2025 Baltimore Ravens Fantasy Preview
2025 Baltimore Ravens Fantasy Preview The Ravens won the formidable AFC North for the second consecutive season but fell to the Bills in a heartbreaking AFC Divisional Playoff loss. For GM Eric DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh, reinforcing the offensive line and secondary were the top priorities for a roster that sits atop the NFL with a preseason over/under of 11.5 wins. QB Lamar Jackson had the finest season of his career en route to an overall QB1 finish. Jackson threw for a career-best 4.172 yards and 41 touchdowns while leading the position with 915 rushing yards. Jackson has zero bust games and accounted for multiple scores in 15 of his final 17 games, including the postseason. Securing Jackson on draft day will be expensive, but he’s one of the safest bets in fantasy for managers looking to secure an elite quarterback early. Derrick Henry (31) is old for a running back, but he is a unique physical freak who showed no signs of slowing down. He led the AFC with 1,921 rushing yards and scored a career-high 18 touchdowns. In his age-30 season, Henry forced the most missed tackles (89) and most breakaway runs (30) of his career. There are no metrics that indicate Henry is past his prime. He’s the perfect fit in Todd Monken’s offense and in fantasy lineups. Ancillary back Justice Hill averaged a solid 8.5 fantasy points as Baltimore’s change-of-pace runner. Hill never received more than five carries in a regular-season game but corralled 42-of-51 targets. He’s a solid handcuff target for Henry managers and offers some weekly flex appeal in deeper PPR leagues. The Ravens add WR DeAndre Hopkins in free agency. Nuk saw steep drop-offs in yards after catch, yards per route run, and ADOT- all signs of a declining player. However, he still has tremendous hands and compiled a 54.2% contested catch rate. He has the potential to be a good possession option for Jackson, with plus red-zone potential. Zay Flowers finished one spot out of WR2 range with a solid 74/1,059/4 sophomore campaign. Flowers was most effective between the numbers, which bodes well for his potential to continue to ascend into the top-20 wideout range with Hopkins and Rashod Bateman commanding attention. Bateman broke out with a career-high nine scores, but is highly unlikely to approach last year’s gaudy stats as the fourth option. Baltimore has a pair of standout tight ends. Mark Andrews led all tight ends with 11 touchdowns and finished as the overall TE6 after a slow start. Isaiah Likely finished 16th with a 42/477/6 showing that included five weekly TE1 finishes. Andrews is on the TE1/2 radar, and Likely is a high-upside mid-to-late round depth target. Fantasy managers should also take note of sixth-round PK Tyler Loop from Arizona, who is the first kicker drafted in franchise history and is expected to take over for Justin Tucker. Fantasy Grade: B+ QB Jackson, Lamar, BAL [QB1] In his third season in Todd Monken’s system, Lamar Jackson posted QB1 overall numbers. He threw for a career-high 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns against only four interceptions. Jackson has jelled in this offense, posting a +11.6 EPA when under pressure and leading the NFL in passing EPA versus zone coverage and against 2-high looks. In addition to becoming an elite passer, Jackson also ran for a position-leading 915 yards. Jackson is a cheat code that has improved each season in Monken’s offense. He’ll have a hard time topping last year’s numbers, but Jackson is locked in top-3 signal caller. ADVICE: Dual-threat weapon primed for another elite run. RB Henry, Derrick, BAL [RB1] Have you seen Derrick Henry’s workout regimen? If anyone can defeat Father Time, it’s Henry. At 30, when most mortal running backs are retired, Henry set a personal-best with 2,191 scrimmage yards and 5.9 yards per carry. He was second in the league in carries (325), rushing (1,921), and touchdowns (18). Henry was PFF’s top-graded running back and forced a league-high 89 missed tackles. There are no signs that Henry is slowing down in an offense that calls over 32 runs per game, the 2nd-most in the NFL. Finally, Henry won’t catch many passes, which puts him a notch below the elite, three-down studs. ADVICE: The best pure runner in the league, in the perfect offense. RB Hill, Justice, BAL [RB2] Derrick Henry stayed healthy, but Hill still received enough touches to finish as a top 40 running back in PPR leagues. That production’s main driver was putting up career-best numbers (42/j383/3) as an outlet receiver. Hill did not garner more than five carries in any regular-season tilt. He’s not a traditional handcuff because the Ravens wouldn’t use Hill or any other back in the same way they utilize Henry. However, Hill has some RB5/6 value as the Ravens’ main pass-catching weapon. ADVICE: Don’t count on another top-40 finish, but Hill has some value as a receiver. WR Flowers, Zay, BAL [WR1] Zay Flowers’s sophomore numbers were strikingly similar to his rookie season. He ranked 30th in fantasy points during his rookie season and 25th in 