Fantasy Matchup: Ravens at Packers

Most fantasy football leagues begin their playoffs in week 14.  Therefore, the Monday Night Football matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers could decide your fate as the last game to be played in week 13.

Here are my projections, per position, for the offensive skill players for tomorrow night’s game:

QUARTERBACKS:

Joe Flacco, Ravens: In the six games before the bye, Flacco posted 13 fantasy points or more in five games.  Since the bye, Flacco has one game with 13 fantasy points in his five games.  Even without Al Harris in the Green Bay secondary, I wouldn’t expect Flacco to post huge fantasy numbers in Green Bay this week.

- Projection: 200 yards, 1 TD

Aaron Rodgers, Packers: Rodgers has quietly put up very impressive fantasy numbers.  Perhaps it’s the trio involved in MVP talk (Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Brett Favre) that overshadows what Rodgers has done.  But he ranks fourth in the NFL in passing yards (3186) and fourth in passing touchdowns (22).  Meanwhile, he has thrown only five interceptions.  Surprisingly, the Ravens have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks over the past five weeks.  That said, you can safely expect a productive day for Rodgers.

- Projection: 275 yards, 2 TDs

RUNNING BACKS:

Ray Rice, Ravens: In general, what’s not to like about Ray Rice?  With the exception of week 2 against San Diego, Rice has had double-digit fantasy points every single week.  Although the Packers have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs and only two rushing TDs this season, Rice is arguably the most versatile RB in the league.  He has 1403 combined rushing and receiving yards on the year and he leads NFL RBs in receptions (61) and receiving yards (582).

- Projection: 75 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards, 1 TD

Ryan Grant, Packers: Earlier in the week, I listed Grant in my Week 13 RB Sit’em column.  While Grant has had a solid (not spectacular) season so far, here is what he has done when facing a defense that ranks in the top 10 in fewest fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs: CIN (10 points), MIN (10 points), MIN (5 points) and DAL (7 points).  That’s an average of eight fantasy points per game and a high of 10 fantasy points.

- Projection: 75 rushing yards, 15 receiving yards, no TDs

WIDE RECEIVERS:

Derrick Mason, Ravens: Green Bay’s Charles Woodson is an elite cornerback, but Mason is probably the best route-runner in the league.  Considering how often Flacco targets Mason, I would expect him to be productive as a third WR or flex option this week.  In the past two games, Mason has 16 receptions for 204 yards and one touchdown.

- Projection: 6 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD

Mark Clayton, Ravens: Clayton is coming off his best game of the season (seven receptions for 129 yards).  Unfortunately, the game after a big performance usually isn’t pretty.  In fact, here are his receiving yardage totals in his eight games following 100 yards: 24, 17, 89, 42, 26, 9, 19 and 77.

- Projection: 3 receptions, 40 yards, 0 TD

Greg Jennings, Packers: Jennings has been disappointing this season if you compare his lofty draft status to that of teammate Donald Driver.  On the season, Jennings has 47 receptions for 722 yards and three scores.  Jennings has reached double-digit fantasy points in only four of his 11 games this season.

- Projection: 5 receptions, 75 yards, 0 TD

Donald Driver, Packers: For fantasy owners, Driver has been a bargain.  He was likely drafted at least five rounds lower than Jennings yet he has six more receptions, 123 more receiving yards and two more receiving TDs than Jennings has.  And he has been more consistent than Jennings with six double-digit fantasy performances.

- Projection: 6 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD

James Jones, Packers: Since the Packers’ bye, Jones has caught four touchdown passes in seven games.  In the past four games, Jones has 15 receptions and no fewer than three in a game.  His role within the offense continues to expand.

- Projection: 4 receptions, 40 yards, 1 TD

TIGHT ENDS:

Todd Heap, Ravens: Heap started the season off closer to the old (and by old, I mean younger) Todd Heap.  In the first six games before the bye, he had 24 receptions for 262 yards and two TDs.  In the five games since the bye, Heap has only 13 receptions for 108 yards and no TDs.  Fortunately for Heap, the Packers allow the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

- Projection: 3 receptions, 40 yards, 0 TD

Jermichael Finley, Packers: Before suffering an injury that caused him to miss three games, Finley looked poised to break out.  He had 11 receptions for 182 yards and a TD in his two games before the injury.  Since returning from injury, Finley has 10 catches for 79 yards.  Baltimore has allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season, but Finley is an up-and-comer at the position.

- Projection: 5 receptions, 50 yards, 0 TD

Good luck to all.

Tags: Aaron Rodgers, Derrick Mason, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jermichael Finley, Joe Flacco, Mark Clayton, Ray Rice, Ryan Grant, Todd Heap