Ravens 2025 Draft Class Review

Posted on by chrisaguilera1

Malaki Starks 6’1ft 197lbs (Round 1 Pick 27)

  • 3 time all american & started at Georgia from day 1. Tremendous communicator on the field. Constantly talking & lining his guys up on the field
  • Played more of the true center fielder role his first two years at Georgia & in his
    final season was asked to do more work at the LOS & man up in the slot.
  • Very smooth & loose mover on the field making his ability to flip his hip effortless.
  • Fantastic instincts & ball hawking skills to make big time plays.
  • Will sometimes get fooled with eye candy the offense shows him causing him to be
    out of position.
  • Can play man but when asked to play man against WRs in the slot, he was susceptible
    to being a tick behind after getting hit with the WRs release move.
  • As a tackler he isn’t going to be an enforcer or really lay the boom but he isn’t shy to make
    contact or run the alley
  • Has to do a better job of tacking more advantages angles when in pursuit

Malaki Starks Outlook:

On the surface, the Starks pick looks redundant but when you take a closer look at what he brings to the table, it’s more than just another Safety. The addition of Starks allows the Ravens to bring Hamilton down into the box & move him all around the defense like a Queen on a chess board, similar to how he was in 2023 when he was a defensive player of the year candidate. Couple that with Starks’ skill set to play the deep part of the field while also providing the versatility to be moved around as well. The addition of Starks gives the Ravens defense the ability to get back to being multiple and throw various looks at opposing Quarterbacks, hopefully leading to more turnovers for this secondary.

Mike Green 6’3ft 251lbs (Round 2 Pick 59)

  • Comes off the LOS like a bat out of hell and a relentless motor
  • Shows a good array of pass rush moves but is more in the jack of
    all trades master of none in that department right now
  • Has quick/active hands & has the ability to threaten OTs converting speed to power
  • Played against a lower level of competition but also flashed against Ohio st & Va Tech
  •  Has good linear athleticism but when having to change directions in space, he isnt an elite athlete and you see some stiffness in his hips. With that being said, I do see elite quick twitch in confined spaces
  • Doesn’t have many exposures to dropping back into coverage but when he was asked to,
    he didn’t look like a fish out of water in space
  • Lacks the ideal length of an EDGE rusher & it shows when engulfed by bigger offensive linemen

Mike Green Outlook:

This is not only a dream scenario for the Ravens but also one for Green who won’t be relied on to be the man right away. The team is in a great position to bring him on as a designated pass rusher & mainly focus on that role while learning the tricks of the trade throughout his rookie season. A luxury that players of Mike Green’s talent usually aren’t afforded but with Odafe Oweh & KVN being the projected starters, Green’s prime objective will be to terrorize Quaterbacks. Peaking into the future this pick also alleviates some of the burden of having 3 free agents (Oweh, KVN & David Ojabo) at the EDGE position.

Emory Jones 6’5ft 315lbs (Round 3 Pick 91)

  • 2022 Freshman All American & 2023 2nd Team All SEC
  • Came into LSU & has been immediate starter since day 1 at RT
  • Wears the number 50 to honor his dad’s old number who passed away in 2021
  • More of a power based player who looks to make contact first & use his
    aggressiveness
  • Plays with a nasty demeanor & let defenders know about it. Has an enthusiasm
    that brings energy & juice to the rest of his team
  • Does a fantastic job setting his butt down & showing off his ankle flexion
    when anchoring down against bullrushes
  • Very exaggerated with his kickslide which can sometimes put him at a
    disadvantage when defenders go inside & have him in recovery mode from
    the snap. Would like to see him get into his kick slide smoother & trust his
    athleticism more
  • Can be a bit of a wait bender instead of staying square and trusting his length
  • His technique breaks down when he’s in space & trying to recover
  • Space isn’t his friend & a move to guard would be beneficial & suit Jones’ skill set,
    maybe playing RT in a pinch.
  • Can be a bit frantic with movement, causing him to get unbalanced
  • Has to play with more discipline. Way too many self inflicted penalties on his tape

Emory Jones Outlook:

Coming into the 2024 season, Jones looked like a sure bet to be a 1st round tackle. After a rocky season, most pundits believe moving inside to Guard would be the best move for Jones. It was believed Jones would be in the mix to battle for a starting Guard position for the Ravens but John Harbaugh met with the media & revealed Jones is dealing with a Labrum injury that will sideline till maybe training camp. The severity of the injury isn’t known but this puts him behind the 8 ball coming into camp having to learn a new position. The hope would be he’s healthy enough to compete for a starting spot in 2025 but the longer term view with Jones is he’s the direct replacement for Daniel Faalele who is going into the last year of his deal.

Teddye Buchanan 6’2ft 233lbs (Round 4 Pick 129)

– Rare 3 time captain. (2 times at UC Davis & 1 in first & only season at Cal)
– Highly productive at UC Davis. Raked up over 200 tackles & 8ints during his time there and followed it up with 114 tackles (12tfls), 5 sacks, 2FF & 4 passes defended in his lone season at Cal
– Will read his keys & play with great patience/vision (almost like a runninback) before triggering downhill
– Very comfortable going backwards & playing in space. Has good feel for where
routes are developing behind him
– He isn’t very big but he brings some thump when taking on offensive linemen
– Plays with a constant but not reckless motor
– Was effective as a blitzer from his ILB position & also lined up on the edge on
occasion

Teddye Buchanan Outlook:
I view Buchanan as the Malik Harrison replacement. He doesn’t have the same level of thump as Harrison but his coverage and movement skills are well above Malik’s. A jack of all trades type but with a more modern twist in terms being able to play in space, something we saw teams take advantage of whenever Malik Harrison was on the field. Early on Buchanan will be relied on to be a special team ace for them but if Trenton Simpson’s struggles continue in 2025, Buchanan could see himself taking some of those snaps away if he can impress early on.