2024. Last year, he was top-20 in targets (116), target share (25.7 percent), and yards (1,059). However, Flowers only had four WR1/2 weeks, with two dud outings (not including Week 18). He has settled in as a dependable weekly source of targets and catches, who will occasionally pop a huge play (10th in YAC and 11th in deep targets). That makes him a high-upside WR3/flex option in the NFL’s top-ranked offense. ADVICE: Steady WR3 who offers weekly WR1 upside. WR Bateman, Rashod, BAL [WR2] Bust After averaging 78.5 fantasy points per season in three years, Rashod Bateman exploded to finish with 174.6 points in 2024. The main reason- he jumped up to nine touchdowns after scoring four total in three years. Not only was last season an outlier, it’s also not sustainable. Bateman only averaged 3.9 targets per game, scoring on six of his nine red-zone targets. DeAndre Hopkins will also
Sunday Playoff Preview
Sunday Playoff Preview The Divisional Round continues Sunday with a pair of games. FullTime Fantasy‘s Sunday Playoff Preview breaks down the slate from a fantasy football and sports betting perspective. And just because the fantasy regular season has ended doesn’t mean the fun is over. FFWC Playoff Fantasy Football is a great way to extend the fantasy fun and win amazing prizes! Los Angeles Rams (11-7) at Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) Time: 3:00 Eastern Line: Eagles -6 Total: 44 Money Line: Rams +233, Eagles -273 Rams Offense The Rams pulled off the “home” upset last week in Arizona, but traveling into freezing Philadelphia is different. Stafford has been significantly better since getting Puka Nacua back into the lineups. However, a forecast of sub-freezing temperatures and a 70% chance of snow doesn’t bode well. Therefore, Stafford’s RDA* projections aren’t favorable. Matthew Stafford outdoors in the rain or snow: 1-8 54.6 completion % 14 TD 11 INT 76.0 rating (via @TBagleySports) pic.twitter.com/Cp17f3IkDt — SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) January 16, 2025 Only Kansas City allowed fewer fantasy points to running backs than Philadelphia. However, Kyren Williams remains a good play due to his position-leading snap-share. Additionally, Williams is a three-down back and a dependable short-yardage option with a nose for the stripe. Puka Nacua caught 9-of-13 targets for 117 scoreless yards against the Eagles in Week 12. He remains the focal point of LA’s offense but should expect more intense coverage from an improving Philly secondary. However, with the volume potential is this game as the Rams’ only reliable pass-catcher, Nacua tops our RDA* projections. Back in the day, Cooper Kupp was that dependable, volume-driven option in LA’s offense. However, his efficiency eroded to the point that Kupp barely factored into the Rams’ offense over the past month. With a tough matchup and adverse conditions, I wouldn’t bet on a rebound here. Demarcus Robinson will be the main WR3 and offers some DFS appeal. At tight end, Tyler Higbee is rounding into shape. Higbee was the TE13 in the final three regular-season weeks. Additionally, he reeled in all five of his targets for 58 yards in the Wild Card win. Conversely, this is a tough matchup for Higbee, as the Eagles allowed just 9.3 fantasy points per game to the position–second-fewest in the league. Eagles Offense Jalen Hurts essentially missed Philadelphia’s final three regular-season contests and looked rusty last week. That said, no Eagles fans are complaining about a 22-10 victory. That same formula worked in Week 12 when Hurts and the Eagles beat the Rams 37-20 despite modest numbers from Hurts. Also, weather could force the Eagles to a more ground-based approach. Especially considering they posted 314 rushing yards against this opponent in Week 12. Saquon Barkley was the main catalyst of that thrashing, running for 255 yards and two touchdowns. We’re projecting about half of that production in the rematch. However, Barkley still tops our Week 20 RDA* projections. Despite destroying the Rams on the ground, A.J. Brown still caught six balls for 109 yards and a TD in his previous outing with the Rams. Brown remains an elite option against a secondary that ceded 20 touchdowns to wideouts in 2024. DeVonta Smith missed Week 12 but has been heating up. Smith has topped 50 yards in four consecutive games, including a pair of outings with 100-plus and three combined TDs. In a game where weather could hamper downfield attempts, Smith’s underneath role could be key. Dallas Goedert is a sneaky pick to have a big game. The Rams allowed 15.2 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends–the third-highest mark in the NFL. Baltimore Ravens (13-5) at Buffalo Bills (14-4) Time: 6:30 Eastern Line: Ravens -1 Total: 51..5 Money Line: Bills -106, Ravens -114 Ravens Offense Sunday’s Main Event takes place in the late window, as the Bills and Ravens square off to earn a trip to next week’s AFC title game. Buffalo has not won in the Divisional round since 2020 and will be home underdogs to a Ravens squad that humbled them 35-10 back in Week 4. In that game, Lamar