was a redshirt rookie season of sorts for Breshad Perriman given that he missed all of 2015 with a knee injury. Jostling for playing time behind established veterans, Perriman flashed glimpses of his potential on limited snaps towards the latter half of 2016. Perriman’s athletic profile indicates that he has the physical tools to succeed as Baltimore’s split end/X-receiver. Currently primed to see a bulk of the targets, he’s set to reward owners who bought low on him this offseason.
Breshad Perriman Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Michael Campanaro
Michael Campanaro could see plenty of opportunities this season. Campanaro was tendered at the original-round level despite barely seeing any playing time. It appears that the Ravens are high on his talent and rightly so. Campanaro had shown glimpses of his playmaking potential when he was on the field. Currently, forecast to take over the slot role, this could be the season Campanaro fulfills his Julian Edelman-esque potential.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRwHpGetHsY
Chris Moore
Chris Moore is also well-positioned on the Ravens depth chart to eventually absorb significant WR targets. Moore is a highly athletic prospect who should see increased targets as a situational deep threat. Additionally, he could push for increased playing time especially if Breshad Perriman starts slow.
Chris Moore Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Wide Receiver Outlook
Both Steve Smith and Kamar Aiken departed the Ravens’ roster this offseason vacating 152 targets. While the Ravens could sign a veteran player later this year, there are many targets up for grabs. As we know, targets are the lifeblood of fantasy scoring, and Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman should be the primary beneficiaries. Both Michael Campanaro and Chris Moore could be added off waivers in most dynasty leagues and make for high-upside roster additions.
Check out Breshad Perriman and Michael Campanaro on the Updated PlayerProfiler Dynasty Rankings:
Tight End
Dennis Pitta
The Baltimore Ravens tight end position is Dennis Pitta and a bunch of guys. Last season Dennis Pitta was targeted 121 times, good for third most among all tight ends. With a 14.9-percent (No. 4) Hog Rate, Pitta saw plenty of targets and paced all tight ends with 86 receptions. With a -13.5 (No. 51) Production Premium and -13.6-percent (No. 48) Target Premium, Pitta is not without his warts. However, he doesn’t face serious competition for the starters role and could see the bulk of targets once again.
Dennis Pitta 2016 Productivity
Tight End Fantasy Outlook
The Ravens don’t have much depth at tight end, and Dennis Pitta is the only one I’m interested in to start the season. Ben Watson is almost 37 years old and is coming off a brutal Achilles tear. He doesn’t project to be a major factor this season. If the Ravens end up reducing Pitta’s playing time, others like Darren Waller, Maxx Williams, and Crockett Gillmore could be suitable streaming candidates.
