As division foes, the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers play one another at least twice every season, and recent history has seen that rivalry become one of the league's most heated. This year should be no different, except that the Ravens are 0-3, and the Steelers will be without their franchise quarterback. Expect a game like what we've grown accustomed to, but the scars are obvious.
Fantasy football advice, Week 4: Who to start/sit for Ravens vs. Steelers on Thursday night
It’s one of the league’s top rivalries, and almost always good games ... except one team is 0-3, and the other is on its backup quarterback.
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The Ravens will be without wide receiver Breshad Perriman (knee) and tight end Crockett Gillmore (calf) for Thursday night's game. As for the Steelers, the only fantasy-relevant name on the weekly injury report is Roethlisbeger, who will miss several weeks after suffering a knee injury in Week 3.
The Steelers will host the Ravens Thursday, with the game scheduled for 8:25 p.m. ET. Let’s take a look at the fantasy names to consider:
RAVENS
Start 'em: The Steelers give up a lot of fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, and -- other than his awful Week 1 -- Joe Flacco has been good so far. He's a must-start, which is rare for him. ... There's still the danger of another late-season fade, but for now Steve Smith Sr. has made himself a sure-fire starter. ... Justin Tucker is still an every-week starter at kicker.
Start 'em?: It's been an impossibly frustrating start to the season for Justin Forsett, who was so good last year, but now looks in danger of showing why he was a journeyman before 2014. ... With Crockett Gillmore shelved, the team might give some of his targets to Maxx Williams. He's a low-floor player, but with some upside.
Sit 'em: Eventually, Lorenzo Taliaferro has a shot at taking over the Ravens' starting running back job. But not yet. ... Even without Roethlisberger, the Steelers have a good enough offense that the Ravens' defense needs to sit.
STEELERS
Start 'em: And without Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown are still right up at the tops of their positions.
Start ‘em?: If the Steelers just have Michael Vick sit back and hand the ball to Bell and throw easy passes to Brown, he has a shot at reasonable QB2 value.
Sit 'em: We weren't seeing big numbers from Markus Wheaton even when the Steelers had their No. 1 quarterback. ... Heath Miller is a low-floor, low-ceiling tight end who doesn't warrant the looks he gets in fantasy. ... The Steelers are going for two often enough that Josh Scobee doesn't have value. ... The Steelers' defense is averaging fewer than five points a game. Stay away.
SUMMARY
Start in every league: Joe Flacco, Steve Smith Sr., Justin Tucker, Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown
Start if you're desperate: Justin Forsett, Maxx Williams, Michael Vick
Bench: Lorenzo Taliaferro, Baltimore defense, Markus Wheaton, Heath Miller, Josh Scobee, Pittsburgh defense