Carson Vinson 6’7ft 314lbs (Round 5 Pick 141)

  • The ultimate “I can fix him” guy in a coaches guy
  • Has all of the physical tools you want for the position
  • Isn’t a finnesse Tackle. He wants to win with power, impose his will against defenders & make
    sure they hear it with his fiery demeanor on the field
  • Lacks the refinement to his game at this point & will be a year or 2 away. The Alaric
    Jackson plan, if you will
  • Gradually got better throughout Senior Bowl practice & showed theres some untapped
    potential & growth to be had with him
  • Tends to over extend & get over his knees, causing him to get off balanced & being
    susceptible to rips & pulls
  • Will need time to get acclimated to the speed of the NFL & gain confidence to trust his
    own strength & athleticism
  • Has good strength in his hands but right now he’s like a power pitcher who throws 100mph
    but doesn’t have control of where his pitch is going. Needs to be more accurate with his
    hands

Carson Vinson Outlook:

Word to Greg Senat this is the first developmental true tackle the Ravens have drafted in almost a decade. Vinson is one to get excited about when you look at his size, movement skills & demeanor he likes to play with. Now he’s still a ways away but he’s a ball of clay for George Warhop ( who banged on the table for Vinson) to mold & develop. He’s probably a year or two from being game ready but the prospects of what he could be, should have fans excited to see how he develops & if he can be the heir apparent to Ronnie Stanley down the road.

Bilhal Kone 6’1ft 190lbs (Round 6 Pick 178)

  • Very active player in every sense. In coverage he doesn’t get laxed or lose track of
    of his man on extended plays
  • Very physical & active in run support. Will consistently chase plays down to the other side of the field and really relishes the physical side of the game even though he isn’t the biggest
  • Was always communicating with teammates pre snap & making sure assignments were understood
  • Shows good recovery speed when having to get vertical down the field
  • Shiftier WRs can give him some trouble when it comes to lateral movement. Can be
    a bit long legged out of his breaks

Bilhal Kone Outlook:

I didn’t know much about Kone when he was announced as the Ravens draft pick but when I watched his tape, he was an easy player to love. A guy who has good straight line speed and plays all out on every play (similar theme with the players in this 2025 class for the Ravens). You can tell by his play style he’ll settle in nicely on special teams & has the potential to develop into a contributor on the defensive side of the ball down the road. Now I don’t think he’ll ever be a shut down CB but getting a plus special teamer with the athletic traits to develop a role on defense in the 6th round is good business in my book.

Tyler Loop 5’11ft 191lbs (Round 6 Pick 186)

  • He’s a kicker
  • He looks like Doogie Howser
  • Thats all I got

Tyler Loop Outlook:

With the recent release of Justin Tucker, the message is clear. Make kicks and don’t skeet around town.

LaJohntay Wester 5’10ft 163lbs (Round 6 Pick 203)

  • Has posted over 700 receiving yards over the last 4 years (4 years at FAU & 1 season at Colorado)
  • Doesn’t have elite take the top off of a defense speed but it’s adequate enough to threaten slot CBS
  • Dynamic with the ball in his hands whether is end around, screens or drag routes
  • In 2020 was a conference Freshman All American as a Kick & Punt returner & in 2023 was the American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Year
  • Even with his small frame, he isn’t afraid to throw his body around & block for his teammates
  • With his lack of size & limited catch radius, he’ll be a slot only WR
  • Has to work on his hand and be more consistent catching the ball

LaJohntay Wester Outlook:

The Ravens have tried to address their punt returner for the last few years by throwing vets at the problem and no one has had sustained success. With Wester they’re banking on finally having a longer term/higher upside solution to the problem. With the vets in front of him, it’s tough see him getting much play on offense but if something were to happen to Zay, Wester’s skill set could be a “break in case of emergency” option instead of an Anthony Miller type.

Aeneas Peebles 6’1ft 282lbs (Round 6 Pick 210)

  • Comes from a family with a rich history is sports. His mother Gia Wilkerson-Peebles was a standout softball player at California State University Long Beach and the first black female player in the school’s history. His father, William played on the App St defensive line & earned All American honors. His grand father is Doug Wilkerson, former offensive lineman who is a member of the Chargers Hall Of Fame.
  • Has explosiveness in his game when coming off of the ball
  • Doesn’t have the desired measurables for the position but shows a high level understanding of leverage & body positioning to help him compensate for his physical limitations
  • Holds up better against the run better than his his lack of size would lead you to believe but at 282, he is susceptible to being overwhelmed on double teams
  • A natural pass rusher who uses an aray of moves & tenacity to get after the QB
  • Plays with a non stop motor & relentlessness (drink)
  • Violent & explosive when disengaging with offensive linemen

Aeneas Peebles Outlook:

Peebles has an uphill battle as a physical outlier but the skillful interior pass rusher has a good chance to not only make the team but also have a spot on the Ravens thin defensive line rotation. I expect the Ravens to add another vet at some point but outside of Justin Madubuike & Travis Jones, the Ravens greatly lack an interior pass rushing threat who can spell those two & provide some pass rush upside. Peebles has a great chance to earn a role early on, the question with him is whether is size limitations will be too much to overcome in the NFL.

Robert Longerbeam 5’11ft 175lbs (Round 6 Pick 212)

  • Team captain. 31 starts & a 2 time honorable All Big10 mention
  • Jitterbug type of athlete with plus recovery speed
  • Has the athletic ability & feet to mirror WRs throughout their routes
  • Scrappy player & will battle throughout the catch point
  • Lined up on the inside and outside for Rutgers but will most likely be lined up in the slot in the NFL
  • He has the WANT to be a physical player but he has to get stronger. At this point he doesn’t possess NFL caliber strength while hand fighting throughout a route or trying to get off of blocks

Robert Longerbeam Outlook:

Athletically Longerbeam has the tools to hang in the slot but his physical limitations could be what holds him back. I’m a fan of the mentality he approaches the game with but his lack of strength & ability to be as physical as he wants to be is below the NFL threshold, so much so that I find it’ll be difficult for him to stick on the roster. Hopefully i’m wrong about that projection but I believe a practice squad spot to give him time to get stronger would be my prediction for him in the 2025 season.