Jackson only threw for 156 yards and two scores. However, he ran for 54 and another score en route to a weekly QB6 finish. The forecast calls for 13 degrees with a 50/50 shot at snow but that won’t necessarily be a hindrance to Jackson and company. Vegas set a line of 278.5 total yards with a lean on three total scores. Fantasy’s overall RB1, Derrick Henry ran for 199 and scored two total touchdowns in Week 4 against this defense. The Bills have shored up that run D since September but still surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to the position. Henry is -200 to revisit the end zone in this game a yardage prop of 106.5 yards. While the rushing attack is locked in, things are more uncertain through the air. Mainly because of the health of Zay Flowers, who missed the Wild Card game with a knee injury. Flowers hasn’t practiced all week and is doubtful to play. Even if he does, he would be limited. Our RDA* projections are modest, mainly because of the baked-in risk. Rashod Bateman will see an increase in targets and remains the best bet to score. However, his volume is fairly modest, so Bateman is rather TD-dependent. Still, the Bills were below-average defending wideouts, and the 51.5-point total indicates a solid game script. All other Baltimore wideouts are relegated to low-cost DFS dart throws. Mark Andrews is our TE3 for the week, projected to score 11.9 PPR points. Additionally, the Ravens will also use Isaiah Likely liberally in place of the aforementioned ancillary wide receivers. Likely didn’t do much against Buffalo (1/26/0) previously, but has a Vegas yardage prop of 36.5. Bills Offense After a brutal start, Baltimore’s pass defense has greatly improved. Josh Allen can supplement that with plenty of rushing production, but the Ravens have allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards to quarterbacks. This seems like a
Saturday Playoff Preview
Saturday Playoff Preview The 6-game NFL Wild Card Weekend kicks off Saturday with a pair of AFC matchups. FullTime Fantasy‘s Saturday Playoff Preview breaks down the slate from a fantasy football and sports betting perspective. And just because the fantasy regular season has ended doesn’t mean the fun is over. FFWC Playoff Fantasy Football is a great way to extend the fantasy fun and win amazing prizes! Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at Houston Texans (10-7) Time: 4:00 Eastern Line: Chargers -3 Total: 42.5 Money Line: Los Angeles -156, Houston +136 Chargers Offense Jim Harbaugh coached the Chargers to an impressive one-year turnaround. Harbaugh inherited a team that went 5-12 and instilled a new culture, resulting in a postseason appearance in Year One. However, Harbaugh’s main influence was on the defense, which allowed the fewest points in the league. LA’s offense ranked 20th overall, including 19th in passing and 17th in rushing. The Chargers did rank 11th in scoring, but points will be at a premium against a Houston defense that ranked 14th in points allowed. Although Houston’s pass defense ranked 6th overall, the Texans allowed an AFC-worst 31 touchdown passes to quarterbacks. That makes Justin Herbert a solid start. Our RDA* projections have Herbert in the top half of Week 19 fantasy signal-callers. Additionally, Herbert ran for 306 yards and two scores this season, which is another area Houston struggled against. Houston surrendered the fifth-fewest fantasy points to running backs, which makes J.K. Dobbins a lesser option in this slate. Dobbins also won’t catch many passes. That makes him game-script-dependent. However, in a game where the Chargers are favored, Dobbins has a decent shot at seeing 15-plus touches and getting into the end zone. There isn’t a ton of upside behind Dobbins. Gus Edwards has been limited and Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins have split RB3 duties. Additionally, the recent signing of Ezekiel Elliott complicates the complementary roles. Avoid. Thumbs up for WR Ladd McConkey. The rookie wideout was fantasy’s WR10 in the last three weeks, reeling in 19-of-24 targets for 276 yards and a score. Houston allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to enemy receivers, making McConkey a top-10 play in our Week 19 RDA* projections. Quentin Johnston offers some boom potential against a secondary that has been decimated by injuries and is vulnerable to big plays. Josh Palmer is OUT, opening up more snaps for D.J. Chark. At tight end, the Chargers will use Wil Dissly and Stone Smartt. However, Dissly out-snapped Smartt 43-14 last week. Texans Offense While the Chargers took vast strides in 2024, the Houston Texans regressed. Facing a first-place schedule will do that, but DeMeco Ryan’s squad simply wasn’t as good on offense. After ranking seventh in passing in 2023, Houston dipped to 21st. There is no denying that C.J. Stroud‘s play dropped off. His metrics and efficiency declined across the board. Meanwhile, he struggled to make the same throws he made as a rookie and he plummeted to 34th in pressured completion rate (53.1%). The Chargers can be challenged through the