Fantasy owners know what’s at stake at this point of the season, and when the Ravens take on the Steelers, there are lots of volatile options that won’t sit well in the nervous stomachs of those competing for fantasy league championships. Let’s take a look at the options for one of Sunday’s games:
Fantasy football advice, Week 16: who to start/sit for Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Dan Ciarrocchi reviews who should be in fantasy lineups or on benches for a Week 16 battle for the AFC North.
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Pittsburgh Steelers
Start ‘em
Fantasy owners haven’t been happy with Ben Roethlisberger’s outlook since the beginning of the fantasy playoffs, but a better day may be in store for him, even against the Ravens’ vaunted defense. Top cornerback Jimmy Smith is expected to sit, which means there could be plenty of room for Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown to do some heavy damage. With Ladarius Green still in concussion protocol, Sunday is shaping up to be a day where Brown and Le’Veon Bell are showered with targets. Even with a depleted receiving corps, fantasy owners still have a case to start Big Ben in Week 16.
Sit ‘em
The Steelers’ offense begins and ends with Roethlisberger, Bell, and Brown, and fantasy owners could do much better than their offensive complements. Eli Rogers, Jesse James, and DeAngelo Williams can remain fantasy afterthoughts.
Baltimore Ravens
Start ‘em
With Steve Smith returning to form with a long touchdown catch against the Eagles in Week 15, fantasy owners can at least take comfort in knowing that the veteran is healthy enough at this stage in the season to make big plays. He will need to do just that in an offense that hasn’t had many in order to register on the fantasy radar, but the Ravens’ high-volume passing attack makes Smith an attractive flex option.
Start ‘em?
Kenneth Dixon seemingly wrested the backfield away from Terrance West in Week 14, only to cede most of the snaps and touches to him the ensuing week against the Eagles. With the Ravens seemingly committed to the hot hand, both options in the backfield remain volatile RB2/flex options against the Steelers’ fifth-ranked run defense, much to the chagrin of fantasy owners across the spectrum.
Sit ‘em
Joe Flacco, Dennis Pitta, and Mike Wallace have upside amid an offense that has attempted more passes per game than any other team in the AFC, but its lack of efficiency holds them back from being fantasy studs. Fantasy owners can do better during championship week.