Garrett Dellinger 6’4ft 320lbs (Round 7 Pick 243)

Accidentally mixed in some Emory Jones plays in here. Sorry, im dumb.
  • Comes from a family of athletes. His dad played basketball at Cleveland State,
    his mom played basketball at Towson State, his brother Matt was an all-conference
    LB at Kent State and his sister played volleyball at Western Kentucky and Oakland
    University
  • Shows fluid movement skills for his size when asked to pull or getting up to the 2nd
    level. Posted a 9.76 RAS
  • Isn’t a people mover but he has a good understanding of leverage, angles & body
    positioning to create subtle movement of defenders in order to open creases in the
    run game
  • Has trust in his athletic ability, giving him the confidence to plays under control
    & with good balance in pass pro
  • Arm length is below average & it shows up on tape with longer defenders who can
    bench press him out
  • Has a laundry list of injuries. Missed final 4 games of the LSU season because he
    had an injury to his ankle that required tight rope surgery. Missed games because
    of a broken hand, MCL sprain & shoulder surgery during his time at LSU. Also tore
    both of his Labrums while he was in high school requiring multiple surgeries.
  • Was able to participate in the senior bowl & the LSU Pro Day

Garrett Dellinger Outlook:

Usually when an offensive lineman is taken in the 7th round i’m expecting a slow footed sack of shit who isn’t anywhere near being close to playing but I truly am excited and believe the Ravens may have found a good one here. The draft capital doesn’t match what I saw on tape or the pedigree of having 30 starts on the LSU offensive line over the last 4 years. It’s obvious his medicals were a major red flag for him to fall this far in the draft but if he can stay healthy, maybe i’m off my hinges, I see a player who can develop into an eventual starter along the same lines of Bradley Bozeman & Ben Powers.

Nash Hutmacher 6’3ft 314lbs (Undrafted)

  • A stout dirty work nose tackle type
  • A South Dakota 4 time state wrestling champion and 2 time state champion shot put and discus in HS
  • Very good understanding of leverage & body positioning initially in his rep but he has to do
    a better job of maintining that leverage & not bring his pad level up
  • At this point he isn’t a technichian. He’s mostly relying on strentgh, athleticsim & tenacity
  • Not overly explosive but possesses some light feet to move well laterally for a big man
  • His lack of length shows up when he goes against linemen who can use their length to keep
    him at bay

Nash Hutmacher Outlook:

I had to get my nephew Nash in here. Many thought thought the Ravens would draft a big body run stuffer to help replace Michael Pierce but surprisingly the Ravens never selected anyone with any of there 57 draft picks they had this year. The Ravens have a history of being able to find these diamond in the rough interior dlinemen with the aforementioned Michael Pierce, Ma’ake Kemoeatu & Marques Douglas. As a camp invite it’ll be a steep hill for him to climb but the raw traits he has and dire need for bodies at the position could be the perfect storm for him to earn a spot on the practice squad or claw his way to the 53.

Week 17 DraftKings lineup

Posted on by Michael Crawford

By Carey Stevenson

QB: Matthew Stafford at New York (Giants) DraftKings salary: 6,600

RB: Devin Singletary at Houston DraftKings salary: 5,600

RB: Kyren Williams at New York (Giants) DraftKings salary: 8,300

WR: Deandre Hopkins at Houston DraftKings salary: 6,000

WR: Puka Nacua at New York (Giants) DraftKings salary: 7,900

WR: Darius Slayton vs. Los Angeles (Rams) DraftKings salary: 3,400

TE: Noah Fant vs. Pittsburgh DraftKings salary: 2,700

FLEX: Chris Olave at Tampa Bay DraftKings salary: 6,800

DST: Panthers D/ST at Jacksonville DraftKings salary: 2,700

Reasoning: The offenses to invest most in on this slate are pretty clear…49ers, Eagles and Rams. Of this trio, the group falling most under the radar is the Rams passing game…so here we are. With Demarcus Robinson playing essentially every snap and Tyler Higbee playing just enough to be a contrarian add on, there’s a couple different ways to try to play this to go solely thru Stafford’s arm, but the matchup is so good for Kyren and if anybody is going to have a true ceiling game on this team…Kyren is probably your first guess. His double digit target share in 7 games this season doesn’t rule out him and Stafford hooking up for a score. Puka’s higher aDot and target share versus the blitz gave him the coin flip edge over Cooper Kupp in this lineup but i’ll certainly be running variations of this with Kupp in instead. Darius Slayton is an cost effective runback whose ceiling is raised with vertical pusher, Tyrod Taylor taking over at QB.

I’m still trying to decide how much CJ Stroud i want to play this week but regardless where that lands, one of my favorite skinny stacks will be Devin Singletary or Nico Collins with Deandre Hopkins. Over the last 3 games, Singletary has taken back a decisive share of the RB carries and the offensive environment gets a huge boost with Stroud back under center. The matchup isn’t the road block it used to be as the Titans run defense has got from stout to just middling over the course of the season. Singletary is one of my favorite players on the slate, regardless of position. The last time we saw this Texans defense they were getting rocked by Amari Cooper for 265 yards receiving. Dhop isn’t what he was in Houston but he’s still a catch point maestro whose adept at finding the holes in zone. The hope here is that Stroud’s return creates ample scoring chances and forces Will Levis into “DHop down there somewhere” mode.

Another one of my favs this week is Chris Olave. No matter where he lines up on Sunday he’ll have an advantage but he spends 38% of his snaps in the slot, a spot that has been a cash machine versus this Bucs defense.

Fant as a TE play was one i kinda just stumbled into today during prep. He’s coming off season high’s in route participation the last 2 weeks and while he got blanked on the scoreboard versus a Titans defense that gives up the least amount of targets and DK points to TE’s…he get’s middling TE matchup versus the Steelers that could be softer with Pittsburgh having injuries down the spine of their defense as ILB Elandon Roberts and both safeties, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Trenton Thompson all slated to miss this game. The Steelers rush is still formidable & DK will have to tussle w/standout rookie Joey Porter Jr, factors that could funnel a couple more targets to Fant. This game is probably isn’t going to be all that fantasy friendly but at just $2,700 i could see him turning 5 or 6 targets into a useful score at low rostership.

The Panthers D/ST fell on their face last week but that won’t stop me from going back this week. Their pass defense remains very good but their run defense can’t hold water. It felt like Aaron Jones had 70 yards on the ground before Scott Hanson got comfortable in his chair on redzone. This week they get a backup QB and while Travis Etienne is very dangerous, his offensive line has been a danger to his rushing production. Etienne hasn’t crossed 80 yards rushing since week 5 and only has 2 such games all season. At just $2,700, the Panthers will come in handy with all these good expensive plays.