air. However, Stroud has only thrown 2-plus TDs in a game three times since Week 7. RB Joe Mixon has also cooled off. Mixon hasn’t scored more than 10.6 PPR points in any of his last four games. Meanwhile, the Chargers allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to the position in 2024, including a league-low four rushing scores. Although the volume should be there, this is not a great week to pay up for Mixon’s salary in DFS. Houston’s offense has also been plagued by injuries. Nico Collins is the last man standing at wideout and will undoubtedly be the focal point in this game. Collins hasn’t topped 100 yards since Week 13 but has scored three touchdowns. Our RDA* projections have Collins in for 5.4 grabs, 73 yards, and a 50/50 shot at another score. After Collins, Houston will trot out the uninspiring trio of Robert Woods, John Metchie, and Xavier Hutchinson. However, none of these players are anything more than DFS dart throws in a poor matchup. At tight end, Dalton Schultz is the best bet to see the second-most targets. However, the Chargers allowed a league-low two scores to opposing TEs this season, which severely caps his upside. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) at Baltimore Ravens (12-5) Time: 8:00 Eastern Line: Baltimore -10 Total: 43.5 Money Line: Pittsburgh +400, Baltimore -550 Steelers Offense The Steelers are 4-1 against the spread in their last five matchups with Baltimore. Additionally, the UNDER has hit in 8-of-11 in this AFC North rivalry. However, that paints an ugly picture for Pittsburgh’s offense- a unit that scored all of two touchdowns against Baltimore this season. QB Russell Wilson averaged 211 passing yards, one TD, and one INT in two games versus Baltimore. That’s precisely where our Week 19 RDA* projections have Wilson, making him an unappealing fantasy option. While the Ravens have struggled against the pass, Baltimore’s league-best offense and excellent run defense make the Ravens a poor matchup for running backs. Pittsburgh will use both of their backs, with Najee Harris leading the way. In those two prior matchups, Harris accumulated an innocuous 105 rushing yards with four receptions. Jaylen Warren was better in those games and offers more appeal as a double-digit underdog. Warren reeled in all nine of his targets against the Ravens, racking up 71 receiving yards and averaging over four yards per carry. Paying up for George Pickens is a hard pill to swallow after last week’s embarrassment. However, this is a good rebound spot for Pickens, who caught 8-of-12 targets for 89 yards back in Week 11 against the Ravens. Pickens has topped 75 yards in three of his five career matchups versus Baltimore, who also allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receiver this season. As double-digit dogs, Pickens will see a favorable game script. Calvin Austin and Van Jefferson are the next best bets but offer low floors. However, TE Pat Freiermuth gets a positive matchup. Baltimore surrendered 12.9
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 10
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 10 The fantasy playoff stretch drive starts with an excellent AFC North battle. This rematch of a Week 5 shootout won by the Baltimore Ravens 41-38 over the Cincinnati Bengals should be one of the
The fantasy playoff stretch drive starts with an excellent AFC North battle. This rematch of a Week 5 shootout won by the Baltimore Ravens 41-38 over the Cincinnati Bengals should be one of the NFL’s games of the month. The FullTime Fantasy Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 10 breaks down the game from a fantasy and sports betting perspective.
At 4-5 with a loss to the Ravens already in the books, this is a crucial game for the Bengals’ playoff odds. And after losing five of their last six against Baltimore, the pressure is on for Zac Taylor’s bunch.
Meanwhile, the Ravens boast the league’s top offense. John Harbaugh’s team added reinforcements at the trade deadline and has had Cincinnati’s number of late.
Baltimore opened as 3-point favorites but that line quickly doubled. Meanwhile, the total, which opened at 47, has shot up to a Week 10-high 53 points.
Matchup
| TEAM | OFFENSE | PASS | RUSH | YDS/PLAY | POINTS |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 17 | 5 | 26 | 14 | 6 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Last week’s Jets/Texans game was a snoozer. However, this game has some potential. Both squads rank inside the top 6 in scoring. And the first meeting between these rivals resulted in 962 combined yards and 53 first downs. Inject it into our veins!
The Bengals are a pass-first team led by Joe Burrow, who ranks third in fantasy points and is tied for second in the league with 20 touchdown passes. However, Cincinnati ranks 26th in rushing and is better at defending the run than the pass.
But the Ravens have the best offense in the NFL, ranking first in rushing and second in passing. That makes Baltimore’s balance problematic for the Bengals and every opponent.
Cincinnati Offense…
How will Thursday’s Bengals vs. Ravens game go?
