Dynasty Capsule: Baltimore Ravens
Every year we give our premium content members a team-by-team, player-by-player look at the NFL season that was. The coverage will be in-depth, but because the Dynasty Capsule series begins immediately after the regular season, we won’t use it to discuss free agency or the draft. Come see us in early May once Mr. Irrelevant is off the board for another 32-article series giving you the same detailed discussion you’ll see below.
Buckle up dynasty fans, because you’re about to be reminded why our motto is, “There is no off-season.”
Quarterback
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Flacco finished the regular season ranking seventh in the NFL with 4,317 yards passing and eighteenth with 20 touchdown passes. He managed to average 21.47 fantasy points per game while obtaining QB1 status in seven games this season. By signing a three year, $66.4 million extension in March of 2016, Flacco is set to bet under contract with the Ravens through 2021.
He currently ranks 25th amongst quarterbacks with a 211.25 ADP, making him the perfect target for owners who like to implement the late round quarterback strategy in startup drafts. Longevity isn’t going to be an issue, as he turns 32 in January and will have a good five or more years before he even thinks about retiring. His steady production and his price point make him one of the better buys on the market.
He’s going to hit free agency in the off-season unless the Ravens decide to re-sign him. For dynasty, there really isn’t anything to see here, because Mallett is a journeyman backup quarterback and should remain on the waiver wire.
He will more than likely be best known as a practice squad lifer after bouncing round Dallas, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and now Baltimore. It will take rare circumstances for him to ever be fantasy-relevant.
Running back
West was a pleasant surprise this season, rushing for 774-yards and five touchdowns. He had six games with ten or more PPR fantasy points while averaging 10.78 points per game. The 25-year-old running back is set to be a free agent in the upcoming off-season, and the team that picks him up in free agency will dictate his dynasty value.
His 163.00 ADP make him not a hot commodity amongst dynasty owners, mostly due to only having a limited sample size of productivity. He must land with a team that will give him an opportunity for meaningful touches for him to stay fantasy relevant. Getting resigned with the Ravens might be the best situation for him because he’s familiar with the team, facilities and the offense. Avoid investing any serious capital to obtain him in trades because his future is uncertain.
Dixon was considered one of the top running back prospects in last year’s draft, which is one of the main reasons why the Ravens selected in the fourth round. Injuries started his rookie season on the wrong foot, meaning he only rush for 382 yards and two touchdowns. However even with a limited workload, Dixon caught 30-receptions with eight of them coming against the New England Patriots in week 14. The Ravens are going to give him every opportunity to succeed during training camp due to the capital they spent to obtain him.
His ADP of 81.25 currently has him ranked as the 23rd back in dynasty, but his uneventful rookie campaign could allow him to come at a more palatable price via trade. He’s a talented back who has the size to run in between the tackles and can catch the ball out of the backfield, which are both indicators that he’s capable at becoming a three down back. Rookie fever is going to set in, causing a lot of current players to take a small hit in value, if you were wanting Dixon in your rookie drafts last year, then this off-season might be the time to attempt a trade to acquire him at a discount.
A change of scenery might be best for Allen since he was listed as a healthy scratch multiple times last season. It’s apparent that he’s not one of the coaching staff’s favorite players and will have an uphill battle to climb during training camp. He’s borderline not draftable in startup drafts and he should be considered waiver wire fodder in shallow leagues but in deeper leagues he can still be utilized as an end-of-bench stash.
Injuries have derailed his career, causing him to receive only fourteen carries over the past two seasons. It’s almost safe to say his tenure as a Raven is in jeopardy. He has the size and power to make an impact for an NFL franchise, but the window is starting to close on being a viable fantasy option. He should be left on the waiver wire.
Stephen Houston
Houston’s eighty-eighth percentile SPARQ score makes him an interesting prospect. He was signed to a futures deal at the end of the season, which might be enough to give him a chance to latch onto the roster during the offseason. Monitor his status going forward because he has elite athleticism and that could be enough to allow him to crack an NFL roster.