Week 16 DraftKings lineup

Posted on by Michael Crawford

By Carey Stevenson

QB: Nick Mullens vs. Detroit DraftKings salary: 5,300

RB: Devon Achane vs. Dallas DraftKings salary: 7,100

RB: Chuba Hubbard vs. Green Bay DraftKings salary: 5,700

WR: Jordan Addison vs. Detroit DraftKings salary: 6,000

WR: DK Metcalf at Tennessee DraftKings salary: 6,700

WR: Jameson Williams at Minnesota DraftKings salary: 3,700

TE: TJ Hockenson vs. Detroit DraftKings salary: 5,800

FLEX: DJ Moore vs. Arizona DraftKings salary: 6,900

DST: Panthers D/ST vs. Green Bay DraftKings salary: 2,400

Reasoning: If you told me before the season that i would be trotting out some of the QB plays that i have in recent weeks I’d tell that i lost my mind, but here we are. Injuries combined with the statistical underachieving of some of the top QBs has opened up more options into the “sure, why not?” territory. Nick Mullens falls squarely into the category and i love his surrounding’s this week. He’s playing for one of the better play callers in the NFL, has a very good group of weapons at his disposal, will be in a game that should be played at an elevated pace and has good odds to be the highest scoring game on the slate. Now because of the reasons i laid out, Mullens figures to be popular so my first risk taking step here is to stack him without Justin Jefferson. Jordan Addison’s big play ceiling combined with the likelihood that Hockenson falls under the radar with Trey McBride and David Njoku’s recent hot streaks gives me comfort that this combo won’t be landed on often. Jameson Williams is coming off a season high 72% of routes per fantasylife.com and makes for an obvious cheap attachment game.

I alluded to it on twitter earlier this week so i had to stay on brand and run my favorite skinny stack of the week here. Chuba Hubbard and Panthers D/ST just makes so much sense and fit so cozy in a lot of builds to save money and get different. The obvious concern here for Chuba is high end ceiling but he’s a price pivot to Ty Chandler, will get volume regardless how the game goes and has a good matchup versus a exploitable Packers run defense. And then we have an underpriced Carolina D/ST led by stud DC Ejiro Evero. Shout out to Jeff Haseley who pointed out that the Panthers have yet to allow a 300 yard passer this season, rank 3rd in total defense and pass defense and have held 8 QB’s below 200 yards passing. Now they have been vulnerable on the ground and we’ll need to reconcile that but an up and down Packers offense going on the road, likely without Christian Watson and Luke Musgrave and possibly without Jayden Reed and AJ Dillion doesn’t sound like one i need to be overly concerned with. Overall the hope is that by sprinkling the Panthers defense on like garnish, we get a few more carries from Chuba as the Panthers offense plays keep away, with one (fingers crossed) or more (hey, it is almost Christmas) of those carries landing in the end zone.

Before i prep for slates i try to compile a list of the highest ceiling plays at each position. After I’ve done my research i go back and try to poke holes in those players cases and see who makes it thru. Devon Achane made it thru and I’m shocked he hasn’t for more people. His opportunity has moved that far off of where it was when he was breaking fantasy pre injury. He still looks just as explosive, the Dolphins run rate has climbed and it’s no reason to think that won’t at least stabilize considering what happened to the Cowboys run defense last week and the presence of their monstrous pass rush. Achane can get it done on the ground or via the quick passing game with the health of the Dolphins offensive line being a concern. As we’ve seen with him, it doesn’t take 20 touches for him to get where he needs to and love landing on such a high ceiling at low rostership.

My first inclination with my last 2 spots was to find another skinny stack but i opted to just go with plays i liked the most. DK Metcalf and DJ Moore landed on that ceiling list with Devon Achane this week. Both have good matchups, target shares and the ability to put up a score that make them essential. While they both will be played i don’t think either reaches problematic levels of rostership.

Week 15 DraftKings lineup

Posted on by Michael Crawford

By Carey Stevenson

QB: Tommy DeVito at New Orleans DraftKings salary: 5,000

RB: Bijan Robinson at Carolina DraftKings salary: 6,800

RB: Kyren Williams vs. Washington DraftKings salary: 7,500

WR: Mike Evans at Green Bay DraftKings salary: 7,500

WR: Jayden Reed vs. Tampa Bay DraftKings salary: 4,900

WR: Deebo Samuel at Arizona DraftKings salary: 7,700

TE: Darren Waller at New Orleans DraftKings salary: 4,400

FLEX: Michael Wilson vs. San Francisco DraftKings salary: 3,300

DST: Jets D/ST at Miami DraftKings salary: 2,500

Reasoning: It’s hard to get really excited about many QB plays on this slate, and the few that you can? so is everybody else. I’ll be rocking with the field on Matthew Stafford and Brock Purdy but you didn’t come here to hear about the same ole guys everybody else is propping up, now did you?

In a week where none of us really want to commit to a 1 pm game, Giants-Saints intrigues me. A dome game where both offenses play at an elevated pace, Tommy DeVito has room to keep his feel good story going. This heavy man Saints defense has given up the 3rd most rushing yards to QBs, no doubt a welcome sight for Brian Daboll. Per Fantasylife.com, the “sneaky” (hehe) athletic DeVito has 18% and 14% of the Giants designed rush attempts over their last 2 games. On the passing side of things, the Saints are down 2 starters in the secondary and have middling at best pressure numbers. At just 5K and a rushing floor in the tuck, i like Devito’s chance of returning real value, with room for more if the environment permits. His stacking partner carries risk as well but the reward outweighs it. His health and playing time are a concerns but if they weren’t he’d be the best TE play on this slate. The last time we saw a full game from Darren Waller it was with Devito in a game where put up a 7-98-1 line on a 30% target share. He also represents a nice pivot on a popular 3,700 Wan’dale Robinson. A player who had a 9% target share in Waller’s last full game.

I like taking care of the onesies positions in a correlated way on the cheap, especially when i don’t feel like I’m full on punting. I’ll play with different run back variations once Chris Olave’s status is clear but for now it’s tough to pinpoint.

With my contrarian primary stack to start, i can afford to move without restrictions with my RB selections. Kyren Williams’ usage makes any non CMC back envious, and like CMC..makes him pretty matchup proof. Bijan Robinson on the other hand has maybe THE running back matchup as nobody has surrendered more TDs to the position…and with 3 carries inside the 5 yard line last week per Hayden Winks, Bijan looks to be in great position to take advantage.

