By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Each offseason brings change to NFL rosters, and those changes often have fantasy implications. Below, I lay out the changes at the skill positions and how those moves impact the fantasy status of the new roster.
2017
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QB: Joe Flacco
RB: Alex Collins, Javorius Allen, Terrance West, Danny Woodhead
WR: Mike Wallace, Jeremy Maclin, Chris Moore, Breshad Perriman
TE: Ben Watson, Nick Boyle, Maxx Williams
2018
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QB: Joe Flacco, Lamar Jackson
RB: Alex Collins, Javorius Allen, Kenneth Dixon
WR: Michael Crabtree, John Brown, Willie Snead, Chris Moore, Breshad Perriman, Jaleel Scott, Jordan Lasley
TE: Hayden Hurst, Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle, Maxx Williams
Pre-Draft Offseason:
The Ravens did well in getting Michael Crabtree after he was cut by the Raiders, and John Brown has a lot of talent if he can stay healthy, so both moves were strong. Letting Jeremy Maclin go looked to be the right move as well, as he has lost multiple steps at this point. Keeping Mike Wallace would have been nice, because he is a solid receiver even at this point in his career, but the organization let him walk in free agency.
I don’t love the passing game of the Ravens for fantasy usually, but Crabtree should be heavily targeted, as Brown will likely be more of a deep threat. Mr. Crabs’ arrow should be pointing up in fantasy, while Brown has some upside if he can stay healthy. Don’t even look at the tight ends unless you want to make yourself sick.
The running back situation is a bit murkier, as the Ravens’ two lead fantasy point-getters are still with the team and will be welcoming an injured/suspended Kenneth Dixon back to the fold this season. I like Dixon’s ability, but I doubt he’ll be thrust back into a lead role anytime soon, so that should keep Alex Collins as the lead back and Javorius Allen as the third-down back, even though the Ravens often subvert those roles in this offense. Dixon will likely push Allen for work before he would Collins. That pushes Collins into a good role, especially as the Ravens should continue to be a run-focused team. Collins can catch the ball, but I don’t think they will make that a priority with Dixon and Allen there. That pushes me to prioritize him more in standard leagues than PPR, but much will depend on ADP as usual.
Post-Draft Update
The Ravens picked a tight end, Hayden Hurst, in Round 1 and then went after yet another tight end in Round 3 with Mark Andrews. I wonder why Ozzie Newsome would like tight ends so much? Oh, right. Both of these tight ends are offensive skill players and will hurt each other’s numbers if they can be the No. 1 and 2 tight ends on the team. Rookie tight ends and fantasy rarely work out but two on the same team makes it even tougher.
Baltimore also traded back into the first round to grab Lamar Jackson. Jackson is a play-maker, while Joe Flacco is a statue. Jackson is the franchise’s future and has the tools to be a fantasy star with rushing and passing numbers combined. He’ll be high in my rookie quarterback rankings this year, and if Flacco falters, I think we see will Jackson make some noise.
Despite Alex Collins and Kenneth Dixon as their best two running backs, the Ravens didn’t draft a running back this year. That is good news for both Collins and Dixon, but Collins should benefit the most as the lead back.
Before the 2018 NFL Draft, Baltimore acquired Willie Snead from the Saints, adding to Michael Crabtree and John Brown, so there’s a good chance we see all new receivers on the field this season. The Ravens did draft two wide receivers on Day 3, Jaleel Scott and Jordan Lasley, but both will have an uphill battle to make an impact this season. I like Scott’s upside and prefer him in dynasty leagues.
2018 Fantasy Outlook:
Stud: None
Solid: Michael Crabtree, Alex Collins
Sleeper: Kenneth Dixon, Lamar Jackson
For more recommendations, check out WalterFootball.com’s Fantasy Football Rankings.
More 2018 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 8/21 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 9/1 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/30 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/27 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/23 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/22 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/16 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/9 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/2 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/1 (Chet)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 7/26 (Walt)
Fantasy Football 2-QB Dynasty Draft - 5/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Articles:
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: OTAs, Training Camp - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Busts - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Mid-Round Values - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Notes - 8/31 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Quarterback Preseason Targets Tracker - 8/30 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football D/ST Drafting - 8/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Running Backs - 8/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/15 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Quarterbacks - 8/15 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Target - 8/9 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football - PPR Draft Strategy: Rounds 1 and 2 - 7/27 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Doug Baldwin's Value - 7/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Chris Hogan's Value - 7/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Alvin Kamara's Value - 7/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Tight Ends - 7/11 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Wide Receivers - 7/6 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Running Backs - 7/5 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Quarterbacks - 7/4 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends Better Than ADP - 6/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers Better Than ADP - 6/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Target Shares - 6/22 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Points Per Game - 6/13 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 6/2
2018 Fantasy Football Value Players - 5/25 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Quarterback Look-Back - 1/28 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Running Backs with the Most Carries - 1/28 (Walt)
NFL Picks - Nov. 17
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 13
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 12
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
