One of the keys to winning in Fantasy Football is simple: identify the best offenses in the NFL and get players from those teams on your roster. Identifying an offense and players to invest in for the upcoming season seems easy, but there’s more to it. We must look in-depth at the roster, play-calling scheme, offensive philosophy, team context, and more. That’s why we are bringing you this Fantasy Focus series for 2022. We are going through all 32 teams in detail to help you find the right players to invest in so you can win your league.
Spoiler alert: the 2022 Baltimore Ravens are an offense with league-winning potential. I’ve spent a lot of time writing about the Ravens because I believe in the team so much. From top to bottom, this roster is loaded with talent. Let’s go position by position and look at player values and predictions for this season.
Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson
The fact that @Lj_era8 is even on this list is sad.
— PPRFantasyTips (@PPRFantasyTips) April 10, 2022
Accomplishments:
• 1x NFL MVP
• 1x 1st-team All-Pro
• 2x Pro Bowl
• 19’ Passing TDs Leader
• Most single season rushing yards by a QB (1,206)
• Most W’s by a QB under the age of 25 (35)#Ravens #LamarJackson #NFL pic.twitter.com/onrnsimzc6
I’ve come across many Jackson stats that said “First player in NFL history” or “No other player in NFL history.” He is exceptional and poised for a very special season. Jackson missed five games in 2021 due to injury but still finished as QB16 in PPR, averaging 20 FPTS/G (Tied for 8th among QBs). His current ADP on Sleeper is 5.8, and he’s going as the QB4 in drafts. I recently wrote about Jackson and why I think he will finish as a top five or even top three quarterback this season.
Honestly, there’s nowhere to go but up for Jackson and the Ravens. The team dealt with a ton of injuries last season. They finished 8-9 on a six-game losing streak and missed the playoffs. The Ravens have done an excellent job this offseason with their roster construction and are likely to bounce back in a big way from a rough 2021. Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman is going into his fourth year with the team. He has created his offense around the unique talents of Jackson from the start. Building on their chemistry will only lead to good things in the future.
If you already have Jackson on your roster, buckle up for a great ride. I would not be looking to sell in Dynasty now unless I received an enticing offer and had a good backup plan at quarterback. There’s still a chance you can buy Jackson stock if a manager in your league isn’t as much of a believer in him coming off a tough season. I wouldn’t hesitate to offer a first-round pick as part of the deal to get Lamar, especially if you’re a contending roster.
Tyler Huntley
Tyler Huntley took advantage of the opportunities he had to fill in for Lamar Jackson last season. He played in seven games and started four, throwing for 1,081 yards and three touchdowns with a 64.9% completion percentage. He also rushed for 294 yards and two touchdowns. Huntley is going into his third season and has shown he can carry this Ravens offense. He’s one of the true quarterback handcuffs. He’s best left on the waiver wire unless you roster Jackson, but keep an eye on him.
Running Backs
J.K. Dobbins
Ravens fans and fantasy managers everywhere were thrilled when Dobbins was activated off the PUP list a couple of weeks ago. After missing the entirety of last season with a torn ACL, Adam Schefter reported that Dobbins is currently on track to play week one. Dobbins should be the centerpiece of the famous Ravens rushing attack. That puts him in a position to build on an impressive rookie season in 2020 and make a big splash.
Before tearing his ACL, Dobbins played in 15 games his rookie year and rushed for 805 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had 18 receptions on 24 targets and averaged 11.2 FPTS/G. The talent has always been there; we just haven’t seen it recently. His Sleeper ADP is 65.7 (RB23), but I wouldn’t be shocked if he outperforms it in a big way. Dobbins is a buy in Dynasty, as this is your best chance to acquire him for the foreseeable future. I would think about offering a package involving a veteran running back and draft capital. He’s worth the investment.
Mike Davis/Gus Edwards/Justice Hill/Tyler Badie
The Ravens’ backfield was a mess in 2021, leaving us guessing heading into 2022. Gus Edwards also missed last season with a torn ACL, and Justice Hill sat out with an Achilles tear. Edwards figures to be the number two back when healthy, but it’s looking like he will miss the early part of the season. Mike Davis is the current backup, but I think anything is possible for how the workload gets divided behind Dobbins. For Dynasty, the player I’m keeping an eye on is the 2022 sixth-round pick, Tyler Badie. He’s worth a stash on your Taxi Squad.
Wide Receivers
Rashod Bateman
Bateman has been beloved by many fantasy analysts since he entered the league last season. He only played in twelve games and started four, but he made the most of the opportunities he got, and the talent was clear. The Ravens thought so, too, since they traded away Hollywood Brown and made Bateman the featured wide receiver in 2022. Bateman will look to build on his 46 receptions, 67 targets, 515 receiving yards, and one touchdown in 2021.
His current ADP on Sleeper is 83.8 (WR29), and he is in a great position to outperform that. Mike Johrendt recently wrote about the possibility of Bateman finishing as a top 20 wide receiver. There’s a lot of justified hype on Bateman going into this season, so he will be tough to acquire in Dynasty at a good value. You could argue he’s a sell high because of the hype, but I would hold for now if he’s on your roster. He still has a lot to prove, but there’s a good chance Bateman will be a fantasy star for years.
Devin Duvernay/James Proche II
While Devin Duvernay is listed on the depth chart as the WR2 behind Bateman, he’s in a real competition for targets. Fellow third-year receiver James Proche II has been impressive during training camp. This feels similar to the running back situation in that there’s no clear target share breakdown behind Bateman yet. While the Ravens have improved in the passing game, it’s hard to say how many targets will be available. The offense is still run first, and we can’t forget that Mark Andrews is the WR1 of this team. I don’t mind stashing Duvernay and Proche II on my bench to see what happens, but temper expectations.
Tight Ends
Mark Andrews
It’s ridiculous how good Andrews was in 2021. He finished with 107 receptions on 154 targets for 1,361 yards and nine touchdowns. He also averaged 17.7 FPTS/G and was the overall TE1 in PPR, unseating Travis Kelce’s five-year reign. His current Sleeper ADP is 20.8 (TE2); this one is simple, he will finish as the TE1 again in 2022. He’s only going into his fifth season, so he is a big-time Dynasty asset. To have consistency at the tight end position is so rare and essential; I wouldn’t try to sell him if he’s on your roster. Stay tuned for my upcoming in-depth article on Andrews.
Isaiah Likely
Rookie fourth Round pick Isaiah Likely is a very intriguing asset in Dynasty. All reports out of training camp so far have been positive. Rookie tight ends don’t typically make an immediate impact, especially ones who play behind the league’s TE1. Still, I would personally draft Likely in my Rookie Drafts and stash him on my Taxi Squad without hesitation. This kid could become something special.
Conclusion
If you build your team around the core pieces of this Baltimore Ravens offense going into 2022, I think you have a legitimate shot at your league’s championship. Jackson, Dobbins, Bateman, and Andrews are studs and absolutely worth getting on your roster. The Ravens are locked in and ready to put an electric product on the field. They will undoubtedly be an entertaining team to watch. Not only is this an offense you want to invest in for this season, but I think it’s a Dynasty investment that will keep you in contention for at least a few years. Good luck this season!
*All stats from Fantasy Data unless otherwise noted
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