The skinny stack of Mike Evans and Jayden Reed will be popular but for good reason. With Christian Watson doubtful to play (sigh), Reed will have no issue running enough routes to flirt with double digit targets. He also gets a slot matchup versus Tampa Bay that has been lucrative this season. Mike Evans had a quiet week last week because of the bracket coverage he received, making him an auto play for me if people are scared off a bit. The field has gotten a lot better at avoiding those kind of mistakes but he’ll certainly be less popular than he would if he put up 150 yards and 2 TDs. Anytime you can get a player in your lineup with his ceiling at discounted rostership. You take it.

My other skinny stack starts with a coin flip play. Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk will factor heavily in what I’m doing this week and i’ll likely have variations of this lineup with both guys but because I don’t have CMC or Purdy in this lineup…Deebo feels like the player that could theoretically take away from CMC on the ground and take away from Purdy in the air with his rushing upside. Michael Wilson is a cheap, correlated run back who put up a 7-76-2 line in the 1st matchup between these 2 teams. The 49ers may be without starting corner Charvarius Ward, a potential added boost in a game that where drop backs will probably trend up for Arizona facing this high powered 49ers offense.

Closing this one out with the Jets defense facing a super banged Dolphins offense. Nearly every starter along their offensive line is either out or has a chance to miss the game while the engine of their offense, Tyreek Hill is a true game time decision. Rookie phenom Devon Achane is also questionable. It’s a no brainer play if those main guys miss but even if they don’t, the Jets have an outstanding pass defense and held Tua Tagovailoa to 243 yards passing, 1 TD and 2 interceptions in their week 12 matchup. They will no doubt carry some popularity at their price but it may be muted a bit if Tyreek and Achane are in. Either way we’ve gotten different enough to afford it with our start.

Week 14 DraftKings Lineup

Posted on by Michael Crawford

By Carey Stevenson

QB: Lamar Jackson vs. Los Angeles (Rams) DraftKings salary: 7,700

RB: Christian McCaffrey vs. Seattle DraftKings salary: 9,200

RB: Zack Moss at Cincinnati DraftKings salary: 5,900

WR: Davante Adams vs. Minnesota DraftKings salary: 7,500

WR: Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Los Angeles (Rams) DraftKings salary: 3,800

WR: DJ Moore vs. Detroit DraftKings salary: 6,500

TE: Brycen Hopkins at Baltimore DraftKings salary: 2,500

FLEX: Jaxon Smith-Njigba at San Francisco DraftKings salary: 4,100

DST: Broncos DST vs. Los Angeles (Chargers) DraftKings salary: 2,800

Reasoning: Sounds like people are gravitating to Brock Purdy & Jake Browning (Not a typo), and if they decide to pay up they are more inclined to do so with Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes. Pivoting to a player with arguably a higher ceiling than any of them gives me a cozy contrarian start. While Rams DC Raheem Morris has done a masterful job raising this roster to middle, they aren’t a unit to fear and have one of the lower pressure rates in the league. They’ve also allowed the 5th most rushing attempts and 2nd most rushing attempts to QBs.

OBJ stands out as my favorite value this week. At only 3,800 he has a 40% target per route run rate in back to back games. The team already went out of their way once to get him a TD late in a blowout…i can’t imagine a game versus his former team not eliciting similar motivation. I gave thought to double stacking with inexpensive and probably popular TE Isaiah Likely, but with a strong run game and so many pass catchers involved it felt like a good opportunity to pivot and correlate at the same time. My thinking on how this plays out with Tyler Higbee doubtful is that Hunter Long will be used to block versus these Ravens pressure packages and Davis Allen will continue to see the lion share of work on special teams…leaving Brycen Hopkins to absorb a solid chunk of Tyler Higbee’s routes. At the minimum price I’ll gladly take my 4 catches for 40 yards and go…but more would be nice 🙂

I won’t be riding the Purdy wave this week to the same degree as everybody, maybe not even at all…but i will be getting to San Francisco plenty. There’s no better place to start than the engine of their offense in CMC. He’s matchup proof but the Seahawks giving up the 5th most DK points per game and 5th most RB receptions certainly makes me feel better. Running it back with JSN isn’t reinventing the wheel but Geno Smith’s pregame focus of getting the ball out quicker led to a season high 11 targets for Smith-Njigba. In a game where the 49ers will put up points and sport a fire pass rush since the Chase Young trade, JSN should at least get his compile on.

There is too much good content and information out there now for people to get scared off Zack Moss after last week’s down game. This may sound like hyperbole but his role is the envy of all his peers and the matchup is sweet as the Bengals defense has fallen off the wagon. Even with a price bump, Moss is still probably at least $1,000 too cheap.

Mike Evans and Ja’Marr Chase will draw more interest at this price point but Davante Adams is a pivot to get excited about. The Vikings have a legit good run defense and with their All-Pro WR Justin Jefferson returning, I think they’ll put up points on this Raiders defense. Even with Las Vegas’ run heavy ways since Josh McDaniels got the boot…Adams still has 40 targets in 4 games. We know Brian Flores is dreaming of the blitzes he’s going to dial up against a rookie signal caller and as the good folks over at one week season pointed out, Adams leads the league in target share versus the blitz.

Going right back to attacking the Chargers offense this week. Everyone is always looking for a cheap defense so I’m stunned that more people aren’t on a Broncos defense that has basically tightened up since giving up that 70 piece to the Dolphins while i could find more points in my couch cushions then the Chargers have scored the last 2 weeks. The same issues exist and Josh Palmer won’t be back to give them another competent piece in their receiver corps. It’s a pretty easy play.