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Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 1
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 1 What a way to kick off a new season! After seven months, a rematch of last year’s AFC title game opens the 2024 season. The FullTime Fantasy Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 1 breaks
What a way to kick off a new season! After seven months, a rematch of last year’s AFC title game opens the 2024 season. The FullTime Fantasy Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 1 breaks down the fantasy and sports betting prospects for the season opener.
Andy Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs were able to squeeze by the Ravens with a 45-yard field goal with three seconds left. That set up the club to win their second consecutive title. However, winning a third gets off to an ominous start against that same Baltimore team thirsting for revenge.
The Ravens enter the 2024 season with the third-highest Super Bowl odds. Only the 49ers and these Chiefs rank higher. These teams are familiar with one another and match up well. But if the Ravens want to prove they can make it back to the big game, they must find a way to win at Arrowhead.
Vegas sees these two teams as evenly matched. The Ravens are the standard three-point underdogs on the road. Additionally, the total of the game has risen to 47.
Matchup
| TEAM | OFFENSE | PASS | RUSH | YDS/PLAY | POINTS |
| Baltimore Ravens | 6 | 21 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 9 | 6 | 19 | 9 | 15 |
These teams are fairly evenly matched on both sides of the ball. While Baltimore employs a run-first approach, the Chiefs will attack through the air.
On the other side of the ball, these two teams allowed the fewest points in the NFL in 2023. Baltimore ranked sixth overall and led the NLF with 31 turnovers. Conversely, Kansas City surrendered the second-fewest points and ranked fourth versus the pass.
For Baltimore, sticking with their strength should be the game plan. Instead of attacking through the air, the Ravens will attempt to slow down the pace and stick to what they do best. Run the ball.
There are lots of new elements to Kansas City’s offense. Expect Reid to take plenty of downfield shots. However, Baltimore’s secondary is stacked and received reinforcement in the first round with CB Nate Wiggins.
Baltimore Offense
How will Thursday’s Ravens vs. Chiefs game go?
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2024 Baltimore Ravens Fantasy Preview
2024 Baltimore Ravens Fantasy Preview Baltimore finished sixth in offense and defense in 2023, but another disappointing playoff loss saw the top-seeded Ravens ousted in the AFC Championship. Even after leading the league in rushing, there will be wholesale changes
Baltimore finished sixth in offense and defense in 2023, but another disappointing playoff loss saw the top-seeded Ravens ousted in the AFC Championship. Even after leading the league in rushing, there will be wholesale changes to Baltimore’s offense in 2024.
QB Lamar Jackson’s first season in Todd Monken’s offense was a success. Jackson completed a career-best 67.2% of his attempts and set a personal best with 3,678 passing yards. On a per-game basis, Jackson rushed less than he was accustomed to but still led the position with 821 yards on the ground.
In all, Jackson finished fourth in fantasy scoring despite being the centerpiece of a run-first offense. The Ravens have only produced one 1000-yard wide receiver during Jackson’s tenure. Finding weapons to restore balance to Baltimore’s attack would go a long way.
Second-year WR Zay Flowers is the logical choice to join Marquise Brown as Jackson’s next 1000-yard wideout. Flowers led the Ravens in targets (108), catches (77), and yards (858) during his rookie campaign. Flowers began to assert himself as a legit No. 1 receiver during the playoff drive. He is a strong breakout candidate with top-20 upside.
After Flowers, things are more uncertain. Rashod Bateman is a candidate to see an increased role, but Bateman hasn’t been able to stay healthy or live up to his first-round billing. The Ravens also added Devontez Walker from North Carolina with a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Walker boasts 4.36 speed and will compete with Bateman and Nelson Agholor for WR3 snaps.
TE Mark Andrews remains the best bet to lead the club in targets and touchdown grabs. Andrews ranked fifth in PPR points per game but missed nearly half the campaign with an ankle injury. An Andrews/Jackson stack is among the top contrarian builds to exit your draft with.
Third-year TE Isiah Likely faired well when Andrews was sidelined. Given Baltimore’s lack of depth in the receiving corps, expecting Monken to utilize 12 sets more often than last year’s 11.1% (27th in the league) seems like a good bet.
When the NFL’s top-ranked rushing attack adds a stud fantasy option like Derrick Henry, fantasy managers should take notice. Henry is showing signs of slowing down. However, he is an elite touchdown scorer and a strong bet to lead the league in that category in 2024. He won’t catch a ton of passes in this offense, but Henry looks like a good bet for 1,200 rushing yards and 12-14 scores.
The Ravens will remain a run-heavy offense that features a potential top-10 player at three positions and a sophomore wideout that could break out in a big way.
