Monday Night Football Preview
Ravens -3 at Browns I Over/Under 46
This week we get a divisional showdown between the Ravens and the Browns on Monday Night Football. This is a big game for both teams as the Browns are coming in red hot and winners of four in a row while the Ravens have lost two of their last three. The Ravens will look to regain their winning form against the Browns as they try to keep their playoff hopes alive. All spread and salary information is from DraftKings.
HOW THE RAVENS WIN
This is a game the Ravens need to win if they plan to make a playoff push here. They are currently behind the Browns in the standings and have lost two of their last three games. They are getting some pieces back this week after the COVID outbreak they were dealing with. Lamar Jackson needs to prove that he’s the leader of this team, and put them on his back and get them to the finish line. The Browns are weak against the pass, which should be exploited by the Raven’s.
HOW THE BROWNS WIN
Somehow the Browns are 9-3 and come into this one red hot and playing some of their best football of the year. They have done what NFL teams are supposed to do, beat the bad teams. This Ravens team is no pushover; they are getting healthier and will challenge Baker Mayfield. The Ravens know how erratic he can be and will aim to make him as uncomfortable as they can. Defensively they need to contain Lamar Jackson, who is capable of extending plays with his legs.
QUARTERBACK
Lamar Jackson ($11,800)
This could be the game Jackson gets his first 300-yard passing performance of the year. The Browns allow 273 passing yards per game and have allowed 211 rushing yards to quarterbacks on the year. Jackson has touchdowns in all but one game this year and has six games with multiple touchdown tosses. Jackson is matchup proof at this stage in his young career, but this is a game where he has a solid floor and should be able to exploit this Browns defense.
Baker Mayfield ($10,000)
It was only a few weeks ago after a three-game stretch where he had 205 yards or less and no touchdowns Browns fans had seen enough of Baker Mayfield. He hasn’t been great and has had his struggles, but seems to be putting it together the last two weeks. He’s got six touchdowns and 592 passing yards in his previous two games with no interceptions. The Ravens allow 241 passing yards per game and have given up only seven passing touchdowns on the year. Things will be tough for Baker this week, but he’s been on a roll lately, and if he can stay calm under pressure, he can succeed in this matchup.
RUNNING BACKS
JK Dobbins ($8,200), Gus Edwards ($5,200)
The Ravens have used several combinations at running back this year, but these are the two we will focus on. Dobbins led the team in touches and snaps last game, with Gus Edwards finishing a close second. The Browns have been good against the run this year, allowing only 82 rushing yards per game and surrendering just nine touchdowns on the year. It’s tough to find running room against this Browns team, but with the dynamic playmakers the Ravens have in the passing game, it could open some things up for them.
Nick Chubb ($10,200), Kareem Hunt ($7,200)
Nick Chubb’s return has hurt Kareem Hunt’s value, who is nothing more than a FLEX play at this time. The Ravens allow just 90 rushing yards per game and have given up only four scores on the year. Chubb has been excellent since returning from his knee injury and should still see plenty of action in this one. The Browns want to run the ball, and they do it well; no matter what the numbers in this matchup, Chubb always has RB1 upside.
WIDE RECEIVER
Jarvis Landry ($9,400), Rashard Higgins ($6,200)
The only steady receiver on this team since Odell Beckham went down in Jarvis Landry. In the past two games, he’s seen 21 targets, grabbed 16 balls for 205 yards with two scores. Unfortunately, those two games were against the Jaguars and Titans. On the other hand, Higgins saw a season-high nine targets against the Titans, but don’t expect that to continue into this week. Things won’t be as easy this week against the Ravens, who allow 156 receiving yards and have given up only eight scores on the year. Landry is a solid play on volume alone and will be featured if the Browns need to mount a comeback.
Marquise Brown ($7,400), Devin Duvernay ($1,600), Miles Boykin ($2,200)
Marquise Brown has heated up just in time for the fantasy playoffs. He’s got touchdowns now in back-to-back games and gets another plus matchup this week against the Browns. They allow 180 receiving yards per game and have given up 15 touchdowns on the year, and have had their struggles this year. Miles Boykin should be back in the mix now that Dez Bryant has been placed on COVID reserve. Devin Duvernay isn’t involved enough to make any impact.
TIGHT END
Austin Hooper ($5,400)
The Browns are a run-first team, with good receivers on the outside, and Hooper just isn’t involved in this offense enough. Hooper has only two targets in each of his last two games. The Ravens allow 51 yards per game to the position, but the Browns can’t be trusted to include Hooper in the plans.
Mark Andrews ($8,800)
Mark Andrews came off the COVID reserve list on Wednesday, making him eligible to play in this game. Andrews is arguably one of the top tight ends in the league and is very involved in this offense. He’s averaging six targets a game and has six touchdowns on the year. The Browns are a tight end friendly matchup for Andrews as they’ve allowed 689 yards and nine scores on the year. Andrews is in a plus matchup this week as he makes his return.
PICK
Ravens -3 I Under 46
LINEUP
- Marquise Brown-Captain
- Gus Edwards
- Miles Boykin
- Lamar Jackson
- Nick Chubb
- Jarvis Landry