Week 13 DraftKings lineup

Posted on by Michael Crawford

By Carey Stevenson

QB: Bryce Young at Tampa Bay DraftKings salary: 4,900

RB: David Montgomery at New Orleans DraftKings salary: 6,500

RB: Zack Moss at Titans DraftKings salary: 4,600

WR: Tyreek Hill at Washington DraftKings salary: 9,600

WR: Adam Thielen at Tampa Bay DraftKings salary: 6,600

WR: Deebo Samuel at Philadelphia DraftKings salary: 6,200

TE: Stephen Sullivan at Tampa Bay DraftKings salary: 2,500

FLEX: Rachaad White vs. Carolina DraftKings salary: 6,800

DST: Patriots DST vs. Los Angeles (Chargers) DraftKings salary: 2,400

Reasoning: Looking at my QB play you may be thinking the long season is starting to get to me, and you’re partially right but on a slate where the pay up’s aren’t slam dunks and some of the good plays have ceiling questions…i like the idea of experimenting with the variance of this situation. With Frank Reich gone and the combination of Thomas Brown and Jim Caldwell leading the way, i think we see modern finishes and a stabilization of this offense. It’s no guarantee but it’s certainly possible we see a lot more motion, a higher pass rate matching the weakness of the opponent, a boost in pace and more rubs to get Jonathan Mingo yards after the catch opportunities. They land in a great matchup versus a banged up Bucs pass defense giving up the 8th most yards per completion. Adam Thielen is the obvious 1st stacking partner is a tremendous slot matchup and his price has dropped to a that doesn’t make you full wince. With injuries to Hayden Hurst and Tommy Tremble both likely to miss this game, Stephen Sullivan should run at least 60+% of the routes against a Tampa Bay team that has allowed the 3rd most targets to the position and will be without inside linebacker Lavonte David.

I thought briefly about running it back with Mike Evans and Rachaad White but i look at the 37 game total again and thought better of it. Rachaad won out based upon the beautiful matchup on the ground.

The Zack Moss play doesn’t require much elaboration…I’ll be playing a couple non Moss lineups just to have that potential field edge at my disposal but he’s such a great play that i won’t be getting too cute.

Montgomery fills my priority for Lions exposure…they are tied for the highest team total on the slate and all their pieces are falling under the radar this week. With a negative script to the degree it was for them on Thanksgiving unlikely, Montgomery is set up for a shot at 20 carries and multiple goal line opportunities.

Another pretty self explanatory play, Tyreek Hill is on a scorching pace and gets a Commanders defense that just fired their DC. While the Dolphins as a whole haven’t lived up to the greatest show on surf standard they started the season off with…Tyreek is too good and utilized to ideally to see him fail in this spot.

Deebo is an interesting entrance point to this Eagles-49ers NFC supremacy game. Yes he fits in stacks with the likely popular Brock Purdy, he can act as leverage on Purdy and CMC because of his involvement in the run game and with both teams having strong offenses and strong traditional run defenses, his passing game volume could peak a bit as well. In a perfect world he gobbles up 8 to 10 targets and punches in a couple red zone rushing scores.

It’s slim pickings on cheap defenses this week but i like betting on the Chargers traveling across country to put Brandon Staley out of his misery. This offense was in desperate need of juice coming into the season and with a banged up skill group, including Keenan Allen…it’s somehow gotten worse. Austin Ekeler looks a step slower and Quentin Johnston just isn’t ready to impact NFL games. This game feels destined to be played in the teens.

Week 12 DraftKings lineup

Posted on by Michael Crawford

By Carey Stevenson

QB: Desmond Ridder at Falcons DraftKings salary: 4,800

RB: Isiah Pacheco DraftKings salary: 6,200

RB: Kyren Williams at Arizona DraftKings salary: 6,600

WR: Mike Evans at Indianapolis DraftKings salary: 7,400

WR: Drake London vs. New Orleans DraftKings salary: 5,000

WR: Rashid Shaheed at Atlanta DraftKings salary: 4,300

TE: Taysom Hill at Atlanta DraftKings salary: 5,000

FLEX: Michael Pittman vs. Tampa Bay DraftKings salary: 6,800

DST: Steelers DST vs. Cincinnati DraftKings salary: 3,700

Reasoning: I felt like i had to go through this slate with gloves because of the amount of games i just didn’t want to touch…many will congregate around Jags/Texans and Bills/Eagles, and rightfully so, but you could get analysis of those games anywhere…You know how i get down though, so ride with me on this scenic route.

Falcons/Saints features a bunch of fantasy relevant plays and interesting opportunities in a dome game where both defenses are in the bottom 10 in sack percentage. Derek Carr doesn’t offer enough upside run this from the Saints side while Desmond Ridder’s price, rushing upside and likely lower rostership make him a very interesting boom/bust play in large field. The Saints are a one of the man heavy defense and have given up the 3rd most rushing yards to QB this year. Ridder averaged 3 designed rush attempts during his last 3 starts per fantasylife.com and has 4 rushing scores on the season. In that same 3 game sample, Drake London had target shares of 25%, 27% and 27% and gets a Marshon Lattimore free matchup. I thought briefly about double stacking but i just wasn’t compelled enough with Kyle Pitts’ opportunity to go away from one of my run backs…

Taysom Hill took a step back last week usage wise but it wasn’t a big one and it probably had more to do with their 24-3 deficit then anything else. While he only had one carry he was still involved in the passing game with 4 targets. With Michael Thomas now on IR i expect Taysom to jump right back into usage that will have analysts propping him back up as a top 8 TE option the rest of the way.

Because we’re pivoting away from Bijan Robinson in this lineup i felt like i needed a bit more of reinforcements on the New Orleans side to pump up Ridder’s amount of drop backs. Rashid Rasheed’s playing time started to trend down in recent weeks but with Michael Thomas leaving the Saints last game due to injury, Shaheed jumped back up to 81% of routes. At price he offers upside in a zone heavy matchup.

The Chiefs have underwhelmed a bit from a point scoring aspect but they are in a nice bounce back spot versus a Raiders defense that will likely be without their one difference maker on that side of the ball in Maxx Crosby. Isiah Pacheco has dominated the RB carries for majority of the season so i love tapping to that on offenses we expect to score but with 3rd down back Jerick McKinnon slated to miss this game, his upside hits a little different. McKinnon essentially plays every long and down and distance snap, so while it would be too much to ask for Pacheco to absorb all of that too…he should absorb some of it, raising his ppr appeal.

Kyren Williams is a bit of a leap of faith but we’re seeing more and more that RBs are walking right back into lead roles after extended absences. The combination of Royce Freeman/Darrell Henderson did nothing to convince the Rams coaching they have the room to wait so even if he doesn’t have the full on bellcow role he had before he went down, I expect him to get plenty of touch opportunities versus a Cardinals defense that gives up the 3rd most DK points per game to RBs.