Wide Receiver
Wallace caught 72 receptions for 1,017 yards and four touchdowns with two games of over 100-yards receiving. He finished the season ranked 21st amongst wide receivers with 205.80 fantasy points while averaging 12.86 fantasy points per game. The Ravens signed Wallace to a two year $11.5 million-dollar deal in March of 2016 that will have him under contract through the 2017 season. His hour glass is starting to run out of sand for his NFL career as he turns 31 years old in August.
He currently has a 147.25 ADP which ranks him 71st amongst wide receivers, making him a less than sought after asset. None of the other wide receivers on the roster could step up and take ownership of a large market share of the passing offense, leaving a lot of opportunities open for Wallace going forward. Price point versus potential fantasy production is the most appealing aspect to Wallace, because he can be acquired for a mid to late round rookie pick. You have nothing to lose when a player’s price tag is dirt cheap.
The Ravens drafted Perriman in the first round (26th overall) in the 2015 draft to eventually be the team’s number one wide receiver. After a lost rookie season due to a knee injury, Perriman finished his sophomore season catching 33 receptions for 499 yards and three touchdowns. He managed to catch 50 percent of his targets while owning a 11.49 percent market share of the teams passing offense. His initial rookie contract will have him singed with the team through 2018.
Perriman ranks 46th amongst wide receivers with an 85.00 ADP, making a seventh-round pick in startup drafts. Like last year, he’s going to be nominated as a breakout candidate due to his athleticism and draft pedigree. He has the potential to become one of the top wide receivers in the league but he also has the potential to finish his career as a total bust. His price tag has dissipated to a mid-late second round rookie pick, making him more affordable compared to years past.
The Ravens drafted Moore in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. He had a quiet rookie campaign, catching just seven receptions for 16 yards. Steve Smith’s retirement should generate some opportunities within the offense next season and Moore could benefit from the extra targets if he can crack the starting lineup next year. He is worth stashing at the end of your bench just to see if he can carve a role in Baltimore’s offense.
Despite a successful 2015 season, Aiken’s production drastically dropped to just 29 receptions for 328 yards and one touchdown. He will be a free agent next year and his fantasy value will be dependent on whether he gets picked up by a team that will utilize his talents.
The Ravens cut ties with Campanaro with an injury settlement in September and later resigned him back on the team in November where he was used sparingly as a returner during the last month of the season. Projected as a free agent going into 2017, Campanaro’s dynasty value and future is dependent on what team decides to sign him in the off-season. Right now, it appears he will be trying to claw his way onto an NFL roster come training camp.
The former Nebraska Corn Husker was signed to the Ravens practice squad in October. Bell was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. He suffered a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the entire 2015 season. Keep an eye on him during training camp because he’s talented enough to make the 53-man roster and make an impact for the Ravens.
Tight End
This was his first fantasy relevant season since 2012, catching 86 receptions for 729 yards and two touchdowns. He will always be a major injury risk, but his compelling comeback story is remarkable. His price tag in dynasty is relatively cheap, making him a solid asset to patch up any holes on your roster.
Williams missed the 2016 season due to a knee injury that needed surgery, causing the Ravens to place him on injured reserve. It usually takes a few years for tight ends to develop, but his situation is starting to get a little bit dicey, and depending on league size he’s either an end-of-bench stash with a lot of upside or a player that needs to be left on the waiver wire.
The crafty veteran was placed on IR after tearing his Achilles during the preseason. He is signed with the team through 2017 and he should compete for a roster spot in the offseason if he’s healthy. With his prominent years behind him, age is not on his side as he’s 36 years old with retirement destined in his near future.
A season riddled with injuries caused him to finish the year catching eight receptions for 71 yards and one touchdown. He currently has next to no value in dynasty and his value is reliant on the health of Dennis Pitta because there’s not enough volume within the offense to sustain fantasy relevancy for another tight end in Baltimore’s offense.
The Ravens drafted Waller in the sixth round of the 2015 draft and his combination of size and speed makes him a very interesting prospect. He was sprinkled into the offensive game plan this season out of necessity due to a plague of injuries that struck Baltimore’s group of tight ends. His name should be etched into your watch list due to his athleticism alone.
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