Baltimore Ravens: 5 Best Fantasy Picks For Your Team

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Harbaugh once again has the Ravens ready to contend in 2015 (Getty).

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Baltimore was a legitimate playoff contender last year, and led by two touchdowns twice before falling to the Patriots in the Divisional round. Although they finished the season 8th in the NFL in scoring with 25.6 points per game, Ravens players were not heavy hitters in the fantasy world. The only Ravens to finish in the top 10 at their position in ESPN leagues were Justin Forsett and Ravens DST.

This could change in 2015 with the arrival of OC Marc Trestman. In Chicago under Trestman, the Bears had consistent fantasy plays including Matt Forte, who was a PPR monster in 2014. With a disciplined quarterback in Flacco, expect Trestman to open up Baltimore’s offense like never before.

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Here’s the best Ravens for your team:

1: Joe Flacco, QB

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Flacco is one of the NFL’s best vertical passers (Getty).

Joe can be a frustrating experience at times, but can be a valuable asset to any team’s depth chart. Statistically 2014 was Flacco’s best season ever, setting career highs in passing yards and touchdowns. On the fantasy side Flacco was inconsistent, and had two games with zero touchdowns. Joe finished with 249 total points in ESPN scoring, ranked 13th among quarterbacks.

A change in system means a new challenge for Flacco, who will also adjust to life without Torrey Smith. Flacco’s best games were when he trusted his deep ball, and was able to throw less with a strong run game. With the addition of Breshad Perriman, Flacco should stay around the 25 touchdown mark for 2015.

2: Justin Forsett, RB

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Justin Forsett will turn 30 in October (Getty).

After the departure of Ray Rice, the Ravens running back position was in flux in early 2014. In week six the Ravens offense exploded, in large part due to the performance of Justin Forsett. From then on Forsett received the bulk of touches, finishing the season with a career-high 235 rushes at an impressive 5.4 yards per carry.

In what was a down year for running backs, Forsett’s emergence was a welcome surprise to many owners. Whether he can carry it on for a full season remains to be seen. Critics point to October, when Forsett celebrates his 30th birthday. Since he entered the NFL in 2008, Forsett had only had 20 carries in a game once before last season, when he did it four times. In Trestman’s system, Forsett looks to record 200 carries and at least 60 catches. Definitely worth a pick, but definitely needs a handcuff.

3: Steve Smith, WR

Looking to prove haters wrong, Steve Smith came out strong in his first season in Baltimore. After an average performance boosted by a long TD in week one, Smith was a solid PPR start culminating in a top-tier performance (7/139/2) against the Panthers. After that Smith slowed down, and scored only three more times in the final 12 games.

In the offseason there was mentioning of reducing Smith’s starts, but it’s hard to imagine that happening considering Baltimore’s depth at the position. Smith will be the veteran presence among Marlon Brown, Breshad Perriman and a host of young talent at Ravens skill positions. If Smith can keep his snap count up, he’s a low-end WR2 in PPR formats.

4: Breshad Perriman, WR

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Perriman faces high expectations as the 26th overall pick (Getty).

The future of the Raven’s offense coincides with the development of rookie Breshad Perriman. A late riser in the 2014 draft, the Central Florida product was hailed for his size and sub 4.24 40 time. The Ravens grabbed him at 26th overall, which puts a bit of pressure on the son of 10-year NFLer Brett Perriman.

The knock on Perriman in college were his hands, which isn’t great given his position. And even at his best season at UCF, Perriman only caught 50 passes for 9 touchdowns. Scouts are projecting for Perriman’s talents, which could be dangerous for fantasy owners in the fall. Still, given the ease at which many rookie wideouts have transitioned into the league, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Perriman is must-own in 2015.

5: Ravens D/ST

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The faces are different, but the attitude is the same on the Ravens defense (Getty).

This Ravens defense isn’t like the days of old, but it was still good enough for five weeks of double-digit scoring last season. Haloti Ngata has departed, but Dean Pees has several new additions to his secondary that was torched by New England in their final game of 2014. That balance should benefit the linebacker core, which is one of the best in the NFL. Dumervil, Mosley, and Suggs are big reasons the Ravens were tied for second in the NFL with 49 sacks.

For a weekly start, the Ravens were inconsistent. They posted single-digit totals in manageable matchups against San Diego, Houston and Cincinnati. Still, as a streaming option they have to be watched. A defense that is solid against the run is more likely to force the other team into mistakes, and Baltimore is capable of just that.

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