My first instinct when i paid down at QB was to go all the way up WR. I’ll probably do that in some different variations but for this build i decided to skinny stack my other favorite sleeper game with 2 of the best WR plays on the slate. Evans and Pittman have the matchups, target shares, big play potential and injuries to opposing secondary starters.

On defense the Steelers will probably be 5th or 6th on the totem pole as far as popularity but they are going up against a backup QB who averaged 4.9 yards per attempt in his relief duty last week and will be without Tee Higgins. Seems like a strong pivot to make to me.

Week 11 DraftKings lineup

Posted on by Michael Crawford

By Carey Stevenson

QB: Justin Fields at Detroit DraftKings salary: 6,900

RB: Devon Achane vs. Miami DraftKings salary: 6,600

RB: Jahmyr Gibbs vs. Chicago DraftKings salary: 7,000

WR: Tank Dell vs. Arizona DraftKings salary: 5,900

WR: DJ Moore at Detroit DraftKings salary: 5,600

WR: George Pickens at Cleveland DraftKings salary: 4,900

TE: Cole Kmet at Detroit DraftKings salary: 4,100

FLEX: Sam LaPorta vs. Chicago DraftKings salary: 5,800

DST: Dolphins DST vs. Las Vegas DraftKings salary: 3,200

Reasoning: My exposure to this Bears-Lions game is going to look like that video of the teacher who kept coming to school with different colors of the same shirt. I’ll be playing various 4 and 5 man combinations from but I’m more inclined to do so with Justin Fields at QB. After a slow start for the Bears offense, Fields finished as the QB3 and QB1 respectively in his last 2 full starts before his right thumb injury caused him to miss the last 4 games. Considering the Lions potent offense and the Bears willingness to drop back more in 2023, the attempts should be there for Fields’. His pass attempts in each of his last 2 full starts exceeded any game in 2022. Couple that with the fact that he went over 130 rushing yards in both his starts versus the Lions last year and I’d say his ceiling is as high as nearly anyone’s versus the 21st ranked scoring offense.

The stacking partners are straight forward but doubling up on them should afford us some uniqueness. DJ Moore was equally on a tear with 5 TDs in the 3 games prior to Fields going down. The volume has somewhat been there since but the air yards and upside haven’t hit the same with Tyson Bagent under center. [Side note…whose idea was it to nickname him T-Bag? I’m sure he didn’t ask for that because what self respecting person would?]. Cole Kmet is one of my favorite players on this slate and for my money is the best TE play. Kmet has had at least 23% of the targets in each of the last 3 games (same in Fields week 4 and 5 starts), has a plus matchup versus these Lions LB’s, will likely play from behind versus a Detroit defense that’s top versus the run. I know his blow up’s seem to come randomly but considering that he had 3 TDs versus this team last year, it may be a little more planned than we thought.

Funny enough, my 2nd favorite TE play is in the same game so in an attempt to diversify my palate I’m going to a 2 TE build with Sam LaPorta. These kind of builds aren’t my usual because i feel like many of the plays are taking upside off the table but for as good as Kmet’s matchup is, LaPorta’s could be better. The Bears are equally as targeted by TE’s with similar production and have even stouter run defense but Chicago plays more zone, specifically more cover 2 with Matt Eberflus’ Colts roots and that’s a hot spot for the in-breaking play action shots that Ben Johnson is known for. With the emergence of Trey McBride and Dalton Schultz at cheaper price points, it feels like LaPorta is going to fall under the radar coming off a pedestrian game with a 4-40-0 line…but that would be a mistake. Closing this game stack out with Jahmyr Gibbs who also finds himself in a good spot. As previously stated, the Bears have a lights out run defense…but the Lions have one of the most effective and versatile run games in the NFL and have shown a commitment to it over time…i expect them to continue to have at least a moderate level of success there. Chicago may be without their prized free agent middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds as well, which would be an added boost. The biggest bump however will come in the passing game as Gibbs seems to now be locked into the pass down role versus a Bears defense that has allowed the 3rd most targets and receptions to RB’s, over 100 more receiving yards to RB’s than any other team and the most receiving TDs to RB’s. Gibbs has at least 16% of the Lions targets in each of the last 4 games and with the space creation skills of Ben Johnson i expect fireworks.

Investing so heavily in Bears-Lions i thought about going away from Texans-Cardinals all together but Tank Dell’s price and opportunity proved too much to turn down. His measurables give you the impression he’d get a much of his work in short areas and schemed touches but they give him legit chances to win downfield, he also has 3 end zone targets in the last 2 games. In a matchup versus a leaky, zone heavy Cardinals team…i’ll be dapping up the field in solidarity and play Dell with everybody else.

I saved my off the board play for my last WR choice in George Pickens. I don’t see a ton of middle ground…this either goes terribly or amazing, but that’s what large field tournaments are about. The Browns play man coverage at one of the highest rates in the NFL and Pickens has a 30% target share versus man coverage. More specifically, the Browns lead the NFL in 1-high coverage and Pickens is 10th in yards per route run versus 1-high per the good folks over at fantasypoints.com. The Browns will also be without their centerfield, FS Juan Thornhill…making multiple of those signature deep boundary shots feel a little more attainable this week.

I was slow to react to Achane-mania before his injury so i won’t make that same mistake in what is a great spot. The Raiders give up the 8th most Draftkings points per game to RB’s and outside of Maxx Crosby are low on front seven difference makers. Traveling cross country to bake on the non shaded visitor sideline at Hard Rock stadium sounds like a recipe for potential disaster…or in our case, a 100 + yard day with multiple TD’s. I didn’t tack on the Dolphins defense from the same mindset that i have with previously but on a slate that doesn’t have many exciting low cost options i feel like they are a good compromise. They are a home favorite facing a late round rookie QB who hasn’t really been pushed since he was inserted as the starter. As sound as Aidan O’Connell has looked as a player I’m willing to bet that he makes a couple mistakes with a larger sample size.