Quarterbacks
QB LAMAR JACKSON – STUD (LOW RISK)
Year One in Todd Monken’s offense resulted in the finest passing season of Lamar Jackson’s career. Jackson set career-best numbers in attempts (457), completions (307), completion rate (67.2%), and yards (3,678). He also remained one of the position’s most potent rushing threats, leading all quarterbacks with 821 yards and an additional five scores on the ground. Baltimore doesn’t have the deepest receiving corps, but the addition of RB Derrick Henry will further help open things up downfield for a Ravens offense that led the league in rushing last season and ranked fourth in points. Since entering the league, Jackson’s rushing production has given him a safe floor behind an elite offensive line. ADVICE: Elite starter with top-3 upside…
Conference Championship Playoff Preview
By the time Sunday evening rolls around, we will know who will play in Super Bowl LVIII. In the AFC, Kansas City tries to repeat as the champions but must go through the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens. Meanwhile, in the NFC, Detroit hopes to make their first Super Bowl appearance by upsetting the San Francisco 49ers. Our Conference Championship Playoff Preview looks at the games from a fantasy and sports betting lens. Using our RDA* projections, we can break down each game to find the statistical edge that can give us a leg up in playoff fantasy and daily fantasy lineups. Also, we can determine the best bets to make. Before you place those winning bets, our partner Edge Boost can help you double your entries and payouts! Click below to increase your winnings today. Kansas City Chiefs (13-6) at Baltimore Ravens (14-4) Time: 3:00 Eastern Line: Ravens -3.5 Total: 44.5 Money Line: Chiefs +170, Ravens -220 Kansas City Offense The defending champs got by the Bills despite being out-gained and losing the time-of-possession battle 37-22. Patrick Mahomes compiled a 131.6 QB Rating in Buffalo, throwing for 215 and a pair of scores. Unfortunately for Mahomes, this Baltimore defense is much more formidable. The Ravens boasted the top-scoring defense in football and ranked third in limiting fantasy points to quarterbacks. Additionally, the Chiefs still haven’t gotten much out of their wide receivers and Baltimore has surrendered just nine touchdown passes in 10 home games. Of course, you never count out Andy Reid and more Mahomes magic. Despite the tough matchup, Mahomes is still a viable option as a four-point underdog. RB Isiah Pacheco ran for 97 yards and a score in Buffalo. Although the Ravens have the NFL’s top run defense, Baltimore allowed a 100-yard rusher in four of their last five regular-season games. Also, Pachecho played 72% of KC’s snaps last week and is a capable receiver. Pacheco’s volume looks good, but the potential absence of Joe Thuney is worrisome. Rashee Rice has become the only reliable wideout in Kansas City’s offense. Baltimore allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to the position and will undoubtedly make Rice a priority, as the Bills did last week. Rice is the only wideout in Kansas City that can be viewed as better than a low-cost dart throw. Those boom-or-bust options (with much more emphasis on BUST) for the Chiefs include Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justin Watson, and Mecole Hardman. MVS and Watson play far more snaps. Kadarius Toney is OUT. The only other viable pass-catcher for the Chiefs is TE Travis Kelce. Kelce broke out of this slump in Buffalo, snagging a pair of scores and carrying fantasy playoff leagues. Baltimore only surrendered three touchdowns to tight ends this season and Kelce had his lowest TD output in four years. However, he’s by far the safest bet for fantasy managers looking for a KC stack. Baltimore Offense As clutch as Kelce was last week, his performance pales in comparison to what Lamar Jackson did against Houston. Overcoming a bland 10-10 tie at halftime, Jackson rushed for 100 yards and totaled four touchdowns to carry fantasy lineups and his Ravens to victory. However, the Chiefs present a tougher challenge. KC ranked second in the NFL in defense this season, including fourth versus the pass and second in points allowed. The modest over/under of 44.5 in an AFC Championship is indicative of the kind of battle this game is projected to be. Jackson remains the best bet to lead the Ravens in rushing. Gus Edwards is the de facto starter. But Edwards isn’t much of a factor in the passing game and is highly touchdown-dependent. Justice Hill led the backfield in snaps (39) last week and could factor in as an outlet receiver. Dalvin Cook only played in garbage time. But Cook has three-down ability and looks like a sneaky DFS punt play. Only two teams allowed fewer fantasy points to wide receivers than Kansas City. CB L’Jarius Sneed. Sneed is one of the top coverage corners in football and will pose a major problem for Zay Flowers. Sneed’s stellar play was integral in the Chiefs’ ability to consistently shut down opposing No. 1 wide receivers. Houston was able to limit Flowers to 8.1 fantasy points last week. Facing a far superior KC secondary, expecting a rebound seems like a tough proposition. Odell Beckham only played 20 snaps last week. He was out-snapped and out-targeted by Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor. If Mark Andrews can return, he’ll be a top-3 tight end in this slate. However, Isaiah Likely has fared very well in relief and is more than capable of making an impact. Projecting the Chiefs to slow down Baltimore’s wideouts makes both Baltimore tight ends viable plays in this game. The Ravens have won seven of eight and their strengths match up well with Kansas City. I’m not sure that the Chiefs will be able to score enough points in this one. It feels like Lamar Jackson is finally poised to win the big one. Ravens -3.5 Detroit Lions (14-5) at San Francisco 49ers (13-5) Time: 6:30 PM Eastern Line: San Francisco -7 Total: 51.5 Money Line: Lions +270, 49ers -340 Detroit Offense This is Detroit’s first road trip since Week 17 when they lost in Dallas by a controversial single point. We’re all aware of the home/road splits for Jared Goff. They were not as pronounced in 2023, but Goff must overcome that narrative if he hopes to keep Deroit’s season alive. Overall, San Francisco ranked eighth in defense and 14th versus the pass. The Niners picked off a league-leading 22 passes. However, a lot of that was gamescript-related. The 49ers allowed the third-most attempts due to playing with a lead often. Our RDA+ projections have Goff as the lowest-scoring signal-caller this week. But he makes an interesting option as a contrarian DFS option. Detroit will attempt to establish their running game to set up play-action opportunities downfield. However, San Francisco ranked third against the run. Expect David Montgomery to get the first drive and act as Detroit’s power back. The Niners did not allow a
Jody Smith’s Rankings: Conference Championship
Jody Smith’s Rankings: Conference Championship FullTime Fantasy has been synonymous with accurate fantasy football rankings for years. Our rankings have garnered numerous industry accolades, with several top-5 finishes in season-long, weekly, and even sports betting accuracy. This is the home
FullTime Fantasy has been synonymous with accurate fantasy football rankings for years. Our rankings have garnered numerous industry accolades, with several top-5 finishes in season-long, weekly, and even sports betting accuracy. This is the home of our FullTime Fantasy Football Rankings: Conference Championship.
Ranking You Can Trust
Our staff was ranked No. 1 last season, with not one but TWO analysts inside the top 10. With projections powered by NFBC Hall-of-Fame writer Shawn Childs and former FantasyPro’s Most Accurate Expert Jody Smith, FullTime Fantasy Members get instant access to reliable and trustworthy weekly rankings.
Additionally, Jody and Adam Krautwurst co-host the FullTime Fantasy Podcast, which is live-streamed weekly on YouTube. The guys are also active in the FullTime Fantasy Discord channel, helping answer all fantasy and sports betting inquiries.
Fantasy Football Rankings: Conference Championship
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Division Round Playoff Preview: Saturday
After going 5-1 picking the Wild Card games, my Division Round Playoff Preview: Saturday breaks down the upstart Houston Texans traveling to Baltimore, and the Green Bay Packers trip to San Francisco to face the NFC’s top seed. Using our RDA* projections, we can break down each game to find the statistical edge that can give us a leg up in playoff fantasy and daily fantasy lineups. Also, we can determine the best bets to make. Before you place those winning bets, our partner Edge Boost can help you double your entries and payouts! Click below to increase your winnings today. Houston Texans (11-7) at Baltimore Ravens (13-4) Time: 4:30 Eastern Line: Baltimore -9.5 Total: 43.5 Money Line: Texans +340, Ravens -420 Houston Offense Look no further than last week’s thrashing of Cleveland to identify the value of probably rookie-of-the-year C.J. Stroud. Three weeks prior, that same Browns squad destroyed Houston on the same field. However, Stroud missed that game with a concussion. Back and healthy, the No. 2 pick lit up the league’s top defense. But things won’t get easier in the division round. Stroud now must go on the road to face a well-rested Baltimore defense that ceded the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Stroud has also played noticeably better at home and will contend with freezing temperatures and windy conditions. Baltimore ranked 6th against the pass but just 14th versus the run. That could mean a few more opportunities for Devin Singletary. “Motor” led all NFL running backs in the Wild Card round with a 72% snap share. Expect another week of heavy usage, making Singletary a strong option in DFS and playoff lineups. Back in the season opener, Nico Collins reeled in 6-of-11 targets for 80 yards in Houston’s 25-9 loss in Baltimore. This is a favorable game script for Collins, but Houston’s implied total of 17 points is a concern. Our RDA* projections have Collins approaching 12 points on Sunday. Noah Brown was placed on IR. That means No. 2 wideout duties will go to Robert Woods. Woods hasn’t done much this season but did go 10/6/57/0 against the Ravens in the season opener. John Metchie logged 35 snaps and a 13.6% target share last week. Xavier Hutchison was also in on 44% of Houston’s snaps. The Ravens only allowed three touchdowns to tight ends all season. But, with Houston’s receiving corps thin, expect Dalton Schultz to be heavily involved. Schultz has topped four catches in four of Houston’s past five road contests. Baltimore Offense Lamar Jackson had his worst fantasy game of the season against the Texans back in Week 1. He was limited to 169 passing yards and 38 on the ground. While the Texans have made significant strides on that side of the ball, we’re expecting a much different outcome in the rematch. In fact, our RDA* projections have Jackson as the top QB for the slate. The projections indicate Jackson will throw for 228 yards, two scores, and contribute an additional 64 rushing yards. That makes L-Jax a must-start in all fantasy formats paying in Week 20. Those strides Houston made defensively highlight the amazing job DeMeco Ryans did. The Texans improved to 6th in the NFL in run defense. Baltimore will employ a committee backfield. Gus Edwards leads the way but will need a touchdown to pay off. Edwards cedes most pass-catching work to Justice Hill. After cutting Melvin Gordon, don’t discount Dalvin Cook‘s chances of leading this backfield in touches, making him a sneaky DFS option. Zay Flowers is Baltimore’s No. 1 wideout. Only the Jets allowed fewer touchdowns to wideouts (5) than Houston’s 10. Flowers put 17.7 fantasy points on this defense in Week 1. He’s also scored five touchdowns in his last five games. Consider Flowers a strong WR1 play in this slate. After Flowers, it’s trickier. Odell Beckham is the best bet to make an impact downfield. Beckham’s 14% target share easily outpaced the ancillary wideouts. Of those lesser options, Rashod Bateman will see more snaps and targets than Nelson Agholor. Houston’s biggest defensive weakness came against tight ends. Now that we know the Ravens have ruled Mark Andres OUT, Isaiah Likely becomes a locked-in top-4 play this week. His reduced salary makes him particularly appealing in DFS showdown slates. If this game comes down to turnovers, it could swing Houston’s way. The Texans were +10 in turnover differential. The Ravens actually led the league with a +12 margin. However, Houston had an NFL-low 14 giveaways. Most of Houston’s key offensive contributors also have experience in colder weather. I think the Stroud can keep them hanging around in this game and will take the points. Houston +9.5 Green Bay Packers (10-8) at San Francisco 49ers (12-5) Time: 8:15 PM Eastern Line: San Francisco -9.5 Total: 50.5 Money Line: Packers +360, 49ers -450 Green Bay Offense Jordan Love and the Packers are on quite a heater. Green Bay has won four straight, seven of nine, and Love has produced 21 touchdowns and thrown only ONE interception since Week 11. Meanwhile, the 49ers have picked off a league-leading 22 balls this season. However, the Niners have had issues against the pass. The Niners are also below average in pass rush and on third downs. This looks like another favorable game script for Love to keep drives alive and keep the Packers within striking distance. Aaron Jones won many fantasy contests last week. His usage indicated that he was primed to exploit a sagging Dallas defense. San Francisco’s 4th-ranked fantasy run D will be a more formidable opponent. But Jones remains an elite play due to his involvement in the passing game. All of Green Bay’s wide receivers are in play against a subpar San Francisco secondary. Christian Watson returned last week but only played in 41% of Green Bay’s snaps. He did emerge unscathed, so fair to assume we’ll see a bump. Jayden Reed had a rare zero but had a 14% target share. Romeo Doubs had the finest game of his career last week thanks to a massive 29% target share. TE Tucker Kraft tripled Luke Musgrave in snaps
Jody Smith’s Rankings: Divisional Round
Jody Smith’s Rankings: Divisional Round FullTime Fantasy has been synonymous with accurate fantasy football rankings for years. Our rankings have garnered numerous industry accolades, with several top-5 finishes in season-long, weekly, and even sports betting accuracy. This is the home
FullTime Fantasy has been synonymous with accurate fantasy football rankings for years. Our rankings have garnered numerous industry accolades, with several top-5 finishes in season-long, weekly, and even sports betting accuracy. This is the home of our FullTime Fantasy Football Rankings: Divisional Round.
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Our staff was ranked No. 1 last season, with not one but TWO analysts inside the top 10. With projections powered by NFBC Hall-of-Fame writer Shawn Childs and former FantasyPro’s Most Accurate Expert Jody Smith, FullTime Fantasy Members get instant access to reliable and trustworthy weekly rankings.
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Fantasy Football Rankings: Divisional Round
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