Fantasy fallout: How actual are Lamar Jackson and the Ravens?
To start with, congratulations in your Week 1 fantasy victory for those who had been fortunate sufficient to have the Baltimore Ravens prominently concerned in your lineup.
Sadly, the Ravens received’t get one other probability to play in Miami until they attain Tremendous Bowl LIV. However they do have one other tasty matchup at house in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2. And there may be nonetheless loads of purpose to “purchase excessive” on Lamar Jackson, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Mark Ingram and Mark Andrews even after the schedule will get harder.
We now have to start out with Jackson since, you understand, he simply lit up all the league by finishing 17 of 20 passes for 324 yards, 5 touchdowns and an ideal passer score of 158.three.
Clearly you’ll be able to’t count on any repeat performances of that magnitude. But it surely was big for Jackson’s future prospects as a result of defenses should be extra cautious now about loading up the field to cease him from working.
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens lit up the Dolphins to the tune of 59 factors within the season opener. Michael Reaves/Getty Photos
And run he’ll. ESPN Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley insisted this wasn’t a case of Baltimore deciding to maintain Jackson’s legs beneath wraps.
“Positively not,” Hensley mentioned. “The Ravens have mentioned even firstly of coaching camp that there might be some video games the place Lamar Jackson will run the ball 5 instances, and there might be some video games the place he runs the ball 20 instances. They aren’t mounted to a quantity. They’re gonna take what the protection provides them. … And the Dolphins’ recreation plan was to not let Lamar Jackson run.
“Even after he was throwing two, three and 4 touchdowns, they nonetheless didn’t drop two safeties again deep. Lamar’s factor is he goes by his reads. And his learn each time was to throw the ball. So it may change.”
In the meantime, Hensley is much more bullish that Andrews (eight catches for 108 yards and a TD) and Ingram (14 carries for 107 yards and two TDs) can maintain their success on a constant foundation. He labeled them as the 2 most “reliable” fantasy choices going ahead — based mostly on their cut price worth, anyway.
“Andrews was Lamar’s go-to receiver in coaching camp. It was stunning if Andrews didn’t catch a landing go from Lamar not less than as soon as each observe,” mentioned Hensley, who mentioned that they developed a chemistry relationship again to final season and that Jackson is finest when throwing between the numbers — the place Andrews is his most dependable goal.
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As for Ingram, Hensley mentioned backup Gus Edwards may vulture some touchdowns and a few late-game work if the Ravens get an enormous lead. However he believes Ingram goes to be “as near a workhorse again as they’ve had most likely since Ray Rice.”
“This can be a group that’s gonna be run-first, and Mark Ingram goes to be the featured again,” mentioned Hensley, who mentioned the explanation the Ravens received Ingram in free company was as a result of new offensive coordinator Greg Roman loves skilled, reliable working backs.
Final however not least is Brown, the dynamic rookie receiver who caught 4 passes for 147 yards and two TDs whereas enjoying simply 14 snaps.
You may need to be slightly extra affected person with Brown, given that he’s nonetheless recovering from a foot harm that worn out his total spring and a part of coaching camp and the preseason. As Hensley identified, Brown didn’t even observe Friday of Week 1 and mentioned after the sport that he’s nonetheless experiencing some discomfort. And even when Brown is totally wholesome, Hensley doesn’t count on anybody to emerge as a real No. 1 receiver on a weekly foundation in a bunch that additionally contains veteran Willie Snead and fellow rookie Miles Boykin.
However Brown can clearly do quite a bit with slightly, contemplating his blazing velocity and big-play capacity. And he received’t be restricted to only deep routes. Hensley mentioned he expects a wholesome dose of receiver screens and even some carries out of the backfield.
“They’re gonna get the ball in his palms,” Hensley mentioned.
Now for our weekly tour across the league with ESPN’s NFL Nation reporters:
Rookie breakouts: Don’t miss this detailed breakdown on Brown and different rookie breakouts T.J. Hockenson, Terry McLaurin, A.J. Brown and DK Metcalf — which incorporates perception from NFL Nation reporters and up to date fantasy projections.
Buffalo Payments: Sean McDermott took difficulty with labels like “characteristic again” and “No. 1 again” this week, per Marcel Louis-Jacques. But it surely’s exhausting to not count on the same enjoying time ratio after rookie Devin Singletary was so dynamic in Week 1. Singletary performed 45 offensive snaps, whereas Frank Gore performed 19.
Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton took the blame for Thursday night time’s offensive flop, saying “it’s exhausting to look defensive guys within the eyes.” However he mentioned his surgically repaired shoulder and lately injured foot weren’t accountable, in response to David Newton.
Chicago Bears: Jeff Dickerson wrote about “anti-diva” Allen Robinson, the Bears’ No. 1 receiver who quietly went about his enterprise of notching one other 100-yard recreation.
Detroit Lions: Hockenson’s 131-yard whole was essentially the most by a rookie tight finish in his debut for the reason that 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Michael Rothstein wrote that it’s clear that if the Lions’ offense goes to achieve success, will probably be with Hockenson enjoying a big function.
Houston Texans: Deshaun Watson seemed terrific Monday night time together with his arm and his legs. However Sarah Barshop requested the burning query after he was sacked one other six instances and made a few journeys into the sideline medical tent: What number of hits can Watson endure?
Marlon Mack rushed for a career-high 174 yards in Week 1. AP Picture/Marcio Jose Sanchez
Indianapolis Colts: After working for 174 yards and the tying two-point conversion, there may be “no query” Marlon Mack has established himself as a workhorse working again if wholesome, Mike Wells wrote.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael DiRocco wrote about rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew, the sixth-round decide from Washington State with a fun-loving persona, 1970s-style mustache and “fearless” strategy — who now wants to avoid wasting the Jaguars’ season.
As for the Jaguars’ stunning Week 1 receivers, D.J. Chark and Chris Conley, DiRocco mentioned there may be plenty of pleasure within the group for Chark’s breakout potential as a downfield risk. However he doesn’t count on it to occur in a single day — particularly with the change at QB. He thinks Dede Westbrook and Conley might be extra constant early within the season, with Minshew more likely to depend on them for shorter and intermediate throws.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs: All the things factors to RB LeSean McCoy seeing a much bigger function going ahead, in response to Adam Teicher, who writes that the Chiefs had been significantly more practical working the ball and passing the ball when he was within the recreation.
Additionally from Teicher: WR Sammy Watkins already had predicted he would have one of the best season of his profession even earlier than Tyreek Hill received harm and Watkins exploded for 198 yards and three touchdowns.
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Los Angeles Chargers: Austin Ekeler certain seemed like a number one man with 154 yards from scrimmage and the game-winning TD run in additional time within the Chargers’ first recreation with out Melvin Gordon, Eric D. Williams wrote.
Additionally from Williams: Count on the Chargers to lean much more on WR Keenan Allen whereas TE Hunter Henry is sidelined by a knee harm.
Los Angeles Rams: Todd Gurley break up extra carries than standard in Week 1. However Sean McVay defined that Malcolm Brown scored two speeding TDs as a result of “he was up in that collection” – not as a result of they intend to make use of him in goal-line work forward of Gurley all season. And as Lindsey Thiry wrote, Gurley completed sturdy with 64 speeding yards within the fourth quarter.
New Orleans Saints: As ESPN’s Saints reporter, I wrote that Sean Payton wasn’t mendacity when he mentioned he wished to maintain Alvin Kamara’s “pitch rely” the identical as at it was in years previous. However Payton can also be good sufficient to maintain feeding Kamara when he appears as contemporary and dynamic as he did in a Week 1 nail-biter that required each little bit of his 169 yards from scrimmage.
Oakland Raiders: Tyrell Williams was greater than prepared for his close-up because the Raiders’ main receiver within the wake of all of the Antonio Brown drama, Paul Gutierrez wrote.
Philadelphia Eagles: Carson Wentz “2.zero” confirmed the improved endurance and maturity that coach Doug Pederson talked about this offseason, Tim McManus wrote.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Coming off what he calls “my worst recreation ever,” Steelers receiver Donte Moncrief will proceed to play by a dislocated finger suffered in coaching camp, Jeremy Fowler wrote.
Tennessee Titans: Eddie George continues to be making an influence for the Titans, in response to Turron Davenport. George’s relationship with fellow working again Derrick Henry helped to spark a late 2018 surge that Henry carried over into Week 1.
Davenport additionally wrote extra on Brown, who has shortly earned QB Marcus Mariota’s belief.
Washington Redskins: The Redskins ought to have the ability to take much more benefit of McLaurin’s deep velocity after they get tight finish Jordan Reed again within the lineup, John Keim wrote.