Week 10 DraftKings lineup

Posted on by Michael Crawford

By Carey Stevenson

QB: Dak Prescott vs. New York (Giants) DraftKings salary: 6,700

RB: Najee Harris vs. Green Bay DraftKings salary: 4,900

RB: Ken Walker vs. Washington DraftKings salary: 6,800

WR: Marquise Brown vs. Atlanta DraftKings salary: 5,200

WR: CeeDee Lamb vs. New York (Giants) DraftKings salary: 8,500

WR: Drake London at Arizona DraftKings salary: 5,500

TE: Jake Ferguson vs. New York (Giants) DraftKings salary: 4,600

FLEX: Curtis Samuel at Seattle DraftKings salary: 3,900

DST: Steelers DST vs. Green Bay DraftKings salary: 3,800

Reasoning: 2 weeks ago I let noise talk me out of my Dak stack so I’m back for redemption. The Cowboys have season high drop back rates in the last 2 weeks and get a Giants defense giving up the 4th most yards per completion. Prescott’s 17 carries in the last 3 games also serves as a ceiling booster. Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup’s underwhelming involvement has made Dak’s stack partners even more straightforward. The Giants blitz heavy, man heavy defense should make CeeDee Lamb smirk like that Kevin James meme…according to PFF, he ranks 2nd in yards per route run and 4th in fantasy points per route versus man coverage. Jake Ferguson ascension continues as his routes run rate has stabilized to high end levels. If Dak gets there, it’s hard to imagine that Ferguson won’t get his cut of the winnings, considering his enviable red zone/green zone role.

The obvious fear here is the Giants offense can’t push back and the Cowboys show restraint as the game nears a close. I feel like I’m playing with fire a bit without a Giants run back but even with a squint and some PPR trickery it’s tough. Believe me a tried…*whispers* The Cowboys give up the 8th most yards per completion and play 1 high coverage at the 2nd highest rate in the league. Jalin Hyatt stealing a long TD is non zero proposition, I just couldn’t bring myself to hit save for you all. I may try it myself in one large field gpp.

I can’t believe I’m playing Najee Harris but on one of the least inspiring RB slates that i can remember he’s one of the few RB’s i see a definitive path for value. The Packers give up the 8th most DraftKings points per game to RBs and travel to Pittsburgh with one the league most punchless offenses. The Steelers won’t be confused with the greatest show on turf but a 20 touch expectation with goal line work in a good matchup feels like good process to me…and in true commitment to the brand, I sprinkled the Steelers defense on like parsley to make it hit a lil more.

Another week, another single stack with Drake London. His price just never matches his ceiling and his floor has been stronger than people believe. This week I’m pairing him with Marquise Brown, a player whose volume has been strong all season but now gets the boost of improved QB play. This Falcons-Cardinals game is giving me sneaky shootout vibes, i just haven’t quite figured out if/how i want to approach it yet.

If I’m not riding the wave with the popular QB(s) play of the week, best believe I’m going to try my best to hate on him with a play…Ken Walker is that vehicle this week. Geno Smith has a great price and set up this week, I’ll be playing him this week in DFS and I’ve held of on cutting him in redraft for this matchup specifically…but he’s not the only benefit of the environment. A couple pass plays stop short of the goal line, a few more carries to salt away the game…even with Charbonnet’s increased involvement, Walker could still push for 20 carries, and with his propensity to break off long runs, he could put together the type of game you need. I found another under the radar attachment to this game to pair with him in Curtis Samuel. The Seahawks zone heavy defense is most vulnerable in the middle of the field which is where Samuel frequents out of the slot. The Commanders have begun to spread the ball around in the passing game but since week 4, the primary slot receiver has had a target per route run rate of at least 20% in every game…something that has low key come in handy as Washington’s pass rate over expectation continues to climb. Samuel is always a threat for schemed touches in the run game as well. Now he is questionable to play this week with a toe injury, if he doesn’t play you can swap to Jamison Crowder at 3,400 and spend up somewhere else in the lineup.

Week 9 DraftKings lineup

Posted on by Michael Crawford

By Carey Stevenson

QB: Aidan O’Connell vs. New York (Giants) DraftKings salary: 4,500

RB: Saquon Barkley at Las Vegas DraftKings salary: 7,900

RB: Jonathan Taylor at Carolina DraftKings salary: 6,400

WR: Davante Adams vs. New York (Giants) DraftKings salary: 8,100

WR: Nico Collins vs. Tampa Bay DraftKings salary: 5,800

WR: Mike Evans at Houston DraftKings salary: 7,300

TE: Michael Mayer vs. New York (Giants) DraftKings salary: 2,800

FLEX: Jake Ferguson at Philadelphia DraftKings salary: 4,000

DST: Colts DST at Carolina DraftKings salary: 3,100

Reasoning: It was looking bleak but man, you never know where your blessings are coming from…shout out to Mark Davis for giving Josh McDaniels his walking papers, and in turn giving me someone to play this week. O’Connell was a pleasant surprise in preseason, flashing downfield zip and the ability to throw with timing and anticipation. The matchup is a pseudo tough one facing off against a Wink Martindale defense heavy on blitzes but light on results (27th in sack rate). The first pairing is simple as Davante Adams will most certainly let everyone in the building know what the new order should be. With volume being his only issue, Adams ranks on the short list of very best plays on a slate lacking great ones. Completing the stack with the ascending Mayer who ran a season high 79% of the routes last week and checks price and correlation boxes.

Running it back with Saquon was the natural progression but considering the standing of this slate he would have been a guy i landed on anyway. He’s not someone I’d normally be going out of my way to play but the workload is thicc and while I’m certain that Antonio Pierce will lead the Raiders to play inspired football, unless he can get in there and play middle linebacker…the matchup is a strong one.

The combo of Mike Evans & Nico Collins is my favorite skinny stack of the week. Both have good matchups with size advantages, have made splash plays downfield but win in short areas more than you’d think and have steady and healthy target shares.

Jonathan Taylor played a season 61% of the snaps last week and popped one of his trademark long runs. In a winnable game and a big time OL vs. DL advantage…I can see the Colts really leaning on the Panthers with the run game and forcing the Panthers to lean on a passing game they are still working out the kinks of…making the Colts DST a great pairing, adding a lil razzle dazzle to our JT play.

I normally steer clear of TE in the flex but weird weeks require you to get a lil messy. The lack of cheap WRs i feel great about led me to sneak in the backdoor on the best game of the slate. Ferguson is top 5 in red zone and green zone targets on the season…an opportunity that matches up well with the Eagles vulnerability at TE (2nd most TDs allowed). With a more decisive share of the routes over the last 2 weeks (84% and 85%) finally secured, Ferguson will be a staple of my pool this week.