FANTASY FOOTBALL IN-SEASON FEATURES

Sortable Player Projections | Game Predictions Summary | Projections by Team

Prediction: BAL 23, SEA 17

The Ravens remain tied with the Bengals for the AFC North lead at 6-2 and yet are only 2-2 in road games this season. The Seahawks are just 2-6 and on a three game losing streak and are only 1-2 at home. Could be a trap game and the Ravens face the Bengals next week in a pivotal game. But the Seahawks are not getting any better.

QUARTERBACK: Joe Flacco has scored in every road game and has exceeded 300 passing yards in four of the last six games. Flacco often is scoreless at home where the run works best but on the road, he has been very effective.

The Seahawks always allow a score if not two to visitors along with decent yardage. WIth the rushing effort likely to be lower this week, expect a good showing by Flacco against a secondary that is worse than the ranking suggest.

RUNNING BACKS: At home he is a beast but on the road, Ray Rice has been less effective as a runner though he always adds in enough receiving yards to remain a fantasy gem, particularly in reception point leagues since he usually ends with five catches each week. The Seahawks are good against the run and more so when at home where no tailback has topped 76 yards this year.

Rice is a must start anyway and should get a decent game with receiving yards tallied. He has a good shot at one rushing score as well,

WIDE RECEIVERS: Lee Evans remains out since week two but is slowly getting closer to playing. But in his place Torrey Smith has become a bigger factor and caught the game winner in Pittsburgh after dropping another earlier. Smith has been good for around 60 or so yards in most games. Anquan Boldin has been on a nice roll for the last month with major yardage and one score. He topped 100 yards twice but both were in home games.

The Seahawks are nothing special against wide receivers who have scored seven times on them this year. I like the passing score to end up here and lean towards Boldin as overdue and a player very familiar with the Seahawks.

TIGHT ENDS: Ed Dickson remains the primary but Dennis Pitta drifts in and out of the picture as well. Combined they only have one touchdown anyway and marginal yardage at best.

Pregame Notes: Play this game in Baltimore and it could be a shutout. But in Seattle before the Ravens face the Bengals and the Seahawks can hope that their focus is waning at least later in the game. It will take a trap game for the Seahawks to notch another win or at least either of their two matchups left to play against he Rams. Chances are that the Ravens just want to win this and go back home.

QUARTERBACK: Tarvaris Jackson has been back for two weeks from his pectoral strain but still has not scored and has just six touchdowns on the season. He has thrown nine interceptions and lost two fumbles along the way. Fortunately, the Ravens allow one touchdown per opposing quarterback and Jackson could get lucky if only for the one score. He is no where near worthy of a fantasy start thought.

The Ravens have allowed high passing yardage three times so far but nothing in Jackson's past suggests that he can take much advantage here.

RUNNING BACKS: His yardage is rarely notable but at least Marshawn Lynch has scored once in each of the last four games and even had 100 yards or so in both New York against the Giants and in Dallas. The Ravens have been outstanding against the run but mostly just at home. He is not a safe start for more than some marginal yardage but I like the chance for a rushing score to surprise the Ravens who just want to get this over and return to Baltimore.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Sidney Rice is banged up but still expected to play this week and he has been mildly productive in recent weeks though still has the single score on the year. Doug Baldwin is the up-and-comer but that has meant wildly inconsistent games such as following up his 8-136 in New York with being blanked in Cincinnati. Ben Obamanu had 107 yards in the most recent home game against the Bengals two weeks ago.

Throw in Golden Tate and Big Mike Williams and there is no shortage of wideouts, only a lack of any really good ones. The Ravens allowed six touchdowns to the position so far and should make it seven this week. Normally it is the non-primary wide receiver that gets the score but that is three different players on this team. I will credit Baldwin in a home game but the confidence is low.

TIGHT ENDS: No fantasy value.

